How Seconded Experts Support High-Stakes Projects in Refining and Petrochemicals
Refineries and petrochemical facilities are no strangers to complex challenges. Whether it’s a major turnaround, a new unit coming online, or a capital project with a tight timeline, teams are constantly being asked to deliver high-stakes outcomes, often with limited internal resources.
When internal experience is lacking or leadership transitions are underway, it can be difficult to maintain momentum, confidence, and quality. That’s where seconded support can make a real difference.
What Is a Secondment?
A secondment is a temporary assignment, sometimes lasting six months or more, where an outside expert joins your team on-site. They’re not operating from the sidelines. They’re embedded in your daily operations, working closely with staff day in and day out to drive forward key efforts.
They might lead a turnaround planning effort, coach a newly promoted manager, help troubleshoot issues in the field, or keep a critical project on track. What they all have in common is deep experience and the ability to adapt quickly to your specific environment.
When Seconded Support Really Pays Off
Secondments are especially valuable when there’s a gap in knowledge, experience, or leadership that could impact project success. Some of the most common situations include:
- Major turnarounds where you need experienced hands to guide planning and execution
- Startups, restarts, and shutdowns that demand a surge of operational expertise
- Capital projects where continuity and attention to detail are essential
- Heavy lift and logistics support during high-risk operations
- “Over-the-shoulder” mentoring and development, especially for newer leaders
- Temporary staffing needs for technical, planning, or leadership roles
In short, secondments bring in the expertise you need, right when you need it, without the ramp-up time of a permanent hire.
The Becht Approach
At Becht, we’ve seen the value of seconded support across countless sites and scenarios. Our experts are selected not just for their technical strengths, but for their ability to lead, coach, and build trust. We match the right people to each challenge – so whether you need a steady hand during a startup or a mentor for an emerging leader, our team fits in fast and starts adding value on day one.
Real-World Impact
Becht has partnered with facilities around the world to provide seconded experts who have stepped in and made an immediate impact when it mattered most. Here are a few recent examples:
- Bringing a Complex Restart Across the Finish Line: A West Coast refinery was tackling two huge efforts at once: restarting a long-idled facility and launching a new renewable diesel unit. Becht brought in a team of unit operators, engineers, and a temporary technical manager to fill critical knowledge gaps and move the project forward safely and efficiently.
- Restarting Under Pressure During a Lockdown: A Caribbean refinery was behind schedule and over budget in its restart, and then COVID hit. Becht mobilized a cross-functional team of process, mechanical, and reliability experts to step in, stabilize operations, and help the facility finally move into steady-state operation.
- Strengthening Turnaround Execution with Crane Expertise: One US-based refinery had a busy turnaround ahead, with lots of critical lifts and logistical challenges. Becht sent in a team of crane experts for both day and night shifts. And when the site’s own crane SME got sick mid-event, one of our team members stepped immediately to keep the project safe and on schedule.
- Mentoring a New Turnaround Manager: At a site in Europe, the turnaround manager had just come onboard with big expectations and limited experience. Becht supported him directly with a seasoned mentor, while also leading scheduling efforts and coaching the planners. The result was a far better-prepared team and a stronger foundation for future events.
Why Secondments Make Sense
When you bring in seconded support, you’re getting more than just an extra set of hands. You’re getting continuity through the entire project lifecycle, confidence that issues will be addressed early, capability-building through mentoring, and speed to execution without the lag of recruiting or onboarding.
Whether your site is short-staffed, your team is green, or your project is just too critical to risk delays, a secondment can help you deliver without missing a beat.
Let’s Talk
If you’ve got a high-priority initiative on the horizon, we’re here to help. Connect with Becht to see if seconded support makes sense for your team, and if so, we’ll match you with the right experts to hit the ground running.
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