NSTA 414 Senior Geoscientist (Licence Stewardship)

Our goal is that the NSTA continues to be a ‘Great Place to Work’. Offering a flexible 37-hour week working environment with hybrid model (40% office working) and up to 2 accruable flex days per month.  Work life balance is very important to us with a workplace culture that fosters collaboration, respect, and professionalism.  In addition, we offer a range of benefits including a competitive pension - employer contribution (28.97%).  

About New Ventures

The New Ventures Directorate is responsible for creating the conditions for future success of the UK in energy security, carbon storage and adoption of new technology. It has accountability for developing the future oil and gas energy supply opportunities for the UK, for licencing all oil and gas exploration and carbon storage activities as well as structuring the integration of these energy systems with hydrogen and offshore wind.

This directorate is responsible for petroleum licensing rounds and overall stewardship of oil and gas exploration and appraisal on the UK Continental Shelf (UKCS). It oversees the Asset stewardship process for Initial Term licences, working closely with operators and licensees to maximise economic recovery (MER UK), whilst supporting the drive to net zero carbon by 2050.

The directorate is responsible for the carbon storage licensing rounds and for the stewardship of carbon storage licences through exploration and appraisal work programmes from the point of licence award to the end of site characterisation.

Brief overview of role

This is an opportunity for an experienced Geoscientist to have a significant, long-term impact on the future of the UK offshore oil/gas and carbon storage sectors. This role is in the Exploration & New Ventures, Licence Stewardship Team.  You will have the opportunity to use your geoscience skills in the assessment of licence applications, and the stewardship of licence work programmes.  

The Exploration & New Ventures team is tasked with supporting exploration of subsurface opportunities within the UK and is taking action to enhance investment and improve subsurface success through its licensing activities and by working closely with operators on the delivery of their licence work programmes and technical assessments.    

The successful applicant will be required to provide technical support in the promotion of opportunities for inclusion in licensing rounds for both petroleum and carbon storage.  One of the main responsibilities will be to deliver detailed technical assessments and recommendations on licence applications for Carbon Storage and Petroleum licensing rounds.  The role requires agility and the ability to reprioritise depending on the licence matters at hand, so the applicant should be willing to be redeployed as required onto a range of licensing, stewardship or regulatory tasks and supporting roles depending on changing priorities.

Detailed job description and key responsibilities 

We require an experienced Geoscientist with a broad knowledge of the subsurface tasks an Exploration & Production (E&P) operator and/or contractor would conduct, including roles in exploration and production, which should ideally include experience on the UK Continental Shelf.  You must have relevant experience in industry of delivering Exploration & Appraisal work programmes and working with geoscience data.  You will have a demonstrable track-record including tasks such as regional mapping, prospect generation, well planning/delivery and supporting other analytical and operational activities. The position is in the NSTA’s Stewardship Team part of the New Ventures Directorate, with the expectation of working flexibly to support activities that promote opportunities across the UKCS, influence resource maturation and carbon store readiness, and support the wider regulatory activities of the NSTA including the pathway to net zero. You will need to work across teams and disciplines, adapting to priorities as they change, and driving solutions and activity to support value creation for the UK, and assist in activities consistent with domestic/international climate objectives. The position will require flexibility across the UKCS portfolio and a proactive approach to identifying issues and delivering solutions by working with others.

Responsibilities may change according to prevailing requirements and priorities, but may include:

• Through tiered stewardship reviews, including pre- and post-well evaluation (Stewardship Expectation SE2), ensure subsurface work programmes are appropriate, robust and delivered.
• Delivering Stewardship Expectation SE3 to ensure that industry uses the optimal subsurface datasets to generate new plays and prospects, to extend prospectivity and support critical hubs.
• Promoting subsurface opportunities to industry to support wider exploration and production activities and future carbon stores.
• Technical assurance of operators’ E&A well portfolios, consistent with NSTA’s exploration priorities.
• Support with the technical evaluation of licence applications (Petroleum and Carbon Storage), including recommendations for award and tracking of work programme delivery.
• Follow NSTA internal decision-making processes in accordance with the Decision Framework, including tracking the decision/consultation process.
• Keep clear and adequate records including through decision support packages and databases. 
• Participate in Tier 2 and 3 stewardship review meetings with licensees.
• Ensuring regulatory excellence supporting industry to efficiently meet the requirements of their licence obligations.
• Work with Area Teams to align exploration activities with Hub Strategies.
• Data analysis and insights, including from the UK stewardship survey, UK Energy Portal, and other sources.
• Support with management and analysis of resources/reserves, maintaining statistics and databases at an asset and portfolio level.  Establishing robust processes and delivering supporting tools and analysis.
• Representing the NSTA and the UK oil & gas industry at national and international events and conferences, including involvement with event planning and execution.
• Conduct prospect-scale geological/geophysical analysis where required.
• Support regional subsurface evaluations, including managing and working with third-parties to deliver studies and data to the NDR and NSTA OpenData site where required.
• Support the exploration and area teams as required, including compiling maps, providing insights and analysis, and updating databases.
• Supporting the NSTA’s broader work on the energy transition.
• Other geotechnical/subsurface and non-geotechnical tasks as required.

You will hold an appropriate geology or geophysics Master’s degree, or another equivalent subsurface qualification, and have extensive professional experience including that with an E&P operator and/or consultancy. This will be combined with a strong technical background and the ability to demonstrate a high level of competence in organising, evaluating and communicating information to support evidence-based decisions. The successful applicant will be required to work as directed, with minimal guidance or coaching, delivering high quality technical products, and supporting the promotion, regulation and influencing activities of the NSTA.

The successful candidate will also display excellent interpersonal and influencing skills in multi-disciplinary teams.

This post offers an exciting and challenging opportunity to deliver real change in a high-profile area of the NSTA’s activities.

Person specification

Competence 1:          Decision Making & Judgement

Ability to be objective; using sound judgement, evidence and knowledge to provide accurate, expert and professional advice.  An ability to make complex decisions ensuring policies and procedures are adhered to.  Accept responsibility for own actions. Well-developed analytical skills and sound judgement to manage varied and sometimes complex issues. Ability to document rationale behind recommendations and outcome of decisions.

Competence 2:          Delivery

Have the ability to work in a fast-paced environment; have an aptitude for working on numerous projects simultaneously and the ability to identify and respond to new priorities. Have the ability to maintain an overarching view of the activities of an operator and identify the key areas where effective stewardship will support delivery.

Competence 3: Collaborating, Influencing & Including

The successful candidate will have a collaborative mindset both working with operators and facilitating collaboration between operators to deliver the Strategy and identify and share best practices across the industry.         

Competence 4: Strategic & Commercial Thinking

Maintain an in-depth understanding of how the role supports the organisations objectives.  Have the ability to maintain an overarching view of the activities of an operator and identify the key areas where effective stewardship will facilitate the optimal MER UK outcome. Identify the appropriate steps that will enable the NSTA to achieve the move to net zero carbon by 2050. Negotiating and influencing skills are also important.

Specialist Skills, Qualifications, Experience, Licenses, Memberships or Language

Essential:  

• A positive attitude, proactive nature, flexibility, and a drive to deliver quality products in support of the team and management.
• A demonstrable track record of delivering technical projects, proactively generating deliverables on the optimal pathway, defining the methods and analysis required to meet the objectives with minimal direction by others.
• A Master’s degree, or equivalent, in Geology/Geophysics, or another relevant (science/engineering) discipline.
• A strong background in either petroleum geoscience or reservoir engineering and at least a strong awareness of both disciplines.
• Ability to analyse a large volume of data, produce clear and meaningful products.
• An ability to demonstrate a high level of competence in managing and developing clear recommendations with supporting evidence.
• Project planning and organisation skills.
• Attention to detail, with focus on deadlines and delivery.
• Clear and effective communication (written and oral) including preparation of reports, meeting records, and letters.
• Solid understanding and application of risk and volumetric processes and techniques, both at a play and a prospect level. 
• A strong understanding of petroleum geology and stratigraphy fundamentals, including regional scale assessments, prospect evaluation, and near- and in-field opportunities.
• A solid working knowledge of GIS mapping software, such as ArcGIS, for spatial analysis and presentation of insights.
• Commitment to good data management practices.
• Experience of collaborating in multi-disciplinary teams.

Desirable: 

• Knowledge of multiple petroleum provinces.
• Experience of the UK Continental Shelf
• Regulatory knowledge, although training in this area will be provided.
• Experience in Carbon Capture and Storage activities or other Energy sectors.
• Working knowledge of the NSTA Stewardship Strategy, Expectations and Implementation Guides.
• Awareness of oil and gas field development in the upstream UK Oil and Gas Industry.
• Awareness of reservoir engineering principles.
• Understanding of petrophysics and petroleum economics, with the ability to work with interdisciplinary teams.
• Knowledge of high-pressure high-temperature (HPHT) plays, tight reservoirs (oil and gas), shale/resource plays, heavy oil, fractured basement plays and other challenging exploration targets.