QA/QC Lead - Cross-Country Pipeline, Basra

About the role

An experienced QA/QC Lead is sought to support a cross-country pipeline construction supervision project in Basra, Iraq. The role leads site quality assurance and quality control activities, supervises the EPC Contractor's quality performance and ensures that materials, fabrication, welding, construction, testing, completion records and handover documentation comply with project requirements, approved procedures and applicable codes and standards.

Key responsibilities

• Lead the project quality management system and site QA/QC plan for pipeline construction.
• Review and monitor the EPC Contractor's quality plan, ITPs, method statements, procedures, quality records and inspection schedules.
• Supervise quality across material receipt and traceability, welding, NDT, coating and lining, trenching, lowering-in, backfilling, hydrotesting, dewatering, reinstatement and mechanical completion.
• Verify compliance with approved drawings, specifications, vendor data, material certificates, welding procedures, welder qualifications and acceptance criteria.
• Coordinate hold, witness, surveillance and review points with the Client, Contractor, third-party inspectors, laboratories and vendors.
• Monitor welding quality, NDT performance, coating inspections, holiday testing and hydrotest documentation, and require corrective action on identified trends.
• Raise, review and follow up NCRs, corrective and preventive actions, punch items, concessions and technical deviations until closed.
• Ensure inspection instruments and test equipment are calibrated and traceable, and verify the competence and approval status of inspectors, welders, NDT personnel and specialist subcontractors.
• Conduct site quality audits, vendor and subcontractor assessments and quality meetings, reporting significant risks and recurring deficiencies to Project Management.
• Maintain quality dashboards and registers covering inspections, test results, NCRs, weld status, repairs, material traceability, submittals and closeout actions.
• Coordinate with Construction, Engineering, HSSE, Materials, Welding/NDT, Commissioning, Document Control and Project Controls, and ensure complete, accurate turnover dossiers, as-built records and test packs.

Required profile

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering or a relevant technical discipline.
• Minimum 12 years of QA/QC experience on major oil and gas, water, energy or infrastructure projects, including substantial cross-country pipeline construction experience.
• Proven senior QA/QC role in a PMC, Owner's Engineer, Client Representative or EPC organisation supervising pipeline contractors and inspection teams.
• Previous experience in Iraq, the GCC or remote, security-sensitive construction environments preferred.
• Fluent professional English is essential; Arabic is an advantage.

Required skills

• Pipeline welding, NDT, coating and lining, materials traceability, civil works, hydrotesting and mechanical completion.
• Working knowledge of ISO 9001 and relevant pipeline, welding, inspection and NDT requirements, and applicable ISO/ASTM standards.

What we offer

• Flexible rotational assignment based on project requirements.
• Company-provided rotational travel, accommodation, transportation and site logistics.