Company:
INEOS Olefins & Polymers USAInterested in joining a winning team? A team whose employees are empowered to make a difference?
INEOS Olefins & Polymers USA
Interested in joining a winning team? A team whose employees are empowered to make a difference?
Job title: Equipment Integrity Manager and Technical Authority
Location: Houston Area Operating Sites
job Grade: H37
Organizational Context and Job Purpose
The Olefins & Polymers USA division of INEOS USA LLC (O&P) ranks among North America's largest producers of olefins and polyolefins. From its manufacturing locations at Chocolate Bayou and the Battleground Manufacturing Complex, it is a merchant marketer of butadiene, ethylene, polypropylene and high-density polyethylene with annual revenue of over $4b. Within this division, the Pipeline Supply Organization (PSO) manages the Stratton Ridge (SR) salt dome storage facility, the Hobbs Fractionation Complex (HFC), and over 500 miles of pipelines in the South Texas area.
Purpose of the Role
The Equipment Integrity Technical Authority is INEOS O&P USA’s most senior authority for fixed equipment integrity. The role defines and governs enterprise standards, inspection strategies, and asset-care practices that protect the mechanical integrity of piping, pressure vessels, tanks, and heat exchangers across more than $15B in assets. Decisions made in this role directly safeguard the company’s license to operate, regulatory compliance posture, and protection from catastrophic equipment failures.
The TA2 leads enterprise-wide technical governance, ensures sites operate within required standards, and approves any deviations or deferrals that could impact integrity, compliance, or asset value. The role shapes long-term mechanical integrity strategy, influences ~$175MM in annual maintenance/inspection spend, and drives a multi-year transformation to unify systems, expectations, and practices across all O&P USA sites.
The position is also recognized across INEOS as a technical expert expected to engage in industry forums, stay ahead of emerging standards, and ensure O&P USA maintains leadership in equipment integrity management.
Business Context
INEOS O&P USA is a major contributor to INEOS Group performance—yet operates aging assets with significant variability in standards, work practices, and mechanical integrity maturity. The enterprise is undergoing a major transformation to implement a corporate Operations Management System (OMS) and centralize discipline leadership through a new Engineering & Technology organization.
This role is central to that change. The TA2 will help shift the organization from site-based autonomy to a unified enterprise model with consistent standards, expectations, and discipline leadership. Success requires someone with deep technical mastery, proven experience setting policy across large manufacturing environments, and the resilience needed to drive cultural and technical change.
The position serves as the single point of accountability for all mechanical integrity matters across O&P USA.
Key Accountabilities
1.Enterprise Standards & Technical Governance
Own and maintain fixed-equipment engineering and inspection standards (API 510/570/653/579/520/521, etc.).
Govern RBI, FFS, NDE, and lifecycle integrity work processes.
Exercise final decision authority on standard compliance, deferrals, and derogations.
Serve as the enterprise Technical Authority for all fixed equipment decisions.
2. Strategic Problem Solving & Framework Development
Solve complex, multi-site integrity challenges with no internal precedent.
Develop enterprise frameworks and programs that define long-term integrity performance.
Anticipate emerging risks and implement proactive mitigation strategies.
Monitor industry trends and ensure O&P USA stays ahead of regulatory and technical expectations.
3. Inspection Program Assurance
Ensure each site’s inspection program complies with codes, IGGNs, and OMS standards.
Conduct periodic assurance reviews and drive closure of identified gaps.
Review and approve all high-criticality inspection deferrals.
Prevent improper risk transfer through scope deferral or inadequate mitigation.
4.Transformation & Change Leadership
Define and execute the multi-year strategy to elevate equipment integrity across O&P USA.
Lead the transition to standardized enterprise processes and expectations.
Align site leadership teams around new standards and ways of working.
Ensure tools, processes, and work systems enable long-term reliability and cost performance.
5. Enterprise Coaching & SME Leadership
Provide expert consultation to site leaders and inspection/engineering teams
Coach teams in RBI, FFS, DMRs, inspection interval logic, and weld repair practices.
Lead discipline forums to share threats, best practices, and lessons learned.
6. TAR & Capital Scope Assurance
Ensure TAR scope generation aligns with EI priorities and risk reduction needs.
Endorse EI scope and advise on residual integrity risks.
Influence maintenance, inspection, and integrity-linked capital investment strategy.
Ensure inspection findings drive capital planning.
7. Performance Monitoring & Continuous Improvement
Track leading indicators of integrity risk and overdue inspections/deferrals.
Lead focused improvement initiatives addressing systemic gaps.
Integrate lessons from incidents, audits, and peer benchmarking.
8. Functional Leadership
Define competency and training expectations for all EI-related roles.
Lead a central team of EI SMEs and influence all site-based EI professionals.
Stay connected to site priorities and provide technical challenge and advocacy.
9. External Engagement & Industry Leadership
Participate in INEOS discipline networks and external committees (API, AFPM, etc.).
Bring forward external learnings to strengthen internal systems.
Represent INEOS in industry forums.
10. Contract Strategy & Technical Stewardship
Set technical expectations for inspection and engineering service providers.
Support procurement strategy, vendor qualification, and performance reviews.
Endorse new technologies and third-party solutions.
Required Qualifications
Education & Experience
Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, Materials Science, or related field (advanced degree preferred), and
20+ years in mechanical integrity, inspection, or fixed equipment engineering in refining/petrochemicals/heavy industry
Deep working knowledge of API 510/570/653/579, API 520/521, ASME codes, and applicable RAGAGEP
Proven leadership in RBI, FFS, inspection strategy, weld repair, and relief systems
Experience with OSHA PSM Mechanical Integrity requirements
Demonstrated ability to set policy and drive compliance across large, diverse organizations.
Participation in external technical committees or industry networks strongly preferred.
Technical Skills
Recognized authority in fixed equipment integrity.
Expertise in RBI, FFS, asset lifecycle strategy, and degradation/damage mechanisms.
Experience supporting TAR planning/execution and capital projects.
Strong judgment in high-stakes engineering decisions.
Ability to apply financial and commercial understanding to integrity decisions.
Behavioral Skills
High integrity, sound judgment, and technical courage.
Strong ability to influence without direct authority.
Builds trust across functions and levels.
Excellent communication skills, able to translate complex engineering into business impact.
Resilient change agent able to drive cultural and technical transformation.
Sees systemic risk patterns and acts proactively.
Maintains a long-term view while delivering near-term improvements.
Earns credibility by creating value—not just enforcing compliance.
Location & Reporting
This role is based in the Houston metropolitan area, supporting multiple INEOS O&P USA locations including the Battleground Manufacturing Complex in La Porte, the Chocolate Bayou plant, and the Pipeline organization across Southeast Texas.
Most locations are within driving distance of each other and the expectation is that this role spends the majority of time embedded at operating sites, providing hands-on technical leadership where equipment risk and reliability decision-making occur. A secondary presence is expected at the corporate office at Marina View in League City for collaboration with central teams and leadership.
The position reports to the Engineering & Technology Manager and works in close partnership with site engineering, maintenance, operations, turnaround, and capital project leadership teams.
The role leads a small central reliability function and influences all reliability, mechanical, and maintenance professionals across the enterprise.
Hybrid work is supported consistent with the INEOS O&P USA hybrid work policy, with the expectation that remote work is used to enhance productivity, while on-site presence remains essential to effectively support machinery reliability, coach site personnel, and maintain strong engagement with operating teams.
Our culture is one of honesty and integrity with an emphasis on safety, health and environmental performance. On our team, people are acknowledged for embracing new practices that help create real value for customers.
Our culture is one of honesty and integrity with an emphasis on safety, health and environmental performance.On our team, people are acknowledged for embracing new practices that help create real value for customers.