Darren John Richards
Summary
A versatile, systematic, hard-working Manager with a strong safety culture who can adopt a practical hands-on approach when required and who always perseveres to achieve the desired end results. A fast learner when faced with unfamiliar environments or situations, strong communication skills and confidence with all levels of client and staff. Excellent negotiation and problem-solving ability and swiftly identifies the root of any problem and develops an effective solution. Proven ability to manage and complete projects & turnarounds safely to the highest standard, with a meticulous attention to detail, and to agreed deadlines and budget constraints. Comfortable in Production & Maintenance roles when responsible for the safe operation and plant integrity of petrochemical facilities. Good knowledge and understanding of MS Project, Primavera, MAXIMO, ROSER and SAP along with being fully proficient in all aspects of MS Office.
Overview
32
32
years of professional experience
Work History
Project Lead and Projects Commissioning Manager
TAQA Iraq
Erbil, Iraq
02.2019 - Current
- Providing direct support to the Projects Department Manager to meet agreed objectives including obtaining required Business Line (HQ) approvals at all required stage gates through the project life cycle
- Lead a team of discipline Senior Project Engineers in the development of project workpacks and execution by site-based Construction and Commissioning Engineers of a variety of upstream oil & gas projects, minor modifications & plant shutdown activities
- Responsibility for the completion of the implementation in conformance with TAQA Iraq HSSE, Engineering, Projects, and Operations standards in line with company Operational Excellence (OE) philosophies
- Oversee all coordination between client, vendors, engineering, sub-contractors and any other external or internal agency to ensure the smooth commissioning of the process plant works
- Ensures cooperation and collaboration between Project Engineers, Field Operations, and Engineering Technical Authorities on key decisions which affect the project scope
- Manage the development of integrated plans including the scope of activities, duration, interlinked activities, resources required, constraints as well as availability of tools and machinery. Ensure the appropriate planning, progress monitoring, cost control and coordination is also developed and in place
- Provide guidance to the Construction and Commissioning Engineers in analysing the scope as per contract and battery limit/guarantees as well as ensuring the preparation of procedures for systematic and sequential pre-commissioning/commissioning/start-up of plant though to final operational handover
- Complete detailed project close out including master document updates, project deliverable analysis & lesson learned reviews.
Senior Turnaround Manager
Engenda Group
Antwerp, Belgium
11.2017 - 01.2019
- Overall Management for all planning, preparation & execution activities to ensure a safe & efficient delivery of INEOS’s major multi process unit and steam system shutdown including generation of cross company integrated schedule
- Compilation of detailed preparation plans, execution strategy document, along with safe systems of work, SHE & Quality plans
- Full work pack planning using ROSER systems for detailing and scheduling
- Responsible for (peak) 55+ Indirect & 170+ Direct employees covering Supervision & Management, Structural Piping & Mechanical, along with coordination of service trades such as Scaffolding, Painting & Insulation
- Overseeing the mobilisation and accommodation of over 200 UK based employees to Belgium
Project Manager
Bilfinger
Newport, UK
01.2016 - 11.2017
- Project Management for all MEI aspects for Bilfinger of a $100m expansion project reporting directly to AMEC Foster Wheeler as the managing contractor & EXXON Mobil as the client
- Integral part of the initial tender submission team up to contract award and then early engineering through to site establishment
- Responsible for (peak) 50+ Indirect & 150+ Direct employees covering Supervision & Management, Structural Piping & Mechanical, Electrical Instrumentation & Control along with service trades such as Scaffolding Painting & Insulation
- Management and implementation of all process & procedures to ensure the safe delivery of a schedule critical project whilst maintaining the highest quality standards
Project Support Superintendent
KPO (Karachaganak Petroleum Operating)
Kazakhstan
03.2013 - 08.2015
- To ensure all projects (from conceptual design to execution) are completed in line with the strategic operational requirements of Unit 3 from a Production & Maintenance perspective.
- Interaction with State Supervision & Control Bodies, Contractor Companies and all KPO departments & subdivisions
- Coordination of operational activities related to gas treatment and main pipeline systems to Orenburg and their maintenance along with being primary interface for General Projects Department.
- Ensuring all projects are progressed and completed in full compliance with KPO policies & specifications as well as regulatory and RoK (Republic of Kazakhstan) requirements
- Develop, as part of an integrated team, the project strategy and plans. To provide coordination and engagement of all relevant departments within KPO to achieve project handover in accordance with Production & Maintenance requirements
- Operational representation for all required studies, reviews & meetings including FEEDs, HAZIDs, HAZOPs, Risk Assessment Method Statements (RAMS)/ FMEA’s, SOW’s, Work packs, Kick off meetings, Audits, Compliance, FATs/SATs etc.
- Guidance and assistance with non-routine Unit activities such as Plant Incidents, RCA’s, Requests for Engineering Assistance and Safety System Overrides assessments
- Unit Coordinator for Management of Change (MOC) in order to ensure all required Process Safety. Maintainability, Operability & Constructability reviews are completed and all arising actions addressed prior to the change being implemented along with all appropriate deliverables being in place prior to commissioning and acceptance by Production & Maintenance department.
- Participate in general Production and Maintenance reviews for day-to-day activities and shutdowns to promote continuous improvement by incorporating shared best practice and lessons learnt.
Interim Maintenance Superintendent
Millennium Inorganic Chemicals
Stallingborough, UK
10.2008 - 02.2013
- To manage the Stallingborough Site base pigment plant mechanical assets within budget and in compliance with Site quality, safety, health, and environmental (QSHE) and Engineering standards.
- Control and management of the Stallingborough Site mechanical assets within statutory, corporate and Site (QSHE) requirements and Site Engineering Standards
- Ensuring that Maintenance personnel are adequately trained, supervised, motivated and developed to meet the on-going needs of the business and ensure that active succession plans are in place for the future.
- Responsible for the development and effective management of the annual Maintenance Work Order budget.
- Ensuring that all accidents, incidents or other deviations from standards arising from Maintenance Department controlled activities are fully investigated and reported and their resultant actions implemented within agreed time schedules.
- Responsible for development, implementation and periodic review of predictive and pro-active maintenance schedules.
- Responsible for review, action assignment and action implementation, within maintenance workflow, for mechanical inspection reports.
- Responsible for mechanical maintenance input into maintenance workflow schedule construction and execution of agreed schedules.
- Management of planned plant shutdowns.
- Ensuring that maintenance documentation relating to mechanical plant (Maintenance Instructions and Engineering Standards) exists, are used and kept up to date.
- Responsible for the development, implementation and periodic review of critical spares selection and stock levels for plant equipment.
- Responsible for mechanical maintenance participation, from conception to completion, in capital expenditure projects relating to manufacturing units.
- Develop key QSHE, housekeeping and productivity targets for the Maintenance Department and ensuring that these are met.
- Drive continuous improvement process in all aspects of performance within the Maintenance function.
- Ensuring that Maintenance personnel contribute to and use global best practices.
- Develop and maintain a climate of positive industrial & employee relations within the Maintenance Department.
Project Manager
O’Hare Engineering (South and East) Limited
UK
01.2005 - 05.2008
- Responsible for all SHE, HR, Quality and Commercial issues with regards to various projects, maintenance & turnarounds on TOTAL Lindsey Oil Refinery, ConocoPhillips Humber Refinery and Millennium Inorganic Chemicals.
Project Engineer
MB Engineering Services Ltd
North Killingholme, North Lincolnshire, UK
01.1994 - 01.2005
- ConocoPhillips Humber Refinery
- Penex Feb 05 T/A – Piping Package
- CHP Packs 01 & 04
- H203 Repair Works
- May 2004 Div B S/down project Works
- 2001 Sat. Gas Plant Blast Repair
- Various Storage Tank Maintenance and Repair Work
- Misc Small Projects
- Total - Lindsey Oil Refinery
- HFA Turnaround October 2004
- Misc. Projects
Education
National Apprenticeship Scheme For Engineering Construction (NASEC) - NVQ Level 3 Engineering Construction (Craft Competences) Pipefitting, Workplace Competences, MD03 Pipe and Tube Fabrication, MD24 Advanced Pipework, City and Guilds Part 2 Certificate in Pipework Engineering Craft Studies, Pipework A, Pipework B
NETA / Longlands College
01.1991
Skills
- Collaborative mindset
- Leadership skills
- Project planning
- Project coordination
Accomplishments
- Managed the delivery of world class HSEQ performance in the completion of the INEOS Zwijndrecht multi-discipline major turnaround and successful integration into the embedded client planning teams with zero recorded Lost Time Incidents and a leak free start up despite facing many logistical, meteorological & dynamic work scope challenges.
- Became the operational interface for projects, engineering and asset integrity on a predominantly nationalised old Soviet designed gas and condensate processing facility in Kazakhstan along with providing technical guidance to the Unit Manager to ensure the safe delivery of day-to-day production whilst also successfully facilitating the implementation of critical ‘risk reduction’ projects.
- Led the maintenance recovery efforts following two separate on-site process safety incidents (2010 & 2011/12) that resulted in regulatory intervention by the HSE culminating in successful resumption of plant production.
- Integrated into Millennium Inorganic Chemicals (Stallingborough) as Shutdown Co-ordinator for their major 18 monthly Chlorinator Swing outage, which historically suffered long overruns & consistently exceed budget.
- A key member & driving force involved in the establishment of O’Hare Engineering (S&E) as a new business on the east coast, including acquisition and refurbishment of office/workshop premises, pre-qualification with major customers such as TOTAL LOR & ConocoPhillips Humber Refinery, successful tendering and execution of discreet packages of project/turnaround works and integration of existing O’Hare recruitment, planning, procurement and work management procedures.
- Seamless transition from Site supervisor to Project Engineer for MB Engineering Services whilst based on ConocoPhillips Humber Refinery.
Timeline
Project Lead and Projects Commissioning Manager
TAQA Iraq
02.2019 - Current
Senior Turnaround Manager
Engenda Group
11.2017 - 01.2019
Project Manager
Bilfinger
01.2016 - 11.2017
Project Support Superintendent
KPO (Karachaganak Petroleum Operating)
03.2013 - 08.2015
Interim Maintenance Superintendent
Millennium Inorganic Chemicals
10.2008 - 02.2013
Project Manager
O’Hare Engineering (South and East) Limited
01.2005 - 05.2008
Project Engineer
MB Engineering Services Ltd
01.1994 - 01.2005
National Apprenticeship Scheme For Engineering Construction (NASEC) - NVQ Level 3 Engineering Construction (Craft Competences) Pipefitting, Workplace Competences, MD03 Pipe and Tube Fabrication, MD24 Advanced Pipework, City and Guilds Part 2 Certificate in Pipework Engineering Craft Studies, Pipework A, Pipework B
NETA / Longlands College
General Information
References may be obtained on request, Full driving licence
Personal Information
- Title: Projects Maintenance & Construction Professional
- Date of Birth: 29th July 1971
- Driving License: Full driving licence
Training
- ECITB Operational Project Management Course
- Supervisory Management Training and Development Scheme
- IOSH Managing Safely in the Engineering Construction Industry
- Employee/Industrial Relations
- Planning and Control
- Site Safety
- Practical Supervision
- Impress Risk Assessment, Accident Causation & Accident Investigation
- Plant and Safety Training
- Lloyds British The Principles and Practice of Safe Slinging for Banksmen
- Pegasus Passport Scheme Registration No. PIP8392
- NLT Training Services Ltd ECITB Client/Contractor National Safety Group Safety Passport
- Third day Supervisor Training
- CTA Lifting Managers Certificate - Appointed Persons Course
- First Aid at Work
- National Engineering Training Association Ltd ECITB The Abrasive Wheels Regulations 1970