Operations Manager

Overview

Operations Manager Jobs in Al Khobar, Eastern, Saudi Arabia at Evostel (Previously AQESA)

Title: Operations Manager

Company: Evostel (Previously AQESA)

Location: Al Khobar, Eastern, Saudi Arabia

About Evostel:

Evostel (previously AQESA), is part of the Ali Zaid Al Quraishi & Brothers Company (AZAQ Group), a closed joint stock company with a diversified investment portfolio. The Group takes pride in its Saudi roots and has been successfully operating in the GCC region for over 60 years. The Group has long-established associations and strategic relationships with several well-known international names.

Position Overview

The Manager of Electrical Engineering and Procurement is a leadership role responsible for directing all aspects of electrical engineering design, technical procurement, and pre-sales proposal development within industrial projects. This role demands deep technical expertise combined with strategic leadership to deliver complex, large-scale industrial facilities on time and within budget.

The incumbent will lead a multidisciplinary team encompassing electrical and instrumentation engineers as well as a dedicated technical and commercial proposals team. The role carries full accountability for LV and MV equipment-related engineering services — from initial bid preparation through detailed design, procurement, and project handover — while serving as the primary technical authority on all matters relating to electrical systems, power distribution, and instrumentation.

Key Responsibilities

Engineering Leadership

• Lead and manage the electrical engineering team across all project phases — feasibility, FEED, detailed design, and commissioning.
• Define and enforce engineering standards, technical specifications, and design methodologies for HV/MV/LV power distribution and instrumentation.
• Review and approve engineering deliverables including single-line diagrams, loop diagrams, instrument data sheets, and protection coordination studies.
• Ensure full compliance with applicable standards (IEC, NFPA, NEC, ATEX/IECEx, Saudi Aramco, SEC, SABIC, or relevant client specifications).
• Provide technical guidance on power system studies: load flow, short circuit, protection coordination, arc flash, and harmonic analysis.

Procurement & Vendor Management

• Oversee the technical procurement of all electrical equipment including transformers, switchgear, MCC panels, UPS systems, variable speed drives, and instrumentation. Develop Stocking plan for fast moving items from Market knowledge & Material Planning system analysis and reports
• Provide timely updates and reporting for all Open Purchase orders in system to enable accurate forecasting and customer information for delivery. Drive cost effective logistics and procurement function
• Develop technical bid documents, material requisitions, and RFQ packages; evaluate technical bids and issue technical bid evaluations (TBEs).
• Establish and manage a qualified vendor list (QVL) for electrical equipment suppliers; conduct technical audits and factory acceptance tests (FATs).
• Negotiate technical scope and commercial terms with vendors in coordination with the supply chain function.
• Monitor vendor manufacturing progress and ensure on-time delivery of long-lead items.

Project Execution & Coordination

• Interface with clients, PMC teams, and third-party consultants on technical clarifications and design approvals.
• Lead hazard reviews (HAZOP, HAZID) for electrical system elements.
• Oversee loop testing, pre-commissioning, and commissioning activities for electrical and instrumentation systems.

Technical & Commercial Proposals

• Lead and manage the proposals team responsible for preparing technically sound and commercially competitive bids covering LV and MV electrical equipment services and instrumentation — from initial enquiry through award.
• Review and approve all outgoing technical proposals, ensuring accuracy of scope, compliance with client specifications, and alignment with applicable standards (IEC, NFPA, NEC, ATEX/IECEx, Saudi Aramco, SABIC, SEC, or equivalent).
• Direct cost estimation and bill-of-quantities (BOQ) development for the full LV/MV scope including: switchgear, transformers, MCCs, distribution boards, cable systems, busducts, VFDs, UPS, soft starters, protection relays, and instrumentation packages.
• Oversee the preparation of proposal-stage engineering deliverables: single-line diagrams, equipment lists, data sheets, outline specifications, and basis-of-design documents.
• Define proposal strategies — lump-sum, unit-rate, or reimbursable — and ensure each is properly reflected in the commercial structure and risk register.
• Coordinate with the procurement team to obtain competitive vendor quotations underpinning proposal pricing for LV/MV equipment and instrumentation packages.
• Manage clarification meetings, technical queries (TQs), and client/consultant negotiations during the bid and award phases.
• Maintain a proposals register, track win rates, and implement lessons-learned to continuously improve bid quality and success ratios.
• Ensure proposals comply with contractual requirements and internal governance/approval workflows before submission.

LV & MV Equipment Services

• Serve as technical authority for the full lifecycle of LV (up to 1 kV) and MV (1 kV to 36 kV) electrical equipment services: design, supply, installation supervision, testing, pre-commissioning, commissioning, and hand-over.
• Oversee engineering and delivery of LV/MV switchgear, switchboards, ring main units (RMUs), pad-mounted and pole-mounted transformers, automatic transfer switches (ATS), capacitor banks, and harmonic filtering equipment.
• Direct cable management engineering including cable sizing, routing, tray design, termination schedules, and high-pot/insulation resistance testing.
• Ensure proper application of protection coordination, relay settings, and arc-flash mitigation across LV and MV networks.
• Supervise installation quality, acceptance testing, and energisation protocols for all LV/MV equipment in compliance with project and statutory requirements.

Team Development & Governance

• Recruit, mentor, and develop a high-performing team spanning electrical engineers and proposals specialists.
• Establish quality assurance processes, design review gates, and engineering governance frameworks.
• Drive continuous improvement in engineering workflows, digital tools (CAD, simulation, PDM, estimating software), and technical standards.
• Prepare and present technical reports, proposal status updates, and project progress summaries to senior management.

Qualifications & Experience

Education

• Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering (B.Eng. or B.Sc.) from an accredited university. A Master's degree is an advantage.
• Professional Engineering (PE) license or Chartered Engineer (CEng) status is highly desirable.

Experience

• Minimum 10 years of progressive experience in industrial electrical engineering, with at least 5 years in a leadership/ Managerial position with team size of 10+ members
• Demonstrated experience delivering major EPC or EPCM projects in oil & gas, petrochemicals, power generation, or heavy industry.
• Proven track record leading or overseeing a technical and commercial proposals function, with direct involvement in bid preparation, cost estimation, and client negotiations for LV and MV equipment services.
• Hands-on experience with the full lifecycle of LV/MV electrical equipment services — from bid preparation through design, supply, installation, testing, commissioning, and hand-over.
• Proven track record in technical procurement of high-value electrotechnical equipment including switchgear, transformers, MCCs, VFDs, UPS, and protection systems.
• Experience working in the GCC region and familiarity with Saudi Aramco, SABIC, or SEC engineering standards is strongly preferred.

Technical Skills

• Deep expertise in HV/MV/LV power systems design, protection and control, and earthing/grounding.
• Proficiency with power system analysis tools (ETAP, SKM, or equivalent).
• Working knowledge of electrical area classification, hazardous area equipment (ATEX/IECEx), and intrinsic safety.
• Proficiency with engineering design tools: AutoCAD Electrical, EPLAN, SmartPlant, or equivalent.
• Experience with estimating and proposal tools for LV/MV scopes; ability to develop detailed BOQs, cost models, and commercial structures for complex electrical bids.

Leadership & Soft Skills

• Demonstrated ability to lead large, cross-functional, multicultural engineering teams.
• Strong negotiation, vendor management, and stakeholder communication skills.
• Strategic thinker with solid commercial awareness and project financial acumen.
• Excellent written and spoken English; Arabic language skills are an asset.