Team Lead, Operational Technology

Strathcona Resources Ltd.; Calgary; On-site; CAD 140,000 - 190,000; Full time

Job summary

Strathcona Resources Ltd. seeks an experienced Team Lead, Operational Technology to guide the OT, network and security team that supports our field operations across Alberta and Saskatchewan. You will set direction, manage budgets, and act as the primary liaison between operations, vendors, and technology groups.

You will advance OT security, reliability and data reporting, while developing your team and aligning with safety and regulatory standards in a dynamic oil & gas environment.

Qualifications

• Diploma/degree in instrumentation, electrical, automation, engineering, or information technology.
• 8–10+ years in OT, automation, or control in oil & gas; 3+ years leading teams and managing budgets.
• Knowledge of DeltaV, FactoryTalk, Allen‑Bradley; field networks incl. wireless, cellular, satellite.
• Experience with OT data historians and dashboards (e.g., Pi); production reporting and alarm management.

Responsibilities

• Lead and develop a team of OT, network, and security professionals; own budget, vendor contracts, and service performance.
• Prioritize safety with change control on every control system change.
• Own OT security program aligned with industry standards and regulatory requirements; ensure backups and recovery planning.
• Maintain separation of OT from corporate network; set infrastructure standards and access controls.
• Maintain inventory of field systems; plan upgrades before vendor support ends.
• Lead planning, prioritization, and risk management across projects.
• Manage site programs through testing, commissioning, startup, and handover; plan turnaround windows.
• Act as main liaison among operations, vendors, service providers, and technology teams; escalate high-risk issues.
• Improve field communications; advance real-time monitoring; support AI initiatives such as computer vision for leak/spill detection.

Skills

Operational technology

Team leadership

Budget management

Vendor management

Safety & change control

Security program

Field network knowledge

Data historians & dashboards

Education

Instrumentation/Electrical/Automation/IT diploma or degree

P.Eng. or C.E.T. considered an asset

Job description

Headquartered in Calgary, Alberta, Strathcona Resources Ltd. is one of North America’s fastest growing pure play heavy oil producers with operations focused on thermal oil and enhanced oil recovery near the Cold Lake and Lloydminster regions of Alberta and Saskatchewan. Strathcona is committed to doing business the right way, guided by our core values: Integrity, Energy, and Intelligence. These values define who we are as a company, how we work together, and how we make decisions: We prioritize respect, accountability, and collaboration. That means everyone can shape and strengthen our culture and drive results in meaningful ways. Our people bring energy and curiosity to solve problems and deliver results. Be part of a team where performance, collaboration, and innovation come together to drive success.

We are seeking an experienced Team Lead, Operational Technology to lead the team responsible for the networks, infrastructure, and cyber security that Strathcona's field operations depend on every day. The team is a key resource to the automation group and other technical teams, and supports field and corporate groups across Alberta and Saskatchewan. The successful candidate will set direction and standards for the group, keep our production systems secure and reliable, develop their people, and act as the main link between operations, vendors, and our technology teams – while staying close enough to the technology to make sound decisions and lead on complex problems.

Responsibilities

• Lead and develop a team of operational technology, network, and security professionals, and own the team's budget, vendor contracts, and service provider performance
• Put safety first, with documentation and change control on every control system change
• Own the operational technology security program, aligned with Canadian industry standards and regulatory requirements, with reliable backups and a tested recovery plan
• Keep operational technology separate and protected from the corporate network, control who can access it, and set common infrastructure and network standards so projects are built consistently
• Maintain a clear inventory of field systems, keep them patched and current, and plan upgrades before systems fall out of vendor support
• Lead planning, prioritization, and risk management across the group's projects
• Run site programs through testing, commissioning, startup, and handover, and plan ahead for turnaround windows
• Act as the main point of contact between operations, vendors, service providers, and our technology teams, the escalation point for high-risk issues, and a key support to control room communications and operator alarms
• Improve field communications so operational data is reliable and complete, advance real-time monitoring, and support practical AI initiatives such as computer vision for leak and spill detection

Required Qualifications

• Technical diploma or degree in a relevant field such as instrumentation, electrical, automation, engineering, or information technology; P.Eng. or C.E.T. considered an asset
• 8-10+ years of experience with operational technology, automation, or control systems in oil and gas, including 3+ years leading technical teams and owning budgets, vendor relationships, and multiple projects at once
• Strong knowledge of oil and gas operations and field infrastructure (ideally thermal and conventional production) and of control systems and automation platforms such as DeltaV, FactoryTalk, or Allen-Bradley Solid understanding of field networks and communications – wireless, radio, cellular, and satellite – and of operational technology security, including network separation and secure remote access
• Experience with operational data historians and dashboards (such as Pi), field data capture, and production reporting systems, including measurement requirements, alarm management, and functional safety practices

Work Environment

This position can be based at our Calgary office, or at our Bonnyville or Lloydminster field office Regular travel between our offices and to field locations across Alberta and Saskatchewan, regardless of home base

Great things aren’t done by one person, they’re done by a team. We believe meaningful results come from people with unwavering commitment to integrity, energy, and intelligence – how we show up matters just as much as what we deliver. We value our work, our communities, and our commitments – but most of all, we value the team of people who make what we do possible.

Value-Driven, Growth-Oriented and Long-Term Focused. Headquartered in Calgary, Alberta, Strathcona Resources Ltd. is one of North America’s fastest growing oil and gas producers. Spanning Alberta and Saskatchewan, operations are concentrated in the Cold Lake and Lloydminster areas. Each operating area is characterized by a long reserve life which will facilitate future growth and high margin current production. At Strathcona, we pride ourselves on maintaining our high standard of safety, strong operational and environmental performance, and positive involvement in the communities where we live and work. Our people are the key to the success of Strathcona. Every employee, contractor and vendor are essential to our performance and culture.