Domain Principal– Refinery operations & Transformation

Preferred Location: San Antonio/ FindlayRole SummaryThe Senior Consultant / SME for Refinery Operations serves as a trusted advisor to refinery leaders, bringing deep operational expertise and a forward‑looking perspective on next‑generation refining.This role blends domain expertise, digital fluency, and consultative storytelling to help customers modernize operations, improve reliability, and accelerate their transformation toward autonomous, AI‑enabled refining.The SME will lead strategic conversations with operators, assess operational maturity, identify high‑value transformation opportunities, and shape roadmaps that integrate advanced technologies, modern work practices, and data‑driven decision‑making.Role Description:· Provide consulting advisory on refinery operations, including crude/vacuum units, hydrotreating, hydrocracking, FCC, reforming, utilities, and offsites· Diagnose operational bottlenecks, reliability issues, and process inefficiencies across planning, scheduling, execution, and maintenance.· Advise on best‑in‑class operating practices, margin optimization levers, and integrated value‑chain decision‑making.· Lead conversations on AI‑centric operations, autonomous workflows, digital twins, APC/ML optimization, and connected worker solutions.· Shape transformation roadmaps covering process observability, predictive operations, advanced analytics, and integrated operations centers· Facilitate executive‑level discussions with refinery managers, operations leaders, and technology stakeholders.· Conduct workshops, assessments, and value‑engineering sessions to uncover opportunities and quantify impact· Provide domain input into solution architecture, use‑case design, and implementation planning.Required Qualifications• 15+ years of experience in refinery operations, technical services, production planning, or process engineering.• Demonstrated expertise in one or more major refinery process units.• Strong understanding of digital technologies used in modern refining (APC, RTO, digital twins, ML/AI, advanced sensors, connected worker platforms).• Proven ability to engage senior refinery stakeholders and lead strategic, transformative conversations.• Excellent communication, storytelling, and executive‑presence skills.• Ability to translate operational challenges into structured transformation initiatives.• Experience with integrated operations centers or remote operations models.• Exposure to cloud‑based industrial platforms, data architectures, and OT/IT convergence.• Prior consulting experience with operators or NOCs, would be preferred.• Experience shaping multi‑year transformation programs.