Exceptional opportunity for a commercial gas professional to join a fast-growing international integrated oil company and lead global negotiations

The Company

Our client is the upstream arm of one of the world's most innovative oil and gas companies.  The business develops and manages the Group's upstream interests in oil and natural gas assets and leads all key elements of exploration, development and production.  With existing operations in the UK, Africa, Asia and Australia the company is expanding its resources substantially and is keen to recruit an experienced Exploration Negotiator to its Commercial function.

The Role

The post holder will critically review multiple upstream business development and exploration projects early in their evaluation and perform a lead role in preparation of contractual agreements with external parties. These agreements include confidentiality agreements, exploration farm-ins, farm-outs, asset purchases and sales, joint operating agreements, Unit Operating Agreements and other long term contracts.

Experience

• at least 15 years experience in E&P upstream in technical or commercial roles;
• at least 5 years experience in leading and participating in commercial negotiations in an upstream environment;
• tertiary level education;
• exposure to upstream technical environments e.g. G&G, Drilling, Reservoir Management and Facilities Development;
• experience of methanol / GTL / gas commercialisation projects will be a distinct advantage but is not essential.

The position has multi-disciplinary interfaces and candidates should have both the interest and ability to understand complex issues across the E&P value chain and co-operate with many different professional functions.  With analytical skills and a structured approach you must be self-motivated and able to handle multiple tasks in a changing environment with periodically high work pressure.

Key Requirements

• Provide a source of corporate excellence in the commercial analysis, structuring, and negotiation of upstream licensing, joint venture agreements, acquisitions and divestitures, and other agreements that have a material impact on the company.
• Provide commercial insight into the structure and dynamics of the upstream industry and the company's position in it.
• Proactively support the efforts of Business Development and Exploration in deal structuring and negotiation of agreements with counterparties.
• Ability to develop and manipulate economic models for potential acquisition projects.
• Coordinate the input of the company's internal Legal, Tax, Finance, Planning and Economics directorates in the review of draft agreements and the creation of the commercial framework of an asset.
• Develop negotiation strategies that apportion risk economically within the parameters set by NBD Management and the Board.
• Direct the implementation of these strategies in negotiation with counter parties including buyers, sellers, joint venture partners and host governments.
• Deliver signed agreements to NBD Management that incorporate the negotiation strategy and Board requirements, including JOAs, UOAs, AMIs, PSAs, Licensing Agreements.
• Communication of ‘deal content' and implications to all stakeholders. 

Reporting Structure

The position reports functionally to the Manager, Upstream Commercial and will work closely with project managers in New Business Development and in Exploration in deal evaluation, structuring and in negotiations with counterparties.

Location

This is a full-time position based in South Africa, offered on full ex-patriate terms.

For further information and a confidential discussion please contact Liz Gardner on +44(0)7801 711372.  To apply please follow the links on this page or email your CV and covering letter to gardner@simpsoncrowden.com