This is a Permanent, Full Time vacancy that will close in {x} days at {xx:xx} BST.
The Vacancy
The role: We are looking to recruit a Mechanical Project Engineer to join our Engineering Team. It is preferable that the successful candidate will live within reasonable commuting distance of an OPA asset, or be prepared to travel as required to satisfy work commitments.
The successful candidate will plan and manage the programme of Mechanical and mixed trades Minor New Works Projects at the facilities operated and maintained by the OPA. Ensuring that all work is executed on time and to budget/estimates and in full compliance with company standards and applicable legislation.
This role requires the postholder to work in conjunction with the appropriate Technical Authority for the OPA in respect to Mechanical Engineering activities, associated with projects or engineering works currently ongoing across the facilities operated and maintained by the OPA. With responsibility for all stages of development and implementation of a number of projects and/or engineering works at various locations at any one time, and the management of all aspects of Project delivery overseeing third party contractors/professional contract engineers, or consultant companies, who conduct engineering activities on various projects or engineering works on behalf of OPA.
There will be a need to build strong working relationships with all internal stakeholders and in particular HSSEQ and the relevant Depot Engineers as well as with external stakeholders including O&M and other contractors, Competent Authority (CoMAH) representatives .
There will be some travel with overnight stays to sites within the UK and occasional overseas travel to support the business as required. Therefore a full (preferably) clean driving licence is essential for this role.
Responsibilities:
Lead the management and inspection of Static Equipment to include pipelines, tanks, vessels, and associated equipment.
Function as an EMMUA 159 / API 563 Tank Assessor for all OPA managed facilities.
Lead the management and inspection on all pipeline systems in accordance with API 570 within the OPA managed Facilities.
Be a key contributor to the improvement of project management systems, procedures, and workflows.
Plan and manage the programme of works for Engineering Projects & Mechanical tasks associated with Engineering in line with company standards and relevant and UK / European legislation, ATEX, PLSG, API, EEMUA etc.
Develop Mechanical scopes of work at concept, FEED and detailed design level.
Develop the scope of works based on 3rd party inspection reports/data.
Develop budgets and forecasts for programme of work.
Liaise with other members of the OPA Asset Technical Team on standards & codes.
Identify and select suppliers in line with relevant legislation and Agency procedures.
Produce detailed programme of works/Gantt charts etc.
Working knowledge of COMAH, MOC, and CDM regulations.
Full details of the responsibilities can be found in the job description for this role, which is available to download at the bottom of this page.
The candidate: Candidates must hold a relevant Mechanical Engineering degree or HNC/HND with relevant experience, and be able to demonstrate significant project management experience, preferably within a COMAH regulated industry/operation. As well as being Chartered or working towards Chartership with a relevant Institution.
Required Knowledge and skills:
Have extensive experience of leading direct and indirect technical engineering projects and Stakeholder groups / teams engaged in the delivery of complex projects within demanding time, quality, and cost constraints,
Able to demonstrate good management / people relationship skills, in particular team management and dealing with Contractors,
Solid understanding of good project management principles; able to act as an “intelligent client.”
Excellent communication skills at all levels,
Mechanical engineering design and installation in a hazardous area process plant environment,
Ability to develop new ideas and solutions and have an awareness of current and new emerging technologies,
Working knowledge of current legislation relating to industry such as API, EEMUA, ASME, ATEX, BS, PSLG, COMAH, CDM etc.
Stage 1 Interviews: 27 August 2026 (By Teams)
Stage 2 Interviews: 8 September 2026 (Face to face, Location Tbc)
The Organisation
The Oil & Pipelines Agency is a Public Corporation formed by the Oil and Pipelines Act 1985.
Our current primary purpose is to manage, operate and maintain 6 Naval OFD’s (Oil Fuel Depots) and 1 Petroleum Storage Depot in the UK, as well as overseas, on behalf of the MOD. We currently have around 200 employees in the UK.
The Benefits
30 days Holiday [Plus Bank Holidays]
4 x annual salary life assurance [after probation] & Group Income Protection Policy
Generous Pension Scheme
Group Healthcare Scheme (permanent staff only)
The Values
Innovation
We are creative and fearless in our work.
Accountability
We take ownership of our work and lead from the front.
Teamwork
We collaborate widely and build supportive environments.
The Values
PROTECT
PROTECT PEOPLE & THE ENVIRONMENT FROM HARM
RESPONSIBILITY
WE HOLD OURSELVES ACCOUNTABLE & ACCEPT OUR RESPONSIBILITIES AT ALL LEVELS
INTEGRITY
INTEGRITY, HONESTY AND AN OPEN CULTURE ENGENDERS TRUST
DIGNITY
BE CONSIDERATE AND RESPECTFUL TO OTHERS
EXCEED
WE STRIVE FOR EXCELLENCE IN ALL WE DO
Our Mission
To deliver and enable optimal energy outcomes, in order to enable resilience, operational capability and advantage for UK Defence.
Our Vision
To be the enduring partner of choice for UK Defence operational energy delivery.
Documents
The Oil & Pipelines Agency humanresources@opa.gov.uk Head Office: St George’s House, Weevil Lane, Gosport PO12 1AP
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Privacy Policy
The Oil and Pipeline AgencyPrivacy Statement
This notice explains how The Oil and Pipelines Agency (OPA) obtains, uses and protects the personal information that it holds about applicants during the recruitment process. Contact details for Data Protection Officer are set out at the end of this notice.
OPA complies with Data Protection legislation.
The OPA is the "Data Controller" for the purposes of the Data Protection legislation. As the “Data Controller” we ensure we comply with the Data Protection legislation and only processes your personal data accordingly. We do not use a Data Processor, other than Cifas, although OPA could be considered a Data Processor where an application is submitted by an Agency on behalf of a candidate.
As defined by the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) The Oil and Pipeline Agency is the Data Controller and ultimately responsible for ensuring the data you provide is kept secure, processed correctly and that you understand your legal rights in relation to the data you provide.
What information do we collect from you?
We collect information that is specifically provided by you as part of an application process. We will collect the following (but not limited to):
Name, address, email, telephone number
CV (if applicable)
Equal opportunities monitoring information (defined as special categories data) - this information is purely for statistical analysis and monitoring purposes
Answers to application questions
Any other information you wish to provide in support of your application
What is personal information?
Personal information broadly means information that identifies, or which could identify (with other information that we hold or are likely to hold), a living individual. This includes any information provided to us by, or on behalf of, you.
What types of personal information might we hold about you?
We collect and process the information about you that you provide by filling in forms either electronically or through our online recruitment portal. We may also have information about you through correspondence with us, either directly with you or with an Agency handling your application with us, by telephone, email or otherwise. We may hold and process any or all of the following personal information about you:
Personal details such as your name, gender, age, date of birth, contact details (e.g. your address and postcode, email, telephone and mobile numbers), and identifiers such as your National Insurance number;
Employment details such as previous career history, termination details, job titles, training and qualification;
Information to confirm you eligibility to legally work within the UK;
Information about ethnic origin or other such data collected as part of our Equal Opportunities monitoring, which are not mandatory to provide.
Why do we hold this information?
We hold this information because we need it to process your application for roles within OPA. Without your personal information we cannot consider your application.
We may use unique identifier information, such as your National Insurance number, passport number, or email address for the purposes of sending communications to you and verifying your identity.
Using your information in accordance with Data Protection Laws
Data Protection Laws require us to meet certain conditions before we are allowed to use your personal information in the way described in this privacy notice.
We rely on a condition known as 'legitimate interests' in order to use this information in the way described in this privacy notice. We have legitimate interests in collecting and processing your personal information as we need this to process your application for roles in OPA.
We will keep the amount of personal information collected and the extent of any processing to the minimum.
We will only process ‘sensitive’ or ‘special categories' of personal information under the Data Protection Laws (e.g. information about your health) where you have explicitly consented to this by providing us with such information (such as Equal Opportunities Monitoring) or where there is an alternative legal basis for processing this information under the Data Protection Laws.
What do we do with the information?
We may use your personal information for a number of purposes relating to the processing of your application:
To consider your application and whether to select you for interview.
For internal record keeping of the recruitment process.
Complying with our legal obligations, any relevant industry or professional rules and regulations or any applicable voluntary codes.
Cifas membership - Insider threat database
The personal information we have collected from you will be shared with Cifas who will use it to prevent fraud, other unlawful or dishonest conduct, malpractice, and other seriously improper conduct. If any of these are detected you could be refused certain services or employment. Further details of how your information will be used by us and Cifas, and your data protection rights, can be found by going to: www.cifas.org.uk/fpn or emailing HumanResources@opa.gov.uk and requesting a copy of the full fair processing notice.
What do we do with the information?
We may use your personal information for a number of purposes relating to the processing of your application:
To consider your application and whether to select you for interview.
For internal record keeping of the recruitment process.
Complying with our legal obligations, any relevant industry or professional rules and regulations or any applicable voluntary codes.
How long do we keep your information for?
We will hold your personal information on our systems for a maximum of 12 months following the completion of the application process, unless you are the successful candidate.
You will receive an automated email towards the end of the 12 month period, informing you that your personal information will be delete from our systems. You will have an opportunity to refresh you application, if you wish us to hold your information for any potential future vacancies. However, this can only be refreshed for a further year, at which point the automated email will be sent again.
Who do we share the information with?
Where appropriate for the purposes of processing your application we may share your information with:
The OPA management that are involved in the recruitment process for a specific role.
We may share feedback through an Agency, if your application was submitted by a 3rd Party on your behalf.
A Recruitment Agency may also be controllers under the Data Protection Laws, and they should have informed you of their Privacy Notices.
Where we store your personal data
The data that we collect from you will be stored in the UK.
Your rights in relation to your personal information
The accuracy of the information that we hold about you is important to us. If any of the information that we hold is inaccurate or out of date, please let us know using the contact details set out at the end of this notice.
You have a number of rights under the Data Protection Laws in relation to the way we process your personal data, namely:
To access your data;
To have your data rectified if it is inaccurate or incomplete;
To certain circumstances, to have your data deleted or removed;
In certain circumstances, to restrict the processing of your data;
A right of data portability, namely to obtain and reuse your data for your own purposes across different services;
To object to direct marketing (although we do not carry out direct marketing);
Not to be subject to automated decision making (including profiling), where it produces a legal effect or a similarly significant effect on you (we only use automated decision making in regard to your eligibility to legally work in the UK); and
To claim compensation for damages caused by a breach of the Data Protection Laws.
If you wish to exercise any of these rights, please contact the Human Resources Director (Data Protection Officer) using the contact details below.
We will aim to respond to any request received from you within one month from your request.
Please note that we may be unable to delete or remove your data whilst we still need this to process your application or to maintain the recruitment records in the event we are challenged on whether a fair process was utilised – see the section 'How long do we keep information for?' above.
Any complaints?
If you are not happy with the way in which your personal information is held or processed, please contact us using the details below. You also have the right to complain about data protection matters to the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO).
The ICO is the UK's independent body set up to uphold information rights. You can find out more about the ICO at:
We keep our privacy notice under regular review, and may change it at any time. We will tell you about any significant changes.
Contact us
If you have any queries about this privacy notice, or wish to exercise any of the rights above, or if you have any other questions about OPA’s recruitment process, please contact:
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