Land Manager

Walker Elliott; Houston (TX); On-site; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

Walker Elliott is seeking a hands-on Land Manager to oversee land-related activities across legacy producing assets and ongoing exploration programs in Texas. The role requires independence, ownership, and direct liaison with senior leadership in a lean operating company.

The ideal candidate will manage full-spectrum land responsibilities from acquisition to regulatory compliance, including negotiations with brokers and contractors, title work, and lease administration.

Qualifications

• 10+ years of progressive land experience in upstream oil and gas.
• CPL designation preferred but not required.
• Direct Texas onshore land experience required.

Responsibilities

• Lead all land functions, including lease acquisition and maintenance, title research, contract negotiation, ownership analysis, and land administration.
• Negotiate, draft, and close purchase and sale agreements, JOAs, and oil and gas leases.
• Research title records, establish complete chains of title, and resolve deficiencies through curative instruments.
• Handle Texas Railroad Commission filings and coordinate regulatory requirements.
• Calculate and maintain ownership interests (WI, NRI) for revenue analysis and operations.
• Maintain knowledge of project ownership, leasing status, pooling restrictions, and site availability for drilling and field operations.
• Coordinate land activities with operations, geology, exploration, drilling, legal, and executive leadership.
• Select and manage outside land brokers, field landmen, title contractors, and other subcontractors.
• Oversee land administration and maintain accurate land records, lease obligations, and critical dates.
• Support development of legacy conventional assets and new exploration opportunities.

Skills

Negotiation

Organization

Analytical

Communication

Education

CPL designation

Job description

Walker Elliott is working with an established, privately owned oil and gas company in Houston seeking a hands‑on Land Manager to oversee all land‑related activities across its legacy producing assets and ongoing exploration and drilling programs.

This is a unique opportunity for an experienced Landman who enjoys working independently, taking ownership, and serving as the primary land resource for a lean, entrepreneurial organization. The ideal candidate comes from a small or privately held operating company where they have been responsible for the full spectrum of land activities, including land administration, title, agreements, regulatory coordination, and the management of outside brokers and contractors. This is not a traditional corporate Land Manager role overseeing a large department or a narrowly defined function. The company needs a self‑sufficient professional who can manage day‑to‑day land responsibilities from start to finish with minimal support.

Reporting directly to the Managing Director, this individual will oversee land activities across Texas and other legacy operating areas. The role offers significant autonomy, direct access to leadership, and the opportunity to make a meaningful impact on the company's land position and operations.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead all land functions, including lease acquisition and maintenance, title research, contract negotiation, ownership analysis, and ongoing land administration.
• Negotiate, draft, and close purchase and sale agreements, participation agreements, joint operating agreements (JOAs), term assignments, oil and gas leases, deeds, assignments, easements, surface damage agreements, and rights‑of‑way.
• Research courthouse and in‑house title records, review title opinions and runsheets, establish complete chains of title, and resolve title deficiencies through appropriate curative instruments.
• Handle applicable Texas Railroad Commission (RRC) filings and coordinate regulatory requirements affecting land and field operations.
• Calculate and maintain ownership interests, including working interests and net revenue interests (NRI), to support revenue analysis, operations, and business decisions.
• Maintain detailed knowledge of project ownership, stratigraphic severances, lease status, pooling restrictions, and site availability for drilling and field operations.
• Coordinate land activities with operations, geology, exploration, drilling, legal counsel, and executive leadership.
• Select, direct, and manage outside land brokers, field landmen, title contractors, and other subcontractors supporting acquisitions, leasing, title work, and drilling programs.
• Oversee land administration and maintain accurate land records, lease obligations, contractual deadlines, and critical dates to support ongoing operations and development.
• Support the development of legacy conventional assets and new exploration opportunities across the company's operating areas.

Qualifications

• 10+ years of progressive land experience in upstream oil and gas.
• Direct Texas onshore land experience is required.
• Background with a small, privately owned, or lean operating company, with direct responsibility for managing the full range of land activities.
• Demonstrated ability to independently handle both land work and land administration, rather than relying on separate corporate departments for specialized functions.
• Experience managing outside land brokers, field landmen, title contractors, and other third‑party resources.
• Strong background in title research, title curative work, ownership calculations, lease administration, and oil and gas agreements.
• Experience supporting conventional oil and gas operations, legacy assets, vertical drilling, pooling requirements, and related land obligations.
• Ability to work independently, prioritize competing demands, and resolve land issues with minimal oversight.
• Certified Professional Landman (CPL) designation is preferred but not required.
• Excellent negotiation, organizational, analytical, and communication skills, with the ability to work directly with senior leadership.

Do not apply unless you are authorized to work in the United States for any employer as client company cannot sponsor or transfer visas at this time.

Walker Elliott is an Equal Opportunity Employer.