Job Description

Permit to Work Controller – VCM Storage Project

Contract | Outside IR35 | North East

Wolviston Management Services is supporting a major North East terminal operator with a specialist VCM Storage Project and is looking to appoint an experienced Permit to Work Controller on a contract basis.

This is an Outside IR35 opportunity supporting a high-hazard project within an operational terminal environment. The project will involve the inspection, repair and upgrade of a VCM storage sphere, with activities including mechanical works, asset integrity inspection, hot works, welding, scaffolding, working at height and contractor coordination.

This is not a general permit administration role. We are looking for someone with strong Safe Systems of Work experience who is confident coordinating permits across multiple work fronts in a high-hazard operational environment.

Role Overview

The Permit to Work Controller will be responsible for coordinating and controlling the project Permit to Work process, ensuring that all works are properly planned, risk assessed, authorised, monitored and closed out safely.

The role will involve close liaison with operations, engineering, maintenance, construction teams, contractors and HSE personnel to ensure safe execution of work across the project.

Key Responsibilities

Coordinate the project Permit to Work process in line with site procedures.

Review permit packs, RAMS, method statements, isolations and supporting documentation.

Maintain visibility of active, suspended and closed permits.

Support daily permit meetings and SIMOPS reviews.

Coordinate hot work, mechanical work, working at height, scaffolding, lifting and any confined space-related permits where applicable.

Ensure appropriate isolation, lock-off/tag-out, gas testing and hand-back arrangements are in place.

Liaise with operations, project teams and contractors to prevent work-front conflicts.

Escalate unsafe conditions, incomplete controls or changes in site conditions.

Stop or suspend work where permit conditions are not being met.

Support permit close-out, shift handover and project assurance requirements. Essential Experience

Previous experience as a Permit to Work Controller, Permit Coordinator, Area Authority, Permit Authoriser or similar.

Experience working on Top Tier COMAH, petrochemical, chemical, terminal, refinery, oil and gas or equivalent high-hazard sites.

Strong understanding of Safe Systems of Work and Permit to Work processes.

Experience with hot works, mechanical isolations, SIMOPS and contractor interface management.

Experience working around live operational plant.

Ability to challenge unsafe conditions and stop work where required.

Strong communication, coordination and record-keeping skills. Desirable Experience

Experience with ISSOW, P-Vision, e-permit systems or similar.

Asset integrity, shutdown, outage or commissioning project experience.

Experience supporting mechanical repair, inspection or upgrade projects.

Knowledge of DSEAR, hazardous areas and major accident hazard environments.

Confined space, gas testing or isolation/reinstatement experience.   

Relevant Qualifications / Training

Candidates may hold some or all of the following:

CCNSG Safety Passport or equivalent.

Permit to Work training.

IOSH Managing Safely or equivalent.

Hot Work awareness.

Working at Height awareness.

Confined Space awareness.

DSEAR / ATEX / hazardous area awareness.

Mechanical isolation / lock-out-tag-out training.

Authorised Gas Tester training would be advantageous.

NEBOSH General Certificate would be advantageous.   

Candidate Profile

The successful candidate will be safety-led, organised and confident working in a disciplined high-hazard environment. They must be able to coordinate multiple permits, manage work-front interfaces and ensure that contractors operate within the agreed controls at all times.

Previous experience on COMAH, petrochemical, terminal, refinery, chemical or oil and gas sites is essential