About us
Worley is a global company of energy, chemicals and resources experts headquartered in Australia. We partner with our customers to deliver projects and create value across the life of their assets. We specialize in consulting, engineering, procurement and construction across the project lifecycle, with services extending through to operations and decommissioning. Leveraging extensive experience and AI-enabled delivery, we support customers in navigating complexity as they meet today's needs and transition to more sustainable solutions.
Why Does This Position Exist?
The Study Manager exists to lead Worley studies and small-value engineering projects from Conceptual Engineering, Pre-Front End Engineering Design, Front End Engineering Design and, where required, into Detailed Design. The role is intended for a process-led Chemical Engineer who can define development options, test them technically and economically, recommend the preferred scheme, and develop the selected scheme to the level required for the next project gate.
The position is particularly focused on brownfield and existing-facility work, including debottlenecking, capacity improvement, operability improvement, safeguard review, tie-in definition and practical implementation planning. The Study Manager must be able to work directly with senior client management, asset stakeholders, operations teams, technical authorities and internal Worley leadership, and must be able to defend recommendations under intense technical, commercial and governance scrutiny.
This is a hands-on leadership role. It is not a purely administrative project coordination role. The role requires strong process engineering judgement, front-end project development experience, commercial awareness, stakeholder confidence, excellent presentation skills and the ability to resolve conflict without losing control of the study outcome.
Priority
What - How - Why
Responsibility
% of total job
1
Study and small project delivery
·Plan, lead and deliver small-value Worley studies, small Front End Engineering Design packages, plant modification projects and engineering packages from Conceptual Engineering through Pre-Front End Engineering Design, Front End Engineering Design and selected Detailed Design scope.
·Prepare and control the study execution plan, deliverable register, assumptions register, decision register, action tracker, risk register and stakeholder engagement plan.
·Coordinate multi-discipline work so that process, safety, layout, mechanical, piping, pipeline, electrical, instrumentation, civil, structural, estimating, planning, procurement, construction, commissioning and start-up inputs are integrated from the outset.
·Ensure outputs are sufficiently mature for the agreed project phase, the required estimate class, the next investment or execution gate, and where applicable procurement, shutdown, turnaround, commissioning and start-up planning.
Accountable for assigned study / project delivery. Shared responsibility with Project Manager for cost and schedule. Shared responsibility with Engineering Manager for technical assurance.
20%
2
Conceptual engineering, option identification and debottlenecking
·Lead conceptual engineering for existing facilities, small projects, small Front End Engineering Design packages and plant modifications, including definition of constraints, operating cases, bottlenecks, interfaces, battery limits and technical success criteria.
·Identify feasible development, debottlenecking and implementation options using process engineering judgement, site data, operating history, process models, equipment adequacy checks and discipline inputs.
·Eliminate non-viable or uneconomic options early, shortlist practical options, and define each shortlisted option to a comparable level of maturity for fair technical and economic evaluation.
·Develop the selected scheme to the depth required for Front End Engineering Design and, where required, support transition into Detailed Design, procurement support, construction planning, shutdown execution, commissioning and start-up.
Accountable for option development and recommendation quality. Responsible for ensuring decisions are traceable to data, assumptions, calculations and agreed evaluation criteria.
18%
3
Technical and economic evaluation of options
·Lead structured option evaluation covering safety, operability, constructability, maintainability, capital cost, operating cost, schedule, shutdown and turnaround impact, production value, risk, carbon / energy impact where relevant, procurement constraints, commissioning needs, start-up risk and implementation complexity.
·Work with estimators, planners and discipline leads to produce realistic option cost and schedule inputs appropriate to the study phase.
·Prepare option selection reports, decision papers and recommendation packs suitable for senior management approval.
·Defend technical and commercial recommendations when challenged by client stakeholders, asset teams, reviewers and management committees.
Accountable for the integrity of the option evaluation process. Shared responsibility with estimator and planner for cost and schedule basis.
12%
4
Stakeholder management and executive-level presentation
·Build trusted working relationships with client senior management, operations, asset teams, technical authorities, project teams, vendors, licensors and internal Worley leadership.
·Prepare and deliver clear, confident and persuasive presentations to senior stakeholders, steering committees and decision boards.
·Translate complex process and multi-discipline issues into practical business choices without hiding uncertainties or overselling weak options.
·Maintain control of meetings, workshops and challenge sessions, especially where stakeholder views conflict or decisions are under intense scrutiny.
Accountable for study-level stakeholder communication and recommendation presentation. Shared responsibility with Project Manager for client relationship management.
12%
5
Governance, quality, assurance and decision defensibility
·Ensure all study outputs are based on approved data, documented assumptions, clear exclusions, appropriate engineering standards and defined review cycles.
·Maintain decision traceability through assumptions, option screening criteria, risk registers, minutes, action close-out and client approval records.
·Drive interdisciplinary reviews, technical checks, value reviews, hazard review preparation and management review readiness.
·Challenge weak discipline inputs, unsupported assumptions, optimistic schedules and hidden scope so that issues are closed before they become client, site or execution problems.
Accountable for study governance and decision defensibility. Shared responsibility with Engineering Manager and discipline leads for technical quality.
9%
6
Commercial, schedule and small-project control
·Manage the study, small Front End Engineering Design, plant modification or small-project scope, budget, schedule, progress reporting, resource forecast and change control in line with Worley procedures and agreed client requirements.
·Recognise scope growth early and ensure additional work, review cycles, site visits, vendor support, data gaps or rework are raised through the correct change process.
·Support preparation of proposals, schedules, estimates, execution plans and technical qualifications for new studies and small projects.
·Ensure the delivery model is proportionate to the project value, avoiding unnecessary over-engineering while still protecting technical quality, constructability, procurement readiness, commissioning readiness and Worley risk position.
Accountable for technical delivery within the approved scope. Shared responsibility with Project Manager for commercial performance and change control.
9%
7
Procurement, shutdown, commissioning and start-up interface
·Work with procurement teams to ensure study and Front End Engineering Design outputs define the right vendor packages, long-lead items, technical requisition inputs, enquiry support needs and vendor information requirements.
·Liaise with construction, commissioning and start-up teams so that plant modifications are practical to install, test, commission and start within planned shutdown or turnaround windows.
·Ensure shutdown and turnaround constraints are considered during option selection, including isolation, access, lifting, tie-ins, temporary operations, pre-shutdown work, reinstatement and restart risk.
·Capture procurement, commissioning and start-up risks in the study risk register and ensure they are reflected in the selected scheme definition.
Accountable for ensuring execution interfaces are recognised early and reflected in scheme definition. Shared responsibility with procurement, construction, commissioning and start-up leads.
7%
8
People leadership, conflict resolution and team performance
·Lead multi-discipline teams in a direct, calm and practical manner, setting clear expectations for deliverables, interfaces, review dates, quality and decision deadlines.
·Resolve conflicts between disciplines, client stakeholders, operations, vendors and internal teams while keeping the study moving toward defensible decisions.
·Coach less experienced engineers in front-end thinking, option development, stakeholder handling and study discipline.
·Create a team environment where technical challenge is encouraged and decisions are brought to closure in a controlled and respectful way.
Accountable for leadership of the assigned study team. Shared responsibility with discipline managers for personnel development and resource quality.
6%
9
Business development and client growth
·Identify follow-on opportunities arising from studies, brownfield constraints, debottlenecking opportunities, implementation phases and client strategic priorities.
·Support Worley proposals with credible scopes, assumptions, execution strategies, deliverable lists, estimates and technical differentiators.
·Represent Worley professionally in client meetings, workshops and industry discussions.
·Demonstrate value through practical technical insight, disciplined option definition and clear business cases rather than generic sales language.
Shared responsibility with General Manager, Project Manager, Sales / Business Development and Technical Directors.
4%
10
Health, safety and environmental leadership
·Demonstrate visible and active commitment to personal safety, process safety, healthy workplaces and environmental performance.
·Ensure safety, environmental and operability risks are considered from the earliest option identification stage and carried through into scheme definition, shutdown planning, commissioning and start-up readiness.
·Support Worley requirements for safe execution, safe design, risk management and continuous improvement.
Accountable for visible leadership and for embedding safety thinking into study decisions. Shared responsibility with Health, Safety and Environment and Technical Safety leads.
3%
Experience
Qualification
·Required: minimum 15 years of relevant engineering experience, with substantial experience in process-led front-end studies and small engineering projects.
·Preferred: 15+ years of experience, including at least 5 years leading Conceptual Engineering, Pre-Front End Engineering Design, Front End Engineering Design or small Detailed Design projects.
·Demonstrated experience in brownfield debottlenecking, option identification, option selection, economic evaluation and scheme definition.
·Experience working in or with engineering consultancies, front-end engineering companies, engineering contractors and client organisations.
·Experience in oil, gas, refining, petrochemical, chemicals, energy transition or industrial process facilities is preferred.
·Experience presenting to senior client stakeholders, steering committees or management decision boards is required.
·Required: Bachelor degree in Chemical Engineering or equivalent recognised qualification.
·Required: strong Process Engineering background.
·Preferred: Chartered Engineer or equivalent professional registration.
·Preferred: postgraduate qualification in engineering, project management, business, economics or a relevant technical subject.
·Project management training or certification is beneficial, but must not substitute for strong process and front-end engineering capability.
Extent of Guidance or Control:
·Works under general direction of the Project Manager, General Manager, Director of Studies or delegated manager.
·Has significant freedom to structure and lead the technical study approach within agreed scope, budget, schedule and Worley governance requirements.
·Expected to escalate material scope, cost, schedule, quality, safety, stakeholder or commercial issues in a timely manner.
Decision Making:
·Has authority to recommend study approach, option screening criteria, deliverable strategy, meeting structure, review process and issue readiness for assigned studies.
·Has authority to challenge and reject inadequate discipline inputs before client issue, subject to Worley quality and approval processes.
·Recommends preferred technical options and scheme definitions; investment approval, contract approval and final commercial commitments remain with authorised management and client decision makers.
Budgetary Responsibility:
·Manages assigned study or small-project budget, resource forecast and progress reporting in coordination with the Project Manager and Project Controls.
·Identifies scope growth and supports change management, including technical justification for variations where required.
·May support preparation of study and small-project estimates, proposals and resource plans.
Impact of Decisions on Results:
·Decisions influence project viability, client investment direction, Worley commercial exposure, study quality, delivery performance and follow-on work.
·Poor option framing or weak scheme definition can result in rework, wrong investment decisions, cost growth, schedule delay, safety risk and loss of client confidence.
Position Significance Relative to Total Organisation:
·Important role for growth and delivery of front-end, brownfield, debottlenecking and small-project work within Worley.
·Provides a bridge between technical process leadership, project management, client business objectives and multi-discipline engineering execution.
Operating environment: The role operates in a high-scrutiny environment where early project decisions may be challenged by clients, asset teams, operations, technical authorities, management committees and internal assurance reviewers. The Study Manager must be able to lead with technical credibility, calm judgement and commercial awareness.
Key internal relationships: General Manager, Project Manager, Engineering Manager, discipline managers, process department, estimating, planning, project controls, document control, business development, technical safety, procurement, construction, commissioning and start-up teams.
Key external relationships: Client management, client technical authorities, asset and operations teams, vendors, licensors, specialist consultants and regulatory or assurance bodies where applicable.
Critical success factors: Clear option framing, defensible recommendations, practical scheme definition, strong stakeholder control, effective conflict resolution, disciplined change management, realistic scope definition and high-quality presentation of technical and economic conclusions.
Position’s Reporting Manager
Project Manager / Director of Studies / General Manager Delegate / Engineering Director
Other positions reporting to Study Manager
Project Engineers, Engineering Managers, Discipline Leads, Project Controls, Document Control, as assigned
Moving forward together
We want our people to be energized and empowered to drive sustainable impact. So, our focus is on a values-inspired culture that unlocks brilliance through belonging, connection and innovation. We're building a diverse, inclusive and respectful workplace. Creating a space where everyone feels they belong, can be themselves, and are heard.
And we're not just talking about it; we're doing it. We're reskilling our people, leveraging transferable skills, and supporting the transition of our workforce to become experts in today's low carbon energy infrastructure and technology. Whatever your ambition, there's a path for you here.
And there's no barrier to your potential career success. Join us to broaden your horizons, explore diverse opportunities, and be part of delivering sustainable change.

Worley is a global professional services company of energy, chemicals and resources experts headquartered in Australia.
We’re bridging two worlds, accelerating the shift to more sustainable energy sources, while helping our customers provide the energy, chemicals and resources society needs now.
We partner with customers to deliver projects and create value across the life of their asset portfolios. From consulting and engineering to installation, commissioning, decommissioning and remediation, we provide integrated, data-centric solutions that help solve complex challenges, including those in renewable energy, energy storage, and carbon capture, utilization and storage (CCUS).