Planner

Job Title: Strategic Turnaround Planner / Junior Project Manager

Job Description

The Strategic Turnaround Planner will support the planning and execution of large-scale refinery turnaround events—scheduled shutdowns that occur every few years to inspect, repair, upgrade, and certify critical equipment. This position is ideal for an early-career project manager who thrives in complex, fast-paced environments and wants to transition into the oil and gas sector. You will coordinate cross-functional teams, develop detailed project plans and schedules, and help ensure that turnaround activities are completed safely, on time, and within budget. The role offers significant visibility, close collaboration with engineering, operations, safety, procurement, and contractor teams, and the opportunity to develop deep expertise in large industrial projects.

Responsibilities

• Develop and refine the scope of work for major turnaround events, ensuring that all required maintenance, inspections, and upgrades are clearly defined.
• Lead cross-functional planning sessions with operations, engineering, and maintenance teams to align objectives, clarify requirements, and coordinate work packages.
• Build detailed project plans and schedules for turnaround activities, including timelines, resource plans, and execution strategies.
• Coordinate contractor strategy, including defining roles, integrating contractor work into the overall plan, and supporting procurement processes.
• Identify project risks related to schedule, cost, safety, and quality, and develop mitigation strategies to protect turnaround targets.
• Track and report on key performance indicators (KPIs) throughout planning and execution to ensure progress against goals.
• Manage internal and external stakeholders, maintaining clear and proactive communication with operations, engineering, maintenance, safety, procurement, and contractor teams.
• Monitor schedule progress, workforce productivity, and resource utilization during execution, and recommend adjustments as needed.
• Oversee day-to-day contractor coordination during the turnaround, ensuring seamless collaboration with internal teams and alignment with project plans.
• Quickly identify and resolve issues that could impact schedule, safety, or cost, escalating appropriately and coordinating corrective actions.
• Reinforce and model a strong culture of safety across all turnaround activities, ensuring that safety expectations are clearly communicated and followed.
• Ensure all turnaround work is completed to specification, properly documented, and smoothly transitioned back to operations.
• Lead or participate in post-event reviews to capture lessons learned, performance insights, and improvement opportunities.
• Translate lessons learned into enhanced strategies, processes, and plans for future turnaround events.
• Maintain organized documentation, planning archives, and historical data to support continuous improvement and future event planning.

Essential Skills

• 2–6 years of project management experience, preferably in environments with multiple stakeholders and competing priorities.
• Demonstrated experience coordinating or managing projects involving cross-functional teams.
• Strong organizational and planning skills, with the ability to build and maintain detailed project schedules and plans.
• Proven ability to manage multiple stakeholders, balancing diverse needs and priorities while maintaining alignment with project goals.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to lead meetings, convey complex information clearly, and provide concise updates.
• Demonstrated leadership capabilities, including influencing without direct authority and fostering collaboration among internal and external teams.
• Strong problem-solving skills and a proactive mindset, with the ability to identify issues early and develop practical solutions quickly.
• Comfort working with project schedules, reporting tools, and data to monitor progress and support decision-making.
• Ability and willingness to learn refinery operations and turnaround processes and to be trained in the specifics of the oil and gas industry.
• Ability to work hard in a demanding environment, maintain focus under pressure, and support time-sensitive turnaround activities.

Additional Skills & Qualifications

• Experience in project management from industries such as construction, manufacturing, logistics, consulting, municipal operations, medical, hospitality, retail, or similar is highly valued.
• Experience with project management tools, scheduling software, or enterprise systems is a plus.
• Background in coordinating construction or mechanical projects is beneficial for understanding turnaround scopes and activities.
• Familiarity with working in industrial, manufacturing, or process-plant environments is an advantage.
• Strong stakeholder engagement skills, including building relationships with contractors, vendors, and internal departments.
• Interest in developing a long-term career in large industrial projects and the oil and gas sector.

Work Environment

This role is based at a large refinery in Superior, Wisconsin, a key regional energy hub that has operated for decades and produces significant volumes of asphalt, gasoline, diesel, heavy fuel oils, and LPG. The facility processes approximately 49,000 barrels of light and heavy crude oil per day, sourced from regional and Canadian fields. The refinery has undergone reconstruction with enhanced safety measures following a major incident, and it operates under rigorous safety and operational standards. The primary focus of this role is planning and supporting a major turnaround event scheduled for 2028, expected to last approximately 30–45 days and centered on mechanical overhauls of process equipment. The standard work schedule is approximately 40 hours per week during normal planning periods, with the potential for increased intensity and extended hours as the turnaround approaches and during execution. You will work closely with engineering, operations, maintenance, safety, procurement, and contractor teams in a highly collaborative environment that values safety, reliability, and continuous improvement. The setting is an industrial refinery environment, which may include time spent in offices for planning and analysis as well as time in the field to review scopes, observe equipment, and support execution activities. Appropriate industrial attire and personal protective equipment are required when working in operating areas.

This is a Contract position based out of Oregon, OH.

The pay range for this position is $45.00 - $60.00/hr.

Eligibility requirements apply to some benefits and may depend on your job classification and length of employment. Benefits are subject to change and may be subject to specific elections, plan, or program terms. If eligible, the benefits available for this temporary role may include the following:
• Medical, dental & vision
• Critical Illness, Accident, and Hospital
• 401(k) Retirement Plan – Pre-tax and Roth post-tax contributions available
• Life Insurance (Voluntary Life & AD&D for the employee and dependents)
• Short and long-term disability
• Health Spending Account (HSA)
• Transportation benefits
• Employee Assistance Program
• Time Off/Leave (PTO, Vacation or Sick Leave)

This is a fully onsite position in Oregon,OH.

This position is anticipated to close on May 13, 2026.

Diversity, Equity & Inclusion

At Actalent, diversity and inclusion are a bridge towards the equity and success of our people. DE&I is embedded into our culture through:

• Hiring diverse talent
• Maintaining an inclusive environment through persistent self-reflection
• Building a culture of care, engagement, and recognition with clear outcomes
• Ensuring growth opportunities for our people

Actalent is an equal opportunity employer.

About Actalent

Actalent is a global leader in engineering and sciences services. For more than 40 years, we’ve helped visionary companies advance their goals. Headquartered in the United States, our teams span 150 offices across North America, EMEA, and APAC—with four delivery centers in India led by 1,000+ extraordinary employees who connect their passion with purpose every day.

Our Bangalore, Hyderabad, Pune, and Chennai delivery centers are hubs of engineering expertise, with core capabilities in mechanical and electrical engineering, systems and software, and manufacturing engineering. Our teams deliver work across multiple industries including transportation, consumer and industrial products, and life sciences. We serve more than 4,500 clients, including many Fortune 500 brands. Learn more about how we can work together at actalentservices.com.