Senior Manager - Offshore Drilling Operations

Senior Manager - Drilling

Responsibilities

The role is responsible for supporting Drilling & Completion (D&C) offshore activities, encompassing the planning, execution, and delivery of offshore exploratory and development drilling operations. The position contributes to ensuring technical integrity, operational safety, and execution efficiency across all offshore drilling activities.

The role involves managing and mentoring a team of engineers, coordinating closely with subsurface, completion, and other cross‑functional teams, and providing technical oversight throughout the well lifecycle. A key responsibility includes ensuring strict compliance with HSSE standards, optimizing well designs, and driving continuous improvement in contractor performance and operational outcomes.

This position requires a strong technical foundation in well engineering and offshore drilling operations, coupled with proven leadership, communication, and stakeholder‑management capabilities, to effectively deliver safe, efficient, and cost‑effective offshore wells.

HSSE Leadership:

Exhibit a strong personal commitment to HSSE by setting an example and fostering a safety-first culture. Ensuring that all D&C activities are conducted in accordance with the highest level of safety and environmental standards.

Drilling Engineering and Operations Management:

•Support and supervise the technical integrity and assurance of well designs, ensuring full integration between subsurface and wells teams during planning.

Collaborate with the subsurface team to develop and maintain the Drilling Basis of Design (BoD).

•Conduct front-end planning for development wells, optimizing well designs, casing, cementing, and fluid programs.

•Perform technical risk assessments, contingency planning, and develop mitigation strategies for all drilling activities.

•Evaluate existing well designs and recommend optimizations to enhance operational efficiency.

•Lead and coordinate the execution of offshore drilling operations.

•Ensure comprehensive delivery of detailed field development drilling engineering.

Cost and Resource Management:

•Prepare cost estimates for drilling projects.

•Review and optimize the Schedule of Rates and drilling programs.

Contracting & Vendor Management:

•Oversee the entire contracting process, from preparing scopes of work to selecting rigs, well equipment, and services.

•Ensure alignment of all technical elements and commercial recommendations with the company's operational goals.

• Serving as the primary contact for well planning issues and contractor coordination.

•Lead contractor performance management, ensuring high standards from rigs, equipment, and well service providers.

Team Leadership & Coordination:

•Manage and mentor a team of drilling engineers, providing guidance and technical authority throughout drilling operations.

•Ensure seamless coordination between in-house technical support and external drilling service providers.

Regulatory & Audit Compliance:

•Ensure that drilling operations adhere to national and international regulations and standards.

•Participate in audits of rig/well sites and service bases to ensure compliance with international standards.

Reporting & Stakeholder Management:

•Prepare and present regular reports on drilling operations, cost estimates, and project progress to senior management.

•Communicate with key internal and external stakeholders to ensure alignment of operational objectives.

Qualifications

Must:

Master's or bachelor's degree within Petroleum Engineering

8-12 years of relevant work experience 

Demonstrated business acumen and abilities to lead teams

Demonstrated experience dealing with suppliers and/or customers

Excellent written and verbal communications skills

Work experience in a multicultural and changing environment