POSITION OVERVIEW
The Functional Safety Retrofit (SIS) Execution Planner is a contract role responsible for planning and coordinating the safe execution of Safety Instrumented System (SIS) retrofit work in an operating industrial facility. This position is not limited to traditional instrumentation and electrical (I&E) maintenance planning; it is focused on planning the execution required to replace, modify, and commission legacy SIS components while maintaining functional safety and operational continuity.
The role bridges I&E maintenance planning, capital project construction, turnaround coordination, operations, and process safety. The planner will develop detailed execution plans for hot-swap and retrofit activities that bring existing SIS assets into compliance with ISA 84 / IEC 61511 requirements. Work must be planned and sequenced in accordance with the Functional Safety lifecycle, the approved Safety Requirements Specification (SRS), management of change requirements, validation criteria, bypass controls, proof testing, and final handover documentation.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
● Develop detailed execution plans for SIS retrofit activities involving replacement, modification, migration, or hot-swap of existing safety instrumented system components.
● Plan work in alignment with ISA 84 / IEC 61511 functional safety lifecycle requirements, including SRS-controlled execution, validation, proof testing, documentation, and handover.
● Prepare and manage detailed cutover plans for instrument transition from DCS to SIS with minimal operational disruption.
● Coordinate SIS retrofit scope between I&E maintenance, operations, engineering, capital projects, construction contractors, turnaround teams, process safety, and HSE.
● Create TAR-level work packages covering construction, commissioning, and cutover activities, including managing timelines and contingency planning.
● Ensure all activities comply with project specifications and functional safety requirements.
● Develop detailed job plans that define work scope, sequencing, isolations, bypass requirements, temporary safeguards, testing steps, resources, tools, materials, and estimated labor hours.
● Plan hot-swap execution activities so that safety instrumented functions remain protected by approved compensating measures while equipment is removed, replaced, tested, or returned to service.
● Review and interpret P&IDs, cause-and-effect diagrams, loop sheets, logic narratives, electrical one-lines, wiring diagrams, instrument data sheets, SIF lists, SIL verification data, and SRS documentation.
● Ensure execution plans identify all prerequisites for safe work, including permits, isolations, bypass approvals, MOC status, LOPA/SIL assumptions, commissioning holds, validation requirements, and operations signoffs.
● Prepare and maintain execution schedules using Primavera P6, MS Project, or equivalent tools, integrating SIS retrofit work with construction, maintenance, outage, and turnaround activities.
● Identify, reserve, and coordinate procurement of transmitters, logic solver components, final elements, cables, panels, marshalling equipment, spare parts, test equipment, and special tools required for planned SIS work.
● Perform field walks with operations, I&E technicians, engineering, and contractors to validate scope, access, tie-in points, demolition requirements, safety hazards, constructability, and commissioning constraints.
● Coordinate pre-job meetings, daily execution huddles, SIMOPS reviews, and readiness reviews to align scope, resources, risk controls, schedule windows, and system status.
● Track SIS retrofit work from planning through execution, loop checks, functional testing, validation, punch-list resolution, close-out, and turnover to operations.
● Support QA/QC and commissioning by ensuring completed work meets approved design, SRS, test procedure, and functional safety requirements before system reinstatement.
● Maintain accurate work order, job plan, material, schedule, test, and close-out data in the CMMS and project control systems.
● Identify execution risks, schedule conflicts, bypass duration concerns, material gaps, or functional safety impacts and escalate with recommended mitigation plans.
● Support compliance with OSHA PSM, EPA RMP, NEC, ISA 84 / IEC 61511, site SIS standards, and applicable company procedures.
● Participate in planning and scheduling meetings, presenting work readiness, execution status, risks, and close-out progress to leadership and stakeholders.
● Perform other duties as assigned by supervision.
QUALIFICATIONS
● Minimum 8 years of experience in instrumentation and/or electrical maintenance, planning, commissioning, or project execution in a refinery, petrochemical, chemical, midstream, or similar industrial facility.
● Associate's or Bachelor's degree in Instrumentation, Electrical Technology, Engineering Technology, Automation, or Controls preferred.
● ISA Certified Functional Safety Expert or similar certification preferred.
● Experience with scheduling tools such as Primavera P6 or MS Project.
● Demonstrated experience developing detailed I&E job plans, execution plans, schedules, material lists, labor estimates, and work packages for field execution.
● Working knowledge of Safety Instrumented Systems, Safety Instrumented Functions, SIL requirements, bypass controls, loop checks, proof testing, validation, and commissioning practices.
● Familiarity with ISA 84 / IEC 61511 functional safety lifecycle concepts, including SRS requirements, management of change, verification, validation, operation, maintenance, and modification control.
● Ability to read and interpret P&IDs, cause-and-effect diagrams, logic narratives, loop sheets, electrical one-lines, wiring diagrams, instrument data sheets, SIF lists, and commissioning/test procedures.
● Experience coordinating work across operations, maintenance, engineering, project construction, contractors, HSE, and process safety stakeholders.
● Proficiency with CMMS platforms such as SAP PM, IBM Maximo, or equivalent for work order planning, material coordination, and close-out documentation.
● Strong organizational, communication, and field coordination skills with the ability to manage concurrent work fronts in an operating facility.
● Direct experience planning SIS retrofit, controls migration, PLC/logic solver replacement, hot cutover, or hot-swap execution work preferred.
● Experience supporting functional safety assessments, SIL verification, proof test procedure development, SRS updates, or SIS validation activities.
● Turnaround, outage, SIMOPS, or brownfield construction planning experience in a refinery, petrochemical, chemical, or midstream environment.
Pay: $4,000.00 - $5,000.00 per week
Benefits:
Work Location: In person
Sign in to browse authentic reviews, anonymous ratings and salary data before you apply.