The NSTA’s hybrid working includes an expectation for staff to spend 40% of their time in the office, the office location for this role is Aberdeen.
About the NSTA
The North Sea Transition Authority (NSTA) acts to regulate the oil and gas industry as well as the offshore hydrogen and CO2 transport and storage industries in the UK. We help drive the energy transition, realising the significant potential of the UK Continental Shelf (UKCS) as a critical energy and carbon abatement resource, and we hold industry to account on halving upstream emissions by 2030.
The NSTA is a government owned company comprised of dynamic, experienced technical professionals who are actively involved with industry, academia, government, and other regulators to accelerate the move to Net Zero by 2050 while meeting the UK’s energy demand and security.
The Wells group, part of the recently formed New Ventures Directorate, has been created in recognition of the growing needs for the NSTA to address more complex and future looking technical questions related to wells (from oil and gas to carbon storage and other wells applications in net zero).
We are tasked with reviewing proposals and providing stewardship to industry in delivering oil and gas wells and well intervention programmes, understanding roles and risks from both legacy and new wells for carbon storage developments. Members of the Wells group can expect to influence NSTA and industry through providing input into key wells activities and giving expert opinion in support of decisions made by the NSTA and our partners in government, and develop expertise on well reviews in a regulatory role.
We aim to create a diverse team of talented, committed individuals who are supported to develop their capability in a dynamic, busy organisation whilst promoting a positive work life balance. We encourage applicants to creatively consider the transferrable skills, experience and knowledge they may bring to help us on our mission to deliver the energy transition, as well as their own career development opportunity to work with the NSTA on exciting new topics.
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%).
Brief overview of role
This is an exciting opportunity to grow functional expertise in wells technical domains within the NSTA focused on Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) and Oil & Gas applications.
This role is for a well engineer with industry experience to support the NSTA’s assessments of industry’s licence applications and technology plans to address current and future wells requirements in hydrocarbon recovery and CCS.
Advising other NSTA teams internally, and interacting directly with licence operators and technology vendors, the role will support NSTA’s stewardship efforts towards our objectives of security of supply, emission reduction and accelerating the transition to net zero.
Key duties will include:
- Functionally support NSTA’s licence stewardship process related to carbon storage and oil and gas licences with respect to wells.
- Assess legacy wells, well related containment risks and new well designs related to affect carbon storage
- Support and advise other NSTA teams on technical questions related to wells and wells technologies as part of industry licences and project reviews, both oil and gas and CCS.
- Gather latest knowledge on wells technology solutions relevant to UKCS developments, sharing that within the NSTA and with the industry.
- Conduct ‘horizon scanning’ studies to understand wells technical enablers for UKCS developments (across hydrocarbon and net zero developments);
- Contribute to internal and external guidance documents relating to CCS and other wells topics
The successful candidate will have a strong wells technical background, combined with industry and/or regulatory experience in one or more energy sectors, including oil and gas, and CCS.
The role requires a strong team player with the ability to manage a high level of responsibility and cross-team interactions. It will need strong communication, interpersonal and influencing skills to work closely and flexibly across the NSTA, and with the industry.
Detailed job description and key responsibilities
Reporting to the NSTA Wells Manager, your key responsibilities will include:
- Working with other NSTA teams, support licence reviews related to oil and gas and carbon storage applications with respect to wells;
- Assess legacy wells, well related containment risks and new well designs related to affect carbon storage
- Participate and contribute in operators Wells and Technology Review meetings;
- Contributing to NSTA analysis and publications related to wells;
- Monitor progression of industry’s wells practices and technologies, engaging with both licence operators and technology suppliers;
- Collate technology roadmaps on specific wells domains (inc. drilling, well intervention and CCS wells requirements);
- Maintain relationship with significant industry and research bodies in all areas related to wells;
- Work with other parts of the NSTA, and other regulators as required, to utilise technology knowledge and technical lessons learned in industry and regulatory interactions.
Person specification
Competence 1: Decision Making & Judgement
Uses sound judgement, evidence and knowledge to arrive at accurate, expert and professional decisions and advice on subsurface development projects and technologies.
Competence 2: Leading & Communicating
Meets challenges with resourcefulness, generates suggestions for improving work and develops innovative approaches and ideas; Strong team player with a collaborative and proactive approach; Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to influence are essential; Mentor and coach to others; unlocking potential and maximising performance.
Competence 3: Collaborating, Influencing & Including
Works collaboratively with other NSTA teams, research and industry stakeholders, sharing information appropriately and building supportive, trusting and professional relationships. Has the confidence to challenge assumptions and create an inclusive environment.
Competence 4: Strategic & Commercial Thinking
Having a commercial and strategic mindset and focusing your contribution on the activities which will meet the NSTA’s organisational goals and also recognising how these fit with wider UK priorities, such as the move to net zero carbon by 2050. Develops a clear picture of how the UK offshore regions can effectively support the energy transition of the UK towards ‘net zero by 2050’ and the in-depth understanding of how specific technologies can contribute to deliver that vision.
Specialist Skills, Qualifications, Experience, Licenses, Memberships or Language
Essential:
- An undergraduate degree in relevant science/engineering disciplines, or equivalent experience
- Industry experience in planning, delivery, operations and/ decommissioning of oil and gas wells;
- A high level of competence in analysing wells plans and delivery, risks and performance, developing clear recommendations with supporting evidence;
- Experience in delivering high-quality reports, presentations and communicating technical concepts clearly to technical and non-technical audiences;
- Strong team player and influencer, with the ability to effectively engage and collaborate across multiple stakeholders.
Desirable:
- Experience in well integrity assessment and well intervention;
- Experience in the planning and execution of well decommissioning;
- Master’s degree in relevant Engineering disciplines;
- Knowledge of the latest technology advances across one or more wells areas (among drilling, construction, completions and operations);
- Knowledge of technical risks and uncertainties associated with oil and gas, and/or storage (natural gas, carbon dioxide);
- Experience in presenting to conference audiences and publishing reports.
Job Details
- Salary £77,062
- Appointment Type Permanent
- Appointment Term Full time
- Vacancy Reference Number NSTA 429
- No. of posts 1
- Grade SEO
- Location Aberdeen
- Travel to other location within the UK? Occasional
- Level of Security Clearance Basic
- Medical Required? No
- Unless otherwise stated consideration will be given to requests to work on a part time or job share basis. Flexible working hours can also be considered.
Application details
- Closing date for applications 15 September 2024
- Anticipated shortlisting date TBD
- Anticipated interview date TBD
Personal information
Completed applications will only be accepted via the online application process below, however, if you do require the application form in a different format please contact us at Recruitment@nstauthority.co.uk quoting the recruitment reference number and job title
You should provide examples in your covering letter that best demonstrate your skills and abilities against the competencies and specialist skills. The maximum word count against each competence example is 2,000 characters. The information you provide will be assessed during the short listing stage and if you are invited to attend an interview, the indicated competence areas will discussed further.
When completing your application, you should use the STAR format (Situation, Task, Action and Result) methodology for each competence. All appointments are subject to successful completion of pre-employment checks
For further information please see the Information to Candidates pack (PDF)
Additional information on what you can expect as a North Sea Transition Authority employee
Inclusion and Diversity statement
The NSTA is committed to embedding equality and diversity into all our policies and processes. We will aim to recruit, retain and promote staff on the basis of competence and regardless of characteristics including those listed under the Equality Act 2010. These protected characteristics are; age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion and belief, sex and sexual orientation.
The NSTA is an accredited Disability Confident Committed employer. We have also been awarded silver accreditation for the Gender Diversity Benchmark through Business in the Community, The Prince’s Responsible Business Network. In addition, we are signed up to their Race at Work Charter and implement its five principles. As a further commitment to attracting, retaining and developing a diverse workforce we have signed up to the Axis Pledge.
