Turnaround Block Lead

Company Description

Do amazing work 

A career with Viva Energy is more than just a job. It’s a chance to join a group of people dedicated to supporting Australia’s evolving energy and convenience needs. We’re a leading retail, industrial and energy business, and we’ve been helping Australians reach their destination for more than 120 years.  

Our plans for the future support Australia’s energy transition to sustainable, lower carbon energy solutions.  Through our acquisitions of Coles Express and OTR, we provide Australians with outstanding convenience. 

At the heart of our plans is people power. People who want to grow and evolve with us. People with new perspectives, energy and passion to drive Viva Energy and their careers forward.

Viva Energy’s Geelong Refinery employs around 700 people and supplies over 50 percent of Victoria’s and 10 percent of Australia’s fuel.

The refinery can process up to 120,000 barrels of oil per day, manufacturing petrol, diesel, LPG, jet fuel, avgas, bitumen, specialty solvents for a wide range of industries.  We now have a great opportunity for a Turnaround Block Lead to join our Engineering & Maintenance team at our Geelong Refinery.

Job Description

In this role you will lead high-impact refinery shutdowns, influencing safety, cost, and performance at scale. The Viva refinery executes in 2 – 3 Turnarounds per year ranging in size and complexity. The Block Lead position is typically assigned 12- 18months out from execution to lead development of a block through scoping, planning, execution and commissioning.

We are seeking a proven leader with experience in maintenance, engineering, turnaround, or construction management to play a pivotal role in the planning, execution, and delivery of refinery turnarounds. This is a hands‑on leadership role for someone who thrives in complex, high‑pressure environments and enjoys delivering results through collaboration, discipline, and strong field presence.

You will lead turnaround event development, through various phases including scope development, planning, execution through commissioning and start‑up. This role requires working closely with operations, engineering, maintenance and contractors to achieve outstanding outcomes.

• Champion HSSE and quality, ensuring safe and compliant delivery across all activities.
• Lead the end‑to‑end preparation and execution of a Turnaround Block.
• Act as the primary interface between Operations, Maintenance, Engineering, Reliability, Planning and Contractors.

During Scoping and Strategy phase

• Lead scope development process to ensure plant performance and reliability targets are met. This includes a scope optimisation (lifecycle cost benefits) process with strong stakeholder engagement to ensure scope balances cost, discovery risk and reliability.
• Lead and participate in scope workshops for rotating equipment, heat exchangers, columns, reactors, piping, chemical decontamination.
• Develop and manage integrated work scopes so they are executed with Flawless principles: Schedule, Cost, HSSE and Quality & Reliability.
• Develop scopes for major equipment including columns, pressure vessels, heat exchangers, rotating equipment.
• Develop Management of change for basic scopes.

During Planning and scheduling

• Coach planners and schedulers to develop optimised plans in line with scope and contractor capabilities.
• Ensure materials, equipment and services are identified, procured and available to support execution.
• Provide technical assurance and final sign‑off mechanical work packs, execution methodology and quality.
• Optimise schedules and resource plans.
• Participate in contractor readiness sessions and support mobilisation planning.

During execution lead the execution of the block, including

• Drive daily progress, handovers, work pack sign‑off and PSSR readiness.
• Provide visible, hands‑on field leadership, driving contractor productivity, and performance.
• Discovery management including developing solutions for unexpected discoveries.
• Monitor and control progress across cost, risk, inspections, QA, discovery and critical path activities.

Qualifications

About you

• Proven experience leading major shutdowns/turnarounds in heavy industry, refining, energy, chemicals or manufacturing.
• Preferably Mechanical, project, electrical or chemical engineer.
• Technical depth in mechanical work scopes and execution methodologies. Experience with assessment, repair and replacement of pressure vessels and piping highly regarded.
• Ability to problem solve with key stakeholders and optimise solutions on the run.
• Strong planning, scheduling and execution capability.
• Demonstrated ability to deliver on HSSE, cost, schedule and quality targets.
• Confident leader and communicator who can influence without direct authority.
• Calm, decisive, and solutions‑focused under pressure.

Why Join Us?

• Lead a business-critical event with real impact.
• Work at scale on complex assets with strong stakeholder visibility.
• Long term portfolio of turnarounds.
• Collaborative, safety‑first culture.
• Opportunity to leave a lasting legacy through delivery and improvement.

Additional Information

About Viva Energy 

Join a team that values diversity. Viva Energy is a great place to be yourself. We believe in our people, trust in their positive intentions, and empower everyone to amplify their voice across the business. We value inclusion because that’s how we get the best outcomes. 

Awarded the WGEA Employer of Choice for Gender Equality for the past five years highlights that we are driven by our people and continuing our focus on making Viva Energy reflect the ever-changing face of Australia.  

We welcome applicants from diverse backgrounds including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and encourage and support diversity in our traditional and non-traditional roles.

Please note: This role is being sourced through Viva Energy Australia, therefore we will not be accepting applications via external recruitment agencies.

Only applications from candidates holding full working rights for employment in Australia will be considered.

Applications close Wednesday 27 May 2026