By Mark Tauber
At KAP Project Services, we’ve been involved in countless turnarounds and have seen the good, the bad and the ugly. As a leader in technology-enabled solutions for STOs, capital projects and maintenance events since 2005, we’re here to give you the inside scoop on the role of a turnaround manager.
Key Roles and Responsibilities
A turnaround manager at KAP is responsible for overseeing multiple teams and ensuring the seamless execution of every phase of a turnaround project. Their primary duties include:
- Team Coordination: Identifying and assigning team members, evaluating and selecting contractors and ensuring everyone understands their roles and responsibilities.
- Timeline Management: Allocating timelines for deliverables, keeping the team focused on key objectives and ensuring the project stays within schedule and budget constraints.
- Resource and Cost Management: Assessing the needs for people, equipment and materials to minimize downtime, optimize the project schedule and manage project costs effectively.
- Performance Monitoring: Leading multiple teams, managing asset downtime and conducting post-mortem evaluations to glean insights for future projects.
- Executive Alignment: Understanding and aligning with executive goals and objectives, which can be set as much as three years in advance, to ensure the project’s success.
Biggest Challenges
The role of a turnaround project manager comes with several challenges:
- Team Integration: Successfully bringing together siloed teams, such as operations, corporate groups and inspection departments, to function as a cohesive unit.
- Experience Gaps: Managing young engineers who may lack extensive turnaround experience or management training.
- High Stakes: Ensuring every minute of downtime is minimized, as it represents a lost profit opportunity, making schedule adherence and efficiency crucial.
- Understanding the End Goal: A significant challenge is not having a complete understanding of “what good looks like from beginning to end,” which is crucial for ensuring project success.
What KAP Looks for in Turnaround Managers
At KAP, we connect you with the best turnaround managers in the business, based on your specific needs. Here’s what sets our managers apart:
- Experience: Our managers have significant experience in operations, maintenance and engineering and are capable of executing complex deliverables.
- Proven Track Record: A demonstrated ability to communicate with stakeholders and drive team performance.
- Leading-Edge Technology Integration: Utilizing our proprietary STOlogix platform, which provides visibility to stakeholders and ensures that our managers stay relevant and innovative. KAP is known for integrating experience with the new wave of technology.
- Specific Personality Traits: Our turnaround managers are direct, inclusive and focused individuals with a desire to serve and lead. They possess effective communication and leadership skills, a genuine interest in helping and leading others, and the ability to provide course corrections and quality assurance while focusing on strategic oversight.
- Motivational Skills: Ability to motivate a team and guide them toward a common goal, acting as a coach who sets vision and drives performance.
Where KAP Comes In
Are you in need of a top-tier turnaround manager to lead your next project to success? Contact us today to learn how KAP Project Services can connect you with the best turnaround managers tailored to your specific needs.
Are you a skilled turnaround manager looking to join a team that values your expertise and offers innovative tools to support your work? Apply now to become part of the KAP Project Services team and take your career to the next level.
Mark Tauber
Director of Operations — Indorama
Mark Tauber is a seasoned professional with over 20 years of experience in the petrochemical industry, specializing in project planning, maintenance management and project control. His deep knowledge of both owner and contractor perspectives, combined with his commitment to integrating new technology, provides KAP’s clients with a distinct advantage in executing successful STO events. Mark’s dedication to continuous growth and his strong relationships within the industry make him a trusted leader in delivering exceptional project outcomes.