Production Specialist - Refinery operations

Do amazing work 

A career with Viva Energy is more than just a job. It’s a chance to join a group of people dedicated to supporting Australia’s evolving energy and convenience needs. We’re a leading retail, industrial and energy business, and we’ve been helping Australians reach their destination for more than 120 years.  

Our plans for the future support Australia’s energy transition to sustainable, lower carbon energy solutions.  Through our acquisitions of Coles Express and OTR, we provide Australians with outstanding convenience. 

At the heart of our plans is people power. People who want to grow and evolve with us. People with new perspectives, energy and passion to drive Viva Energy and their careers forward. 

Viva Energy’s Geelong Refinery employs around 700 people and supplies over 50 percent of Victoria’s and 10 percent of Australia’s fuel.

The refinery can process up to 120,000 barrels of oil per day, manufacturing petrol, diesel, LPG, jet fuel, avgas, bitumen, specialty solvents for a wide range of industries.  We now have a great opportunity for a Production Specialist to join our Asset Management team at our Geelong Refinery, in the area of RCCU and Utilities.

In this role you will report to the Asset Manager and play a crucial role in optimising our manufacturing processes, ensuring safe and efficient operations, and maintaining high-quality standards.

Safety Leadership:

• Actively encourage and promote a culture where HSSE is the number one priority for employees and contractors
• Ensure that operational and asset risks are appropriately assessed.
• Ensure critical safety processes and protocols are applied, including permitting, isolations, management of change, safety critical overrides etc. 
• Provide assurance associated with critical safety processes and procedures. 
• Ensure compliance with quality control standards and process safety regulations.

Operations:

• Create, maintain and ensure accessibility and training of unambiguous procedures for start-up, normal operation, abnormal situations and emergencies. 
• Create, maintain and ensure completion of operator checklists. 
• Review alarm rates regularly and identify bad actors that require remediation. Coordinate resolution with support from Process Engineers and Maintenance teams.
• Maintain oversight of process chemical stocks and consumption, ensuring availability when required.

Asset Management: 

• Plan and execute all operational activities that support broader asset management strategies – i.e. maintenance, projects and turnaround events.
• This includes scope development, shut-down of operating units, hydrocarbon freeing, chemical cleaning and decontamination, isolations, control of safe work and commissioning and plant start up. 
• Maintain HSSE critical equipment list for area of responsibility.
• Ensure integrity operating windows are defined for all static and rotating equipment, with support from Integrity and Reliability teams.
• Prepare and assist with plant changes under management of change procedures, and/or project activity. 

Collaboration and Problem Solving:

• Coordinate and collaborate with teams across the refinery to address challenges and implement improvements, including operations, maintenance, engineering, technology and supply chain teams. 
• Apply technical skills to troubleshoot operational problems and investigate process plant incidents.
• Identify and develop opportunities to improve process plant and resolve production issues. 
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to improve organisational effectiveness and enhance team engagement.
• Train and mentor production team members on best practices and new technologies.

This is a day-shift role (Monday to Friday) on site, with expectation of 7am starts.

• Able to plan and manage your time, able to work to deadlines and changing priorities.
• Able to collaborate with other work groups such as operations, engineering and other trades.
• Excellent communicator and problem solver.
• Comfortable making decisions, using your judgement and experience to find the best solution.
• Be fully compliant with safety and willing to stop and seek out help if your work cannot be performed safely.
• Operational, Maintenance, Trade or Engineering Background preferred.  
• Experienced within a Dangerous Goods or Major Hazard Facility.
• Experienced in a relevant industry (preferably Oil & Gas, industrial, Mining or Power Generation).

About Viva Energy 

Join a team that values diversity. Viva Energy is a great place to be yourself. We believe in our people, trust in their positive intentions, and empower everyone to amplify their voice across the business. We value inclusion because that’s how we get the best outcomes. 

Awarded the WGEA Employer of Choice for Gender Equality for the past five years highlights that we are driven by our people and continuing our focus on making Viva Energy reflect the ever-changing face of Australia.  

We welcome applicants from diverse backgrounds including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and encourage and support diversity in our traditional and non-traditional roles.

Please note: This role is being sourced through VIiva Energy Australia, therefore we will not be accepting applications via external recruitment agencies.

Only applications from candidates holding full working rights for employment in Australia will be considered.

Applications close Tuesday, 4 August 2026