Lead Specialist, Maintenance Operation

The Lead Specialist, Maintenance Operation, reports to the Manager, Maintenance and is responsible for enhancing maintenance programs across Cheniere’s operating assets. This position drives strategy development, standardizes governing documents, ensures regulatory compliance, optimizes maintenance operations, and provides work management expertise to site teams. This role collaborates with site maintenance and reliability teams, engineering, operations, and leadership to drive consistency and efficiency in maintenance operations. This position offers the opportunity to influence multiple departments and engage with all levels of Cheniere, from individual contributors to Executive Management.

RESPONSIBLITIES AND ESSENTIAL DUTIES

Strategy & Program Development:

- Develop, implement, and standardize maintenance governing documents (e.g., standards, procedures, and best practice guidelines).

- Support the continuous improvement of preventive and corrective maintenance programs to enhance facility efficiency and safety.

- Collaborate with the Supply Chain Management team to ensure the maintenance groups receive necessary support in inventory management and supplier contract administration (spares management, inventory stock parameters, stock out analysis, preservation program, asset repairs/refurbishments, supplier selection, etc.)

- Serve as the focal point for assurance efforts related to the maintenance key processes and the Functional Verification program.

Budget Support & Analysis:

- Lead the annual budget process across all maintenance disciplines

- Support cross-asset alignment of cost budgeting and capturing

- Provide in-depth analysis of costs and basis for changes (+/-)

- Liaison across all departments ensuring TAR schedule related activities captured within respective departmental budgets

- Ensure budgeted costs accurately reported within financial reporting system

Maintenance Expertise and Analytics:

- Stay informed of LNG industry trends, challenges, and regulations, proactively exploring innovative solutions to enhance maintenance practices and outcomes.

- Support the development and implementation of fit-for-purpose guidelines to ensure efficient and appropriate maintenance of complex equipment and assets.

- Apply project management methodologies to effectively support maintenance optimization projects and initiatives.

- Review and analyze maintenance metrics to identify gaps, opportunities and propose new metrics as necessary to track performance and drive continuous improvement.

- Facilitate the collection and validation of maintenance data, analyzing benchmarking results to identify improvement opportunities internally across sites and against industry peers.

Technological Proficiency:

- Participate and support in the selection and implementation of maintenance tools, software, and best practices to streamline workflows.

- Support and actively work improve the existing maintenance technologies, software systems, and data analytics tools used for asset management and performance optimization.

- Ensure efficient and coordinated usage of the CMMS and other related applications (scheduling tools, etc.).

- Support the prioritization and review IT tickets associated with the CMMS and any other Maintenance applications, in coordination with sites.

- Oversee the Master Data Change Request (MDCR) process within the CMMS.

- Review all configuration changes, including but not limited to software upgrades, new functionalities, and master data changes common to all sites.

- Support IT projects that can directly or indirectly impact Maintenance, gathering and communicating key requirements to the project team, participating in configuration and testing efforts, and ensuring the final solutions meet the Maintenance groups needs and training is properly conducted.

- Stay updated on emerging technologies and innovations in maintenance and asset management.

Cross-Functional Collaboration and Communication:

- Act as a liaison between maintenance support and site maintenance teams to align maintenance goals with business objectives.

- Support cross-functional efforts to boost maintenance execution and efficiency.

- Provide training and mentorship to site maintenance personnel to ensure adherence to corporate maintenance standards.

- Act as primary contact for Cheniere Integrated Management System (CIMS) initiatives tied to key Maintenance processes.

- Build and maintain strong relationships with key stakeholders-maintenance teams, engineering, and operations-to drive organizational goals.

- Proactively identify and resolve process, communication, or interpersonal challenges with effective solutions that help improve collaboration.

- Facilitate effective communication among teams and key stakeholders, ensuring that information flows across departments and tailor communication to each group’s specific needs.

KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS

Knowledge:

The Lead Specialist, Maintenance Operation should possess a broad and thorough knowledge base and skill set to effectively promote maintenance excellence while demonstrating expertise in best practices, including preventive, predictive, and reliability-centered maintenance. This includes role-specific skills such as strategic planning, analytical skills, maintenance expertise, and technological proficiency. Additionally, soft skills such as leadership, effective communication, and cross-functional collaboration are essential

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE

- Education and Certifications: Bachelor’s degree in mechanical, chemical, or other engineering function or equivalent combination of education, training, and experience. Professional Engineer (PE) and/or Project Management Professional (PMP) is a plus.

- Experience: Ten plus (10+) years of experience in an operational readiness, operations management, or operations business support role within natural gas, refining or petrochemical industry. LNG experience is preferred.

DIRECT REPORTS

Contractors (as assigned)

WORK CONDITIONS

- Job is performed at a plant site and typical office environment, but is subject to time pressures and constraints, and is often dependent on input from others.

- Occasionally, may be required to perform work from home, after normal work hours or on weekends.

- May be required to work overtime.

- Subject to drug and alcohol testing, per applicable federal regulations or as required by Cheniere.

ADA JOB REQUIREMENTS

Reasonable accommodations will be made to ensure that the essential functions of the job can be performed and not hinder the employee's performance due to physical, mental, or emotional disability.

EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY

Cheniere Energy is an equal opportunity workplace. All employment decisions are made without regard to sex, race, color, religion, national origin, citizenship, age, disability, marital or veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other legally protected categories. This includes providing reasonable accommodation if requested for disabilities or religious beliefs and practices.