Distributed Controls System Specialist

Your Responsibilities

Reporting to the Superintendent, Core Systems, the Senior Distributed Control System Specialist is responsible to manage the workflows and procedures that the team uses when working on the DCS equipment, connected systems and backbone networks. The Senior DCS Specialist supervises maintenance execution and new additions commissioning from a leadership, safety, and performance point of view. This individual coordinates and prioritizes the daily work assignments of technicians and change projects for specialists according to the weekly maintenance schedule and MoC prioritization process. This individual generates and clearly communicates team objectives, and ensures adherence to plant standards and work procedures for the DCS installations at the site.

General Responsibilities

• Lead and develop direct reports through daily interactions and Performance Management Process.
• Use the coaching and assessing guideline and tools and perform regular check-ins with crew.
• Receive notifications and review work requests in advance to identify any conflicting work and to ensure the task is organized and ready for execution.
• Prepare Safe Work Permits as the requestor, attend daily permit coordination meetings with production.
• Support DCS Technicians and Specialists during execution with tools, consumables or troubleshooting support as required.
• Inspect completed tasks for compliance to site standards and programming norms.
• Inspect work areas and audit crew SWP/LOTO/FLHAs/etc. and ensure all hazards are actively mitigated and communicated.
• Share feedback on completed jobs with the planner to ensure job plans are always being improved.
• Develop corrective maintenance work instructions and job aids when required and organize training and roll out planning associated.
• Ensure schedule compliance and work with the production area coordinators regarding any priority break-in requests.
• Ensure technical competency of DCS Technicians and Specialists, monitor LSO for all crew members.
• Manage vacation, absenteeism, overtime and on-call rotation.
• Support the planner on laying out the schedule for the next week, provide available crew man-hours.
• Support other supervisors with manpower allocation.
• Identify any systematic or recurring issues with the Core Systems Reliability Specialist and/or Plant Engineering teams.
• Attend design review meetings for new projects to ensure maintainability and common trade practices are observed in the design phases.
• Ensure required PPE and specialty tools are available and maintained for execution tasks.
• Develop direct reports and coach crew in safe work performance.
• Lead all safety incident investigations and support the process engineer through the root cause and reporting process.
• Lead monthly crew safety meetings, ensure crew attendance is mandatory.
• Develop lockout isolation plans related to the Plant Control Systems for maintenance and troubleshooting tasks.
• Issue permits on all DCS equipment installations and areas as detailed in the permitting matrix.

Detailed Tasks

• Check shift start tool and share pertinent information with crew each morning in toolbox meetings.
• Manage the DCS work center backlog, including maintenance, project, and commissioning tasks.
• Instill a high sense of ownership of issues when assigning notifications to DCS Specialists.
• Receive contractor-completed work orders and associated attachments (reports, check sheet, LEMS).
• Review and sign LEMS and provide copy to planner.
• Ensure all new installations performed by contractor trades in the DCS area are completed to site standards and trade norms.
• Operation of the DCS equipment including tasks such as lifecycle management and identification of gaps.
• Evaluate and implement new interfaces and ensure system security is adequately considered.
• Perform routine inspections of equipment/areas/system configuration.
• Issue permits to contractors and trades when working within the area based on the SWP matrix.
• Implement LOTOs (when necessary).
• Development of maintenance work instructions, job aids, job safety analysis, quality and test sheets such as DCS commissioning checklist for new and MoC project execution.
• Retain all these documents up to date and ensure team adherence according to the document process.
• Development of maintenance and production training modules for inclusion with training modules such as supplement documents on complex DCS control system sequences.
• DCS control philosophies and methodology CP&T integration and commissioning execution support such as interface for weekly scheduling and execution coordination.
• System configuration of new projects and manage manpower for successful execution according to the schedule.

Ideal Candidate

The ideal candidate will have:

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering (Automation, Chemical, Computer), or Computer Science with past Automation work experience.
• Registered with APEGS as a P.Eng or Limited Licensee.
• 8+ years' technical supervisory experience strongly preferred.
• 2+ years' experience in conflict management.
• 8+ years' experience in a heavy industrial process setting (potash-direct supervisory experience in heavy industrial or mining environments preferred).
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Display a reasoned perspective and bring resolution to issues while considering all areas of impact.
• Ability to provide leadership in improving performance and efficiencies within the working group.
• Ability to identify opportunities for continuous improvement within working groups.
• Provide direction and review the work of the team.
• Well-developed skills to foster the development of high performance by providing ongoing coaching and support.
• Ability to hold employees accountable for results and commitments.
• Demonstrated working knowledge of Sask OH&S Act and Regulations.
• Competent in MS Word, Excel, Project.
• Competency in SAP is an asset.

Employment Conditions

Employment is subject to successfully completing KSPC's pre-employment checks which may include criminal record check, education verification, functional fitness evaluation and drug and alcohol testing. To ensure consideration for this role, please apply by November 07, 2023.

Company Values

By living our common K+S values across all our locations in the world: We are optimistic about our future, collaborative in building it, and with our entrepreneurial spirit, we aim to dig deeper and reach higher. We remain agile in an ever-changing world. We are innovative, turning obstacles into opportunities - and we do it all in ways that are safe and sustainable, protecting future generations. We are committed to being a company where every employee can contribute, grow and thrive, and where we reflect the diverse communities in which we live and work. We are working toward a truly inclusive environment, because we know that the amazing array of differences in our backgrounds, competencies, experiences, race, gender, age, beliefs, sexual orientation, identity and their intersections is key to the longevity, sustainability and growth of our organization.

Career Opportunities

In a career with K+S Potash Canada (KSPC), you can look forward to:

• Good People and Great Culture: Be part of a team committed to building an innovative and diverse culture.
• Challenge and Growth: We support your growth and potential through professional development, training, and a robust performance recognition program.
• Valuable Compensation: Our total target compensation is competitive and benchmarked to the market.
• Supporting Benefits: Our comprehensive, employer-paid benefits program includes Life, Disability, Health and Dental, as well as competitive Retirement benefits, Employee and Family Assistance Program, paid work time to help out in your community (volunteer with a sports team or a charitable organization of your choice) and more!