Operational Readiness Principal

Hatch • Houston, TX

11d • Remote

About The Position

CORE brings together the necessary elements of a project to achieve nameplate value and deliver peak asset performance. We take a staged approach to verifying technical readiness and ensuring organizational preparedness, right up to achieving full operational capacity.

We are conducting a global search for Principals and Senior Principals in Operational Readiness to lead strategy, planning and execution operational readiness for mega projects worldwide. This is a rare opportunity for individuals who combine deep technical expertise in operations, operations excellence, and operational readiness with strategic leadership and client engagement skills.

As an experienced professional, you will act as a trusted leader, safety champion, and mentor of operational readiness professionals. Beyond delivering engagements, you will engage with clients to grow Hatch’s CORE practice and unlock business opportunities.

We are looking for professionals who think and act like owners, thrive on creating new approaches and improving processes, and can bridge technical execution with strategic foresight to deliver exceptional client value. Most importantly, you will inspire and develop our teams to be the best operational readiness professionals there is, sustaining the growth of our expertise for decades to come.

Candidates must be willing to travel to meet teams and clients including remote project sites as required, and participate in site assignments, sometimes requiring fly-in/fly-out arrangements for periods of time.

Requirements

• 15+ years in operation excellence, operational readiness program delivery, with proven leadership with additional consideration given to past experience on mega projects (>$1B).
• Cross-functional experience and exposure to a variety of roles and responsibilities within operations (site management, production, maintenance, health, safety, environment and community, warehouse and inventory management, etc.).
• Demonstrated experience leading Operational Readiness (OR) programs or major OR workstreams on large, complex projects, including greenfield developments within organizations with low maturity.
• Proven experience in building practices focused on operations improvement, operational readiness, asset management, commissioning and/or ramp-up.
• Strong understanding of asset lifecycle, maintenance programs, digital systems (CMMS / EAM), training systems, spares strategy, and operational processes.
• Demonstrated success in client engagement and business development.
• Deep experience in one of our three (3) main sectors: Metals (from mining to minerals processing, to metallurgy (pyro & hydro) Energy (Nuclear Power, Hydro Power, Thermal Power, Renewable Power, Energy Storage, Power Distribution, Oil & Gas) Infrastructure (Water, Transit, Rails, Ports & Terminals, Aviation, etc.)
• Strategic planning and site execution leadership and management expertise.
• Exceptional leadership, communication, facilitation and stakeholder management skills.
• Ability to manage complexity and deliver under pressure.
• Safety-conscious and ethical.
• Collaborative, committed to long-term success—not transactional.
• Entrepreneurial mindset with ambition to grow into influential leadership roles.
• Client relationship, communication and team building acumen
• Ability to interact and connect with all levels (top leadership and working levels) of the organization
• Ability to identify business opportunities for CORE operational readiness but also for all other services of Hatch
• Competent technical communicator and able to adapt to the audience (empathy): facility to adapt script to the context of the audience and to simplify the messaging when required
• Interest in providing governance and support on projects

Nice To Haves

• Candidates must be willing to travel to meet teams and clients including remote project sites as required, and participate in site assignments, sometimes requiring fly-in/fly-out arrangements for periods of time.

Responsibilities

• Role model, safety culture, Collaborative leadership, and behaviors.
• Develop and implement OR strategies, frameworks, and execution plans covering workforce, systems, documentation, maintenance readiness, training, asset integrity, logistics, and business process readiness.
• Lead OR programs from early definition through execution and ramp‑up, ensuring alignment with project objectives, operating philosophy, and asset performance requirements.
• Guide projects through readiness assessments, risk reviews, readiness gates, and stage‑appropriate deliverables.
• Drive integration between Construction, Completions, Commissioning, and Operations to ensure a seamless “path to operations.”
• Support major projects in applying best practice OR methodologies, tools, and systems.
• Oversee planning, scheduling, and resource allocation across project phases from early FEL stages to sustaining operations as well as brownfields/capital improvement phases.
• Lead site operational readiness integrated team, ensuring safe, quality, and timely delivery.
• Advise, guide and support the owner team, operation and functional teams, operational readiness management team and other internal and external stakeholders with delivering safe and effective operational readiness programs.
• Travel to remote sites when required, including fly-in/fly-out assignments if applicable.
• Identify opportunities where OR services bring value to clients in early study phases, project execution, or operational improvement.
• Act as a thought leader for OR across the organization and outside—writing guidance documents, presenting at internal and external forums, sharing lessons learned, and mentoring teams.
• Lead proposal development, scopes of work, and execution strategies for OR engagements.
• Act as a trusted advisor, elevating conversations beyond execution to strategic value.
• Represent Hatch in client meetings, governance forums, and project steering committees.
• Mentor and coach emerging operational readiness managers, fostering a culture of safety, professional growth and excellence.
• Work seamlessly across borders in a flat, connected organization aligned with Hatch’s values.
• Promote a one‑team culture that aligns OR activities with project requirements and operational goals
• In collaboration with Hatch’s Global Director of Operational Readiness, bring best practices and drive innovation in operational readiness practices and improve processes for better client outcomes.

Benefits

• Flexible work environment
• Long term career development
• Think globally, work locally

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Principal
• Education Level: No Education Listed