Well Abandonment Superintendent

AGR; Aberdeen City; On-site; GBP 110,000 - 170,000; Full time

Job summary

AGR in the United Kingdom North Sea seeks a Well Abandonment Superintendent responsible for all aspects of rig-based well decommissioning, including HSEQ and performance, reporting to the Director of Well Abandonment.

You will lead safe decommissioning campaigns, manage the drilling contractor interface, ensure regulatory compliance, maintain well integrity, and drive continuous improvement across MODU operations, with a strong focus on ALARP and key KPIs.

Qualifications

• Minimum 10 years subsea well and operational/engineering experience.
• Industry knowledge of P&A engineering and operational techniques, legislation and industry technology.
• Excellent communication skills with the engineering team, offshore teams and client.
• Demonstrable management capabilities with a key focus on motivation, innovation communication and team building.
• Well-developed interpersonal skills including the ability to persuade and influence all stakeholders in order to secure and deliver business.
• Desirable: Proven track record in managing P&A campaigns.

Responsibilities

• Lead safe and efficient execution of well decommissioning operations, ensuring control of Major Accident Hazards (MAHs) such as well control.
• Act as the primary operational focal point for the drilling contractor, managing rig readiness, maintenance compliance, and daily performance against the program.
• Drive proactive safety leadership offshore through visible engagement, effective toolbox talks, and reinforcement of stop-work authority.
• Ensure compliance with UKCS regulatory requirements, policies, and client standards, maintaining robust control of work processes.
• Maintain well integrity throughout all phases, including barrier installation, verification, and documentation, with strict adherence to well control procedures.
• Oversee SIMOPS planning and execution with marine operations, subsea teams, and third-party contractors to prevent escalation of MAHs.
• Apply a risk-based approach to operations, lead dynamic risk assessments, and ensure decisions align with ALARP principles.
• Manage client interface offshore, providing transparent updates, resolving issues collaboratively, and maintaining strong relationships.
• Monitor operational KPIs (HSE, NPT, barrier assurance), identify improvement opportunities, and implement corrective actions to optimize performance.
• Verify readiness and certification of critical equipment (e.g. BOP, mooring systems) and ensure function tests are completed and documented.
• Lead incident response and investigations, ensuring effective root cause analysis and learning deployment.
• Champion continuous improvement by capturing lessons learned and embedding best practices into future MODU operations.

Skills

Leadership

Safety leadership

Stakeholder management

Risk assessment

Incident investigation

Offshore operations

P&A campaign management

Team building

Education

IWCF Level 4 Well Control Certificate

Job description

About the role:

This role will hold overall responsibility for all aspects of the rig based well operations including HSEQ and operational performance. The Well Abandonment Superintendent will report directly to the Director of Well Abandonment.

Key duties and responsibilities:

• Lead safe and efficient execution of well decommissioning operations, ensuring control of Major Accident Hazards (MAHs) such as well control.
• Act as the primary operational focal point for the drilling contractor, managing rig readiness, maintenance compliance, and daily performance against the program.
• Drive proactive safety leadership offshore through visible engagement, effective toolbox talks, and reinforcement of stop-work authority.
• Ensure compliance with UKCS regulatory requirements, policies, and client standards, maintaining robust control of work processes.
• Maintain well integrity throughout all phases, including barrier installation, verification, and documentation, with strict adherence to well control procedures.
• Oversee SIMOPS planning and execution with marine operations, subsea teams, and third-party contractors to prevent escalation of MAHs.
• Apply a risk-based approach to operations, lead dynamic risk assessments, and ensure decisions align with ALARP principles.
• Manage client interface offshore, providing transparent updates, resolving issues collaboratively, and maintaining strong relationships.
• Monitor operational KPIs (HSE, NPT, barrier assurance), identify improvement opportunities, and implement corrective actions to optimize performance.
• Verify readiness and certification of critical equipment (e.g. BOP, mooring systems) and ensure function tests are completed and documented.
• Lead incident response and investigations, ensuring effective root cause analysis and learning deployment.
• Champion continuous improvement by capturing lessons learned and embedding best practices into future MODU operations.

Work Experience:

• Minimum 10 years subsea well and operational/engineering experience
• Possess industry knowledge of P&A engineering and operational techniques, legislation and industry technology
• Excellent communication skills, both with the engineering team, offshore teams and client
• Demonstrable management capabilities with a key focus on motivation, innovation communication and team building
• Well-developed interpersonal skills including the ability to persuade and influence all stakeholders in order to secure and deliver business
• Desirable: Proven track record in managing P&A campaigns

Technical skills/Qualifications:

• Valid IWCF Level 4 Well Control Certificate