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Job DescriptionRole Summary
The Interface Manager is one of the most critical positions on a brownfield RKEF smelter expansion project. Acting as the central coordination point between the PMC, Owner, EPC Contractor, Operations, Commissioning, Supply Chain, and Regulatory stakeholders, the role ensures that the numerous organizational, technical, physical, and operational interfaces required to integrate a second production train into a live smelting facility are identified, managed, and successfully executed without compromising safety, schedule, cost, or ongoing production. In many respects, the Interface Manager becomes the integrator of the project, ensuring that no gap exists between what one party delivers and what the next party requires.
Role Purpose
The Interface Manager is responsible for identifying, managing, coordinating, and resolving all project interfaces associated with the expansion of an operating Nickel Smelter through the addition of a second Rotary Kiln Electric Furnace (RKEF) production train.
As part of the PMC organization, the Interface Manager provides independent oversight and coordination between the Owner, EPC Contractor(s), Operations Team, suppliers, regulators, utility providers, and commissioning teams, ensuring that interface risks are proactively identified and managed throughout project execution.
The role is critical in a brownfield environment where the new production train must be integrated into an operating facility while maintaining safe and uninterrupted production from the existing Train 1.
The Interface Manager serves as the custodian of the project Interface Management System and is responsible for ensuring decisions, responsibilities, actions, and handoffs between organizations are clearly defined, tracked, and closed in a timely manner.
Key Accountabilities
The Interface Manager is accountable for:
- Development and maintenance of the Project Interface Management Plan.
- Establishment and management of the Interface Register.
- Identification and mitigation of interface risks.
- Coordination between the Owner, Operations, EPC Contractor(s), and PMC.
- Management of brownfield and operational interfaces.
- Coordination of shutdown and tie-in activities.
- Resolution of interface-related issues and conflicts.
- Support of commissioning and handover activities.
- Protection of project schedule through effective interface management.
- Ensuring accountability for interface deliverables.
Principal Responsibilities
1. Interface Management Leadership
- Develop and implement the project Interface Management Strategy.
- Establish interface management procedures, workflows, and reporting systems.
- Lead the PMC Interface Management function.
- Promote interface management as a proactive project discipline.
- Ensure interface ownership and accountability are clearly defined.
- Develop interface governance and escalation processes.
- Facilitate timely resolution of interface issues.
2. Interface Identification and Control
Develop and maintain a comprehensive Interface Register covering all project phases.
Identify and manage interfaces relating to:
- Organizational Interfaces
- Owner and PMC
- PMC and EPC Contractor(s)
- EPC Contractor and Operations
- EPC Contractor and Vendors
- EPC Contractor and Regulatory Authorities
- PMC and Commissioning Teams
- Technical Interfaces
- Process systems
- Utilities
- Infrastructure
- Power systems
- Control systems
- Mechanical systems
- Physical Interfaces
- Existing facilities
- New Train 2 facilities
- Utilities corridors
- Roads and access areas
- Laydown areas
- Port facilities
Monitor interface status through to closure.
3. Brownfield Interface Management
This is a critical responsibility of the role.
Lead management of all interfaces between:
- Existing operating facilities
- Construction activities
- Commissioning activities
- Future operations
Responsibilities include:
- Identification of all brownfield interfaces.
- Development of interface control plans.
- Facilitation of interface workshops.
- Coordination with Operations personnel.
- Monitoring interface action closure.
- Ensuring operational requirements are incorporated into project planning.
Particular focus areas include:
- Production continuity
- Operational access
- Utility availability
- Process integration
- Shutdown execution
- SIMOPS activities
4. Operations Interface Management
Act as the key PMC focal point between the project team and operating plant.
Responsibilities include:
- Coordinate project activities impacting operations.
- Facilitate regular interface meetings with Operations.
- Maintain interface action registers.
- Coordinate plant access requirements.
- Manage operational constraints.
- Support readiness planning.
- Ensure operational concerns are addressed.
Key stakeholders include:
- Plant Manager
- Operations Superintendent
- Maintenance Superintendent
- Reliability Teams
- Utilities Teams
5. Utility and Infrastructure Interface Management
Coordinate interfaces associated with:
- Electrical Systems
- High-voltage distribution
- Substations
- Transformer integration
- Energization activities
- Water Systems
- Raw water
- Cooling water
- Process water
- Fire water systems
- Utility Systems
- Compressed air
- Fuel systems
- Communications systems
- Process gases
- Infrastructure
- Roads
- Drainage
- Port facilities
- Warehousing
- Power generation facilities
Ensure responsibilities and integration requirements are clearly defined.
6. Shutdown and Tie-In Coordination
A major responsibility of the role.
Coordinate all project interfaces related to planned shutdowns and tie-ins.
Responsibilities include:
- Develop interface requirements for shutdown activities.
- Coordinate tie-in planning across all stakeholders.
- Facilitate shutdown readiness reviews.
- Track shutdown preparation activities.
- Ensure scope responsibilities are clearly assigned.
- Escalate unresolved interface constraints.
Typical tie-ins include:
- Power distribution systems
- Water systems
- Instrumentation systems
- Communications systems
- Material handling systems
- Process systems
Ensure shutdown windows are achieved without unnecessary impact on Train 1 production.
7. Engineering Interface Management
Coordinate engineering interfaces between:
- EPC contractor disciplines
- Technology licensors
- Vendors
- Existing plant systems
- Owner technical teams
Responsibilities include:
- Monitor technical interface resolution.
- Coordinate interface workshops.
- Review design interface matrices.
- Identify design integration risks.
- Ensure engineering decisions are documented and communicated.
Special attention shall be given to:
- Furnace integration
- Kiln integration
- Utility systems integration
- Control systems integration
- Power system integration
8. Supply Chain and Logistics Interfaces
Work closely with the Supply Chain Manager to manage:
- Supplier interfaces
- Vendor support requirements
- Equipment delivery sequencing
- Site logistics interfaces
- Heavy-lift interfaces
- Laydown area constraints
Particular attention should be paid to:
- Chinese equipment suppliers
- Long-lead equipment packages
- Heavy transport routes
- Port-to-site logistics
9. Construction and Commissioning Interfaces
Coordinate handover interfaces between:
- Construction
- EPC Construction Teams
- PMC Construction Teams
- Operations Teams
- Commissioning
- Construction Completion Teams
- Commissioning Teams
- Operations Teams
Support:
- System handovers
- Mechanical completion
- Punch list management
- Start-up readiness
Ensure interface issues do not delay commissioning.
10. SIMOPS Management Support
Work closely with Construction and HSE teams to manage interfaces associated with simultaneous operations.
Activities include:
- Construction adjacent to live facilities.
- Energization activities.
- Utility outages.
- Shutdown works.
- Heavy lifting activities.
- Commissioning within operating areas.
Ensure interface risks are identified, assessed, and mitigated.
11. Interface Risk Management
Develop and maintain the Interface Risk Register.
Typical risks include:
- Operational Risks
- Production interruptions.
- Utility outages.
- Access restrictions.
- Technical Risks
- Design integration failures.
- Incomplete tie-in design.
- Vendor interface issues.
- Schedule Risks
- Missed shutdown windows.
- Delayed tie-ins.
- Interface-driven delays.
- Organizational Risks
- Unclear responsibilities.
- Communication failures.
- Escalation delays.
Monitor mitigation actions and escalate emerging risks.
12. Reporting and Governance
Produce regular interface management reports including:
- Weekly Reports
- Open interface actions.
- Critical interface issues.
- Shutdown preparation status.
- Escalated matters.
- Monthly Reports
- Interface performance metrics.
- Risk status.
- Action closure trends.
- Brownfield readiness status.
- Shutdown readiness status.
Chair:
- Interface Coordination Meetings.
- Brownfield Interface Reviews.
- Shutdown Readiness Reviews.
- Operational Interface Meetings.
RKEF-Specific Interface Focus Areas
The Interface Manager should understand the integration requirements associated with:
- Process Facilities
- Rotary Kilns
- Electric Furnaces
- Electrode Systems
- Furnace Transformers
- Ore Drying Systems
- Coal Handling Systems
- Slag Handling Systems
- Ferronickel/NPI Handling Systems
- Utilities
- Power generation
- HV substations
- Water systems
- Fuel systems
- Compressed air systems
- Control systems
- Existing Plant Integration
- Shared utilities
- Shared infrastructure
- Existing operations
- Maintenance access
- Emergency response systems
- Environmental systems
Qualifications
Education
- Bachelor's Degree in Engineering, Construction Management, Project Management, or related discipline.
Preferred Qualifications
- PMP Certification
- APM or equivalent
- Interface Management Training
- Systems Engineering Qualification
- Major Projects Leadership Training
Experience
Essential
- Minimum 15 years of experience on major industrial projects.
- Minimum 8 years in senior interface, project engineering, construction management, project integration, or operational readiness roles.
- Demonstrated brownfield project experience.
- Experience in large industrial processing facilities.
Preferred
- Nickel, copper, ferroalloy, steel, mining, LNG, power, refinery, or petrochemical projects.
- RKEF nickel smelting projects.
- PMC, Owner's Engineer, or EPCM environments.
- Indonesian project experience.
- Experience working with Chinese EPC contractors and suppliers.
- Experience managing operational interfaces within live facilities.
Technical Competencies
- Interface Management
- Interface registers
- Interface matrices
- Stakeholder management
- Organizational coordination
- Risk management
- Project Execution
- Brownfield project delivery
- Shutdown planning
- SIMOPS management
- Operational readiness
- Commissioning interfaces
- Systems
- Primavera P6
- Interface Management Systems
- SharePoint
- Power BI
- Document Management Systems
Leadership Competencies
- Strong communication skills
- Negotiation and influencing
- Conflict resolution
- Stakeholder management
- Facilitation skills
- Organizational awareness
- Cultural sensitivity
- Decision-making and escalation management
Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)
- Interface Management
- Interface Register maintained and current.
- Interface actions closed within agreed timeframes.
- No major interface-related delays.
- Brownfield Execution
- Successful coordination of Train 1 and Train 2 activities.
- Effective management of SIMOPS.
- Minimal disruption to ongoing production.
- Shutdown and Tie-Ins
- Shutdown activities completed within approved windows.
- Tie-ins executed safely and successfully.
- No critical interface failures during execution.
- Schedule Support
- Interface risks identified early.
- Critical interfaces resolved before impacting milestones.
- No avoidable delays caused by unresolved interfaces.
- Stakeholder Satisfaction
- Positive feedback from Operations, Owner, PMC, and EPC teams.
- Effective cross-functional coordination.
- Timely escalation and resolution of issues.
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