Title:
Commissioning Manager
Greenfield Copper & Gold Project – Yorke Peninsula, South Australia
Senior Owner’s Team role leading commissioning strategy from early design through start‑up and handover
Critical interface leadership across EPCM, construction, operations readiness and asset handover
Project Summary:
Rex Minerals is an Australian mining company dedicated to the development of its flagship A$1.0B Copper-Gold Hillside Project located on the Yorke Peninsula in South Australia. The project will be a significant contributor to the South Australian economy and is providing employment opportunities for locals and for those looking to move to the area.
Hillside is in a highly attractive regional location approximately 150km from Adelaide and is one of the largest copper/gold projects under development in Australia. The project is fully approved and early-stage site access work, major Highway diversions, site utilities and awarding of contracts and building the team to execute the project has commenced.
KBR is a global provider of full life cycle professional services supporting clients in delivery of major projects like Hillside and is providing expertise as part of an Integrated Owners team delivering the Project on behalf of Rex Minerals.
About the role:
The Commissioning Manager (Owner’s Team) is accountable for the end‑to‑end commissioning strategy and execution of the Hillside Project, ensuring a safe, integrated, and efficient transition from construction into commissioning, start‑up, and operational handover.
Reporting to the Project Director, the role establishes commissioning philosophy, ensures early operability input to design and construction, and leads coordination across EPCM, construction contractors, operations readiness, and asset owners.
This role is critical to achieving safe, on‑schedule, and right‑first‑time start‑up for a major greenfield processing operation.
Key Responsibilities:
Develop and maintain the Project Commissioning Strategy, including systems definition, sequencing, turnover requirements, and start‑up philosophy
Ensure commissioning requirements are embedded early into design, procurement, construction and contracting strategies
Lead integration between construction completion, pre‑commissioning, commissioning, start‑up, and handover to operations
Oversee commissioning planning, readiness reviews, and execution across process plant, utilities, infrastructure, and supporting facilities
Provide Owner’s Team leadership at key commissioning interfaces with EPCM, package contractors, OEMs, and operations representatives
Ensure robust systems completion, punch listing, handover documentation, and acceptance processes
Champion safe commissioning practices, SIMOPS planning, and compliance with statutory and operational safety requirements
Coordinate commissioning input to schedules, ensuring alignment with construction completions and critical path activities
Support development of operating procedures, training, spares, and maintenance strategies in collaboration with Operations Readiness
Prepare commissioning and start‑up readiness reporting for project leadership and governance forums
Skills & Experience Required:
Essential
Significant experience (typically 12+ years) in commissioning and/or start‑up leadership on major capital projects within mining, minerals processing, or heavy industry
Demonstrated success commissioning greenfield process plants, utilities, and associated infrastructure
Strong understanding of systems‑based commissioning, completions management, and start‑up methodologies
Proven ability to manage complex interfaces across Owner’s Teams, EPCM partners, contractors, and operations
Tertiary qualification in Engineering (Mechanical, Electrical, Process, or equivalent) or relevant technical discipline
Successful incumbent must reside in South Australia for the duration of the project.
Desirable
Experience working within an Owner’s Team or integrated Owner/EPCM delivery model
Copper or base‑metals processing experience
Exposure to completions management systems and digital handover tools
Start‑up or operational experience post‑commissioning
Why Join Us?
Key Owner’s Team leadership role on one of Australia’s most significant greenfield copper developments
Opportunity to shape commissioning outcomes from early execution through successful start‑up and handover
Strong influence across EPCM, construction, and operations readiness disciplines
Competitive remuneration aligned to experience
Full‑time, project‑based role with long‑term execution horizon
KBR Values
Our KBR Values - We Value Our People, We Deliver, We Are People of Integrity, We Empower, We Are a Team of Teams - embody our people centric organisation.
Our culture, and our genuine focus on our people is a major factor in our success and we want you to be part of our journey.
Help shape tomorrow by applying today!
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