NSTA 450 Business Development Manager UK CTS

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

Brief overview of role

This maternity cover, fixed term role sits within the UK Carbon Transportation and Storage Team within the Operations Directorate and the successful applicant will report to the UK Carbon Transportation and Storage Manager. Central to the role is the maintaining an up to date understanding of the commercial aspects of carbon transportation and storage development and operations to support the Permit application process and future operations of CO2 Transportation and Storage projects. Given the first of a kind nature of the carbon storage industry, the successful applicant should be comfortable working in ambiguous environments and be comfortable working independently to drive opportunities forward. This position will be an integrating force, bringing both industry and regulators together to deliver these opportunities.

Specific responsibilities are detailed below:

• Tracking operator delivery of the commercial milestones within carbon storage licences and permits.
• Build and maintain collaborative working relationships with DESNZ, Ofgem and other Regulators on the commercial aspects of carbon transportation and storage.
• Lead the work on Operator competency approval.
• Focal point for the stakeholder engagement plans.
• Lead the due diligence on licence assignments and changes of control (M&A) for carbon storage licences.
• Develop Regional Strategies and Area Plans to provide solutions that reflect energy transition, emission reduction and continuing petroleum requirements.
• Identification of potential issues and opportunities that could impact the successful delivery of the UK’s carbon storage ambition.
• Help drive key business priorities to ensure energy transition and net zero obligations and opportunities are considered as the carbon storage industry grows.
• Support the resolution of commercial issues that may arise.
• Input to the licensing and consents work associated with issuing a gas storage and hydrogen storage licences.
• Provide coaching and mentoring to the wider team on the commercial elements of carbon storage.

The role will work closely with other members of the team and the wider organisation, as a result of the key role that commercial plays in the development of the carbon storage industry.

The successful applicant will become a key member of the team:

• Directly engaging operators, licensees, infrastructure owners, prospective developers, investors, and contractors on a range of strategy, long term plans and commercial issues.
• Advising the UK CTS Manager and Operations Director on strategies, plans, licence assignments, changes of control and commercial matters related to carbon storage and relevant late life petroleum activities.
• Interfacing with other NSTA Directorates to ensure appropriate management of strategy and commercial issues.

Detailed job description and key responsibilities

As a Business Development Manager reporting to the UK CTS Manager, you will be involved in engagement with a range of carbon storage licensees and operators working to deliver an approvable carbon storage permit application. Horizon scanning and strategy development, through Area Plans, will need to be delivered to ensure interdependencies, synergies and areas for collaboration in order to secure an optimal outcome for a broad group of licensees and interested parties. You will also be responsible for providing support on emerging commercial issues within the responsibility of the team, and for leading and co-ordinating Operations Directorate input into licence assignments and changes of control.

If successful, your duties will include:

• Stewardship of the delivery of the commercial milestones within carbon storage licences.
• Lead the work on Operator competency approval as part of issuing a carbon storage permit and the subsequent stewardship of the Operator over the life of the licence.
• Focal point for the stakeholder engagement plans each carbon storage project is expected to develop.
• Interaction with DESNZ, Ofgem and other Regulators on the commercial aspects of carbon transportation and storage, and how this pertains to their respective regimes and the business models being developed.
• Maintaining effective relationships and networks with carbon storage stakeholders both in industry and Government.
• Input to the licensing and consents work associated with issuing a gas storage and hydrogen storage licence, and to the stewarding of the development and operational phases of the associated projects.
• Working with operators to expedite and resolve key business issues to unlock value.
• Identify opportunities where an area plan approach to nurture collaboration and further NSTA’s view on optimal development plans could be appropriate
• Work with 3rd party NSTA service providers chosen to support the NSTA in these evaluations and manage contractor performance accordingly.
• Analysing, summarising, and presenting data on relevant regional strategies, area plans and/ or companies to support and inform NSTA policy and the wider regulatory environment.
• Coaching and mentoring of the wider team on the commercial and regulatory aspects of carbon transportation and storage.
• Approval rights in NSTA systems for licence assignments and changes of control
• Working with colleagues across the NSTA (incl. (but not limited to) New Ventures, Supply Chain and Decommissioning, Strategy) where relevant to ensure successful delivery of your own objectives.

Person specification

Competence 1:          Innovation, Initiative and Agility

Meets challenges with resourcefulness, generates suggestions for improving work and develops innovative approaches and ideas. A strong team player with a collaborative and proactive approach. Responsive, innovative and has the ability to seek out opportunities to create effective change. Provides innovative ideas that inspire, change, and are comfortable suggesting ideas for improvements to the way things are done.                   

Competence 2:          Delivery

Focusing on delivering timely performance with energy and taking responsibility and accountability for quality outcomes. Working to agreed goals and activities and dealing with challenges in a responsive and constructive way, often working alongside colleagues to deliver success.

Competence 3:          Collaborating, Influencing and Including

Working collaboratively, sharing information and building supportive, responsive and respectful relationships with colleagues and stakeholders, whilst ensuring assumptions are challenged in order to influence outcomes to meet the NSTA’s goals and objectives. Ability to work with large groups of stakeholders with different drivers/ agendas and integrate them to achieve a common goal. Including ability to set up, prepare, and chair external meetings with ability to present before large groups.

Competence 4:          Strategic and Commercial Thinking

The ability to establish a “big picture”, long term vision, communicate the opportunity and risks, and develop simple high-level delivery plans spanning multi-year timeframes. Scanning the horizon and taking account of wider impacts to develop long term implementation strategies that maximise opportunities to add value to the UK and which support the goals and ambitions of the NSTA to both champion the economic recovery of oil and gas, whilst also supporting the move to net zero carbon by 2050.

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

Essential:  

• Degree (or equivalent) in Engineering, Geoscience, Law, Sciences or related Business subject.
• Experience in strategy and plan development, asset management, in a business or commercial role within the upstream oil and gas and/or carbon storage sector.
• Have a detailed understanding of the components of a typical oil and gas and/or carbon storage business model (production, costs, investment), the interdependencies of the business model elements and the impacts on each other.
• A detailed understanding of oil and gas joint venture governance agreements, the workings of UKCS joint venture partnerships, and how these will differ in the carbon storage industry.
• Considerable experience of oil and gas Joint Ventures including joint venture forums and contractual agreements (e.g., JOA’s, TPOSA’s, DSA’s etc) and Incorporated Joint Ventures.
• Proficient negotiator, with experience in the resolution of disputes and a strong ability to lead small projects.
• Excellent communication skills – written and verbal, particularly business case development and management presentation capabilities.
• Demonstrable ability of co-ordination and integration of multi-discipline industry personnel and/ or groups.
• Experience in the UKCS and an ability to be able to comprehend the commercial challenges of developing a first of a kind industry.
• Strong background in regulations and consenting with experience in the gas storage or hydrogen sectors being an advantage.

Desirable:       

• Postgraduate qualification in business related studies.
• Experience of the application of competition law in the oil and gas industry.
• Must be able to work in a team environment and Infrastructure Code of Practice (ICOP) working experience.
• Working experience of M&A process desirable.