Our client, an independent oil & gas operator seeks an Exploration Manager. This is a staff role to be based in their Edinburgh office.

We are searching for someone with previous strong experience as an Exploration Manager.

• support Exploration Director in implementing strategic plans within set time scales by managing the technical team to ensure the conduct of fit-for-purpose and internally consistent technical studies through all stages of the exploration process from new ventures screening, through prospect generation and evaluation to preparation and execution of drilling plans.

You will be responsible for:

Team Management

• Managing the geosciences team on a day-to-day basis. Delegation, supervision, support and performance management to ensure efficient team working and output.
• Working closely with the team highlighting any resource concerns to the Exploration Director to ensure work programme requirements have the appropriate level of experience and skills to help achieve the company's exploration objectives.
• Providing guidance, direction and quality assurance to the team, through mentoring and coaching, to help develop the expertise of the team.
• You will have input to staff appraisals for the exploration team to review performance, help establish future objectives and identify ongoing development needs, providing input into the Exploration Director in relation to salary reviews and annual bonus payments (where appropriate) for the team.
• Communicating on an on-going basis with the team in a group and/or individual basis, to provide feedback from review progress meetings, discuss problems and assess ongoing requirements.

Technical

• Providing direction and guidance to geophysical operations team and act as link between Edinburgh geosciences team and Douala based operations team.
• Working with Head of Geosciences to ensure consistent standards and quality of geoscience work, studies and acreage evaluation.
• Maintaining internally consistent approach to evaluation of prospect volumetrics and risking to develop an effective ranking that will assist in decisions regarding timing and scale of future drilling programmes.

New Ventures

• Screening licensing rounds in West Africa and other relevant countries meeting corporate guidelines. Visiting data rooms, reviewing opportunities, recommending data purchase and participation as appropriate. Assisting Exploration Director in preparation of recommendations to Board, preparing bid round technical submission documents and coordinating supporting documentation (if required).
• Screening received farm-out and asset disposal opportunities in West Africa and other relevant countries to meet corporate guidelines. Visiting data rooms, reviewing opportunities, recommending detailed evaluation and participation as appropriate. Assisting Exploration Director in preparation of recommendations to Board.
• Maintaining contact with peer group - be a contact point for the company, take calls from external sources and screen for prospective opportunities.
• Attending conferences and meetings to improve knowledge on general and area-specific technical developments, grow and developing the peer network.

Communications

• On-going contact with West African technical and operations staff and assist in the development of their expertise.
• Attending partner meetings/scout groups for particular geographical areas in order to be part of information exchange forums.
• Maintaining Local Government contacts regarding oil and gas regulatory bodies, i.e. SNH & DGH, in order to gain advice on development/technical meetings and presentations.
• On-going liaison with Geoscience Systems and Data Manager to ensure best use of data available.

Main External Interfaces

• Analysts
• External consultants, advisers and contractors
• Technical data providers
• Scout group members for the West Africa region
• Industry bodies
• Other O&G companies/competitors

Salary: market rates (dependent upon current experience)

You must already be authorised to live and work in the UK to apply for this role. Please e-mail your C.V. to john.hazlewood@scoutrecruitment.com quoting reference JH000464/ExplorationManager in the subject line. Or call 01224 645708 for further details. Thank you for your consideration.