NSTA 435 Senior Geoscientist

The NSTA’s hybrid working includes an expectation for staff to spend 40% of their time in the office.

As a senior member of the Pre-Licensing & Storage Team, the successful applicant will use their knowledge, experience, and broad technical skill set to contribute to key regulatory functions that will have impact on energy security and the energy transition over the coming decades. Experience in evidence-based subsurface evaluation gained working within hydrocarbon exploration & production operating companies, CO2 storage operators, subsurface consultancies, or technical service providers, is a pre-requisite for the role.

As a subsurface specialist, the successful applicant will be able to demonstrate the recent application of analytical skills to evaluate and draw insights from subsurface data on a variety of scales, with regional and portfolio-based experience of particular interest for this role. The ideal candidate will be able to demonstrate hands-on experience of applying modern data analytic techniques to subsurface or subsurface related information and will be proficient in using GIS as a tool to support spatial analysis.  The successful applicant will recognise the value of, as well as the limitations of, petroleum-based information when evaluating geological storage potential. Success also relies on the applicant being able to demonstrate a willingness to learn how to deploy their expertise in a regulatory setting, recognising that this may be different to working within the industry.

The Pre-Licensing & Storage team actively delivers a series of confidential and high impact studies internally and externally and the successful candidate will be involved in providing subsurface support to these. Other day to day responsibilities will include

• Undertaking analysis of subsurface data in support of planning future energy and resource-storage licensing rounds.
• Technical evaluation of subsurface storage candidates with a view to ranking and prioritising in line with strategic objectives.
• Identifying key knowledge and data gaps and working with colleagues to propose technical studies / evaluation to address these.
• Technical supervision of internal and external projects including project scoping, tender evaluation and QA/QC.
• Provide advice and input to cross-industry programmes and initiatives, such as the Subsurface Task Force, and others.

Representing the NSTA at national and international events and conferences.

Person specification

Competence 1:          Developing Knowledge & Capability

Senior members of the Pre-Licensing & Storage team drive the development of in-house, evidence-based knowledge through technical analysis, managing external expertise and sharing insights in a variety of internal and external settings.                      

Competence 2:          Delivery

The Pre- Licensing & Storage team delivers results to multiple stakeholders and senior team members are expected to be adept at identifying and managing priorities, often incorporating short timelines. Understanding team objectives, working to agreed goals and planning the appropriate delivery is critical to the success of the team..

Competence 3:          Collaborating, Influencing & Including

Senior members of the Pre- Licensing & Storage team should strive to become part of the team, supporting colleagues through respectful challenge, guidance and open communication.  Bringing your full self to work is welcomed, including finding creative ways to accomplish tasks as an individual and in support of the team.                   

Competence 4:          Planning, Performing & Achieving

In the Pre- Licensing & Storage team, members in senior roles will be expected to contribute ideas to support the prioritisation of technical activities. An aptitude for working on numerous projects simultaneously ensuring that team objectives are achieved within agreed timeframes.

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

Essential:

• An enthusiastic and positive attitude, and a desire to work collaboratively as part of a team to deliver high quality results in a timely manner.
• Minimum of a first degree, or equivalent, in Geology/ Geophysics, Mathematics, Physics or another relevant Science/Engineering discipline.
• Extensive and recent technical experience with the oil and gas and/or subsurface (geological) storage sector including operators, consultancies, service companies and regulators.
• Demonstrate a strong technical background in and understanding of fundamental geoscience workflows, particularly in regional or portfolio-based applications.
• Demonstrable high level of competence in organising and evaluating geotechnical information to support evidenced-based interpretations.
• Relevant geotechnical, analytical and IT expertise (e.g. well interpretation, understanding production data, volumetrics, risking, data analytics and spatial analysis).
• Excellent interpersonal and influencing skills with a desire to contribute to the success of a multi-disciplinary team through collaboration, creativity and shared responsibility. Demonstrable commitment to working flexibly within the team to support colleagues of all experience levels in achieving their potential.
• Experience in the application of modern data analysis techniques, tools and practices including in the spatial realm.

Desirable:

• Experience or knowledge of a relevant specialist skillset such as (but not limited to) petrophysics, geomechanics, reservoir modelling, pore-pressure/fracture-gradient prediction, geostatistics, data analytics etc.
• Knowledge of a variety of UKCS play types.
• Commitment to good data management practices.
• Knowledge of data analytic and visualisation tools and processes using software such as python, power BI and ArcGIS.