Geotechnical Explorations Manager

Terracon; Oklahoma City (OK); On-site; USD 110,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

Terracon is seeking a regional exploration leader in Oklahoma City to manage exploration services across the region. The role emphasizes safety, training, fleet management, and cross‑regional coordination with other Exploration Managers.

Ideal candidates have a background in geotechnical engineering or geology, 5+ years of site exploration, and proven leadership experience. Travel to field sites and safety compliance are required.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering or Geology or related technical field are required.
• 5 years site exploration experience minimum; 9 years may substitute education.
• HazWoper 40-hour course required within 90 days of hire.
• Valid driver’s license with acceptable history.

Responsibilities

• Execute regional exploration initiatives including safety practices, drill rig inspections and compliance.
• Oversee and ensure consistent operations by training teams, inspections, and workload balance.
• Monitor performance via site visits, safety investigations, audits and metrics.
• Provide leadership on drilling practices and fleet management to local offices.
• Partner with other Regional Exploration Managers to deliver coordinated services across regions.
• Monitor safety, quality and production; provide improvement recommendations to management.
• Assist local offices with marketing activities for exploration services including pricing and drill methods.
• Participate in recruitment and interviewing for drillers.
• Understand project risks and protect the Company per risk policies.
• Communicate safety initiatives and enforce rules regionally.
• Promote continuous quality monitoring and ensure adherence to best practices.

Skills

Management experience

Drilling methods: mud rotary

Drilling methods: auger

Drilling methods: coring

Drill operator experience

Project/site exploration experience

HazWoper 40-hour training

Valid driver’s license

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Engineering or Geology

5 years site exploration experience

Job description

General Responsibilities:

Manage a region with teams of employees responsible for exploration services.

Essential Roles and Responsibilities:

• Execute the initiatives of regional exploration services including development of drilling safety practices/initiatives, drill rig inspection programs and compliance.
• Oversee and ensure consistent operations and practices of regional teams by providing training, drill rig safety inspections, and monitoring/balancing workload [employees, rigs and projects].
• Monitor the performance of regional teams through site visits, safety incident and near miss investigations, quality audits and metrics.
• Provide leadership and direction on drilling practices and rig utilization/fleet management to local offices.
• Partner with other Regional Exploration Managers to develop and deliver coordinated and consistent exploration services across all regions.
• Monitor safety, quality, and production of regional teams and provide recommendations for improvement to Division/Service Line Management.
• Assist local offices with marketing activities related to exploration services including pricing, planning and drill methods.
• Participate and provide input in the recruitment, interview and selection process for drillers.
• Develop understanding and be aware of project-related risk. Be familiar with what could go wrong on a project and how to protect the Company. Be familiar with company risk policies.
• Communicates safety initiatives, rules and guidelines for Office or Region. Holds Managers and Employees accountable for following safety rules and guidelines.
• Promote continuous quality monitoring and improvement on projects. Ensure best practices are being followed and hold Managers accountable for quality control standards.

Requirements:

• Bachelor's degree in technical discipline practiced by the Firm including Engineering or Geology and 5 years' site exploration experience. Or, in lieu of a degree, a minimum of 9 years' related experience.
• Experience as a drill operator and/or drilling manager may be substituted for education.
• 3-5 years management experience preferred.
• Proficient knowledge of multiple drilling methods including mud rotary, auger and coring techniques.
• OSHA HAZWOPER 40-hour course; must attend within 90 days of hire.
• Valid driver's license with acceptable violation history.