Project Management in the Chemical and Process Industries

Overview

Effective project management is critical to success in the chemical and process industries. It is widely recognised that chemical engineers often have the analytical mindset and technical background that lend themselves well to project management roles. This course is designed to support chemical engineers – whether in staff or consulting roles – who are managing or contributing to engineering projects in the chemical and process industries.

The course covers the full project lifecycle, with a focus on the key phases of feasibility studies, front-end engineering design (FEED), and detailed design. Participants will gain practical insights into applying project management principles across these phases, in the context of real-world project challenges and sector-specific risks.

The course has been developed by experienced project professionals with deep knowledge of delivering projects in this sector. It is suitable for both early-career engineers seeking to build project skills and experienced project managers transitioning into chemical and process environments.

Learning outcomes

By the end of the course, you will understand:

• how and why project management in the chemical and process industries differs from project management in other sectors
• how to apply core project management concepts and tools in alignment with the project lifecycle
• how to identify and engage with stakeholders effectively, and understand how stakeholder engagement influences risk and decision-making
• how to assess and manage risks, including sector-specific risks such as process safety, environmental compliance, and commercial volatility
• how to develop integrated project plans, including planning, scheduling, and resource optimisation
• cost estimation techniques, incorporate contingency planning, and manage the financial impact of scope changes.

Who will benefit

• Chemical, process and other engineers with limited project management experience, seeking to improve their project management skills and knowledge
• Experienced project managers seeking a better understanding of how to manage projects in the chemical, process and related industries

Course outline

• Project management in the chemical and process industries – an introduction
• Stakeholder management and communication
• Risk management
• Project lifecycle and practical investment decision-making
• Planning and scheduling
• Procurement, contract management and the bid/tender process
• Cost estimation and budgeting

What delegates say

"I am definitely implementing some of the things that I've learned. To start with that would be risk management. I think if project risk management is done well, a lot of problems would be well managed as the project progresses."
Danesh Fanayan, Ampol, Australia

"I would recommend this course to anyone who is leading a team or even project engineers running small projects or even larger projects. It helps participants explore the range of opportunities in project management and assess whether they are interested in moving in that direction."
Danie Prince, Kent, Australia

Course delivery

Face-to-face.

Dates & location

• 10–12 November 2025, Melbourne, Australia

Not available then or looking for an alternative course delivery? View more dates.

Fees

• IChemE member: AU$3,280 + GST
• Non-member: AU$4,100 + GST

More than one person to train?

Multi-place discounts

Discounts are available to companies booking more than one place. Bookings must be made at the same time to receive the discount.

• 2 places – 10% discount
• 3 places –15% discount
• 4 or more places – 20% discount

In-company training

This course can be delivered to in-house teams, either on-site or online. This could be a cost-effective option if you have several people requiring the training. Content can be tailored to your specific requirements. Request a quotation.

Attendance certificate & CPD hours

An e-certificate will be issued at the end of the course to confirm attendance and CPD hours logged. Please note that you must attend all modules to receive the certificate. 

CPD hours should be used as an approximate guide and will vary depending on the preferred approach of the delegate and to what extent additional learning is completed.