Business Support Lead
Job Purpose
- Lead and support all aspects of the business function, including project controls, planning, contracts, procurement and subcontracts across the Concept Study, FEED and execution phases. Monitor and analyse project and contractor performance, providing strategic business advice to ensure project objectives are achieved and the needs of stakeholders and shareholders are effectively supported.
- The prime objective of the Business Support Lead is to support the Business Manager in driving effective project and contractor performance across the Concept Study, FEED and execution phases by anticipating issues, identifying and mitigating risks, and supporting timely corrective actions to minimise adverse cost, schedule and project delivery impacts.
- The role requires a strong understanding of project drivers, business requirements and key interfaces, together with the ability to establish effective communication and reporting protocols. The incumbent will develop and implement project controls, KPIs, performance analysis and project plans that support informed decision-making and achievement of project objectives.
Reporting Structure & Key Relationships
- Reports to the Business Division Manager.
- Internal Stakeholder Engagement
- Frequent contact with all major project departments and relevant company functions to coordinate project requirements, interfaces and business support activities.
- Frequent contact with engineering, project controls, contracts, procurement, finance, SHES, operations and other business teams to coordinate interfaces and support the project through concept, FEED and execution phases.
- External Stakeholder Engagement
- Frequent contact with engineering consultants, FEED/EPC contractors, contracting companies and service providers, with regular interaction with relevant stakeholders as required to support project delivery.
Key Job Accountabilities
- Business Reporting & Project Control: Provide support to the business manager with ongoing project reporting, schedule control, cost monitoring and change management to ensure timely and accurate business team deliverables across the concept study, FEED and execution phases.
- Contractor Performance Management: Evaluate and analyse project and EPC contractor project controls performance in planning, progress measurement and reporting to identify areas for improvement and ensure project objectives are achieved.
- Management Information & KPI Reporting: Identify, assess and fulfil project team requirements, including dashboards, monthly and weekly reports, risk assessments, action tracking and KPI reports to support effective management and decision-making.
- Stakeholder Reporting & Communications: Develop, coordinate and compile inputs from PMT members to meet management, shareholder and stakeholder requirements, including presentations, reports and decision-support materials, ensuring clear and effective communication.
- Commercial Evaluation Support: Participate in the evaluation of contractor proposals, change requests and scope variations, assessing schedule, cost and business impacts to support the business manager and PMT in informed decision-making.
- Schedule Development & Recovery Planning: Support the development and maintenance of project schedules, corrective actions and recovery plans, considering project risks, interfaces and dependencies to maintain project timelines and objectives.
- Governance & Assurance Coordination: Coordinate business governance and assurance requirements, including the collection and review of project deliverables required for management reviews, audits and assurance activities to ensure compliance and project readiness.
- Contracts, Procurement & Subcontracting Support: Coordinate business planning, contracts, procurement and subcontracting activities required to support the Concept Study, FEED and execution phases, ensuring alignment with project scope, schedule, commercial requirements and priorities.
- Phase Transition Management: Support the transition of the project through concept, FEED and execution, ensuring key decisions, assumptions, risks, actions, cost and schedule information and business requirements are effectively captured and transferred between project phases.
- Closeout & Handover Management: Lead the development of project phase closeout and handover reports, ensuring information on project performance, key decisions, risks, lessons learned and outstanding actions is retained for subsequent phases and continuous improvement.
Minimum Must-Have Requirements:
- Qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree in business, accounting, commercial, marketing, sciences, engineering, project management, supply chain management, law, communication, technologies, mathematics, and statistics.
- Knowledge & Experience
- 8 years' experience in a business-related function or discipline, including 4 years in the oil & gas industry, and including 1 year's experience in a supervisory or acting role or oversight of contractor/subcontractor/service/vendor personnel.
- Experience with oil & gas companies, EPC contractors, subcontractors, vendors or service companies involved in the oil and gas industry.
- Technical & Business Skills
- Knowledge in project business-related functions/disciplines such as planning, scheduling, cost control, estimating, claim management, risk management, change management, procurement, pre- and post-award contract management, actionable and informative reporting, support services, lessons learned, etc.
- Knowledge in international standards, best practices and methodologies as it relates to business disciplines.
- SME-level competence in the candidate's specific business discipline.
- Knowledge of relevant business processes/procedures.
- Experience with the risk assessment approach in decision-making.
- Strong knowledge of relevant software and computer skills, e.g., dashboards, data analytics, SAP, etc.
- Experience supporting large-scale integrated operating and executing organisations, such as Operations, Projects, Subsurface, etc.
Position Summary
The Business Support Lead plays a critical role in supporting business performance across concept study, FEED and execution phases by integrating project controls, planning, commercial, procurement and governance requirements. The role serves as a key interface between project teams, contractors, stakeholders and management, ensuring informed decision-making, effective performance monitoring, risk mitigation and successful project delivery.