Manager, Drilling & Completions

Murphy Oil Corporation; Houston (TX); Hybrid; USD 180,000 - 280,000; Full time

Job summary

Murphy Oil Corporation in Houston seeks an experienced Drilling and Completions Manager to lead deepwater well delivery for a Côte d'Ivoire project. You will own planning, design, budgets, and execution while guiding engineers, overseeing rig operations, and ensuring safety and schedule adherence.

The role requires a strong drilling-focused D&C background with deepwater expertise, a track record of leading engineering teams, and collaboration with subsurface, development, facilities, and

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in engineering required.
• 15+ years drilling/completions experience with emphasis on drilling engineering.
• 8+ years deepwater drilling on floating rigs (drillships/semi-sub).
• 5+ years in people leadership with direct reports.
• Experience delivering complex deepwater wells (exploration or appraisal).
• Experience with international in-country personnel and contractors.
• Proven budget ownership, AFE management and cost/risk decisions.
• IWCF/IADC WellSharp supervisor level or ability to obtain.

Responsibilities

• Lead planning and execution of deepwater appraisal programs from design through drilling and testing.
• Develop program schedules, AFEs, cost estimates and risk registers.
• Drive D&C well delivery through gates with reviews and MOC.
• Define appraisal objectives with subsurface teams and design wells accordingly.
• Translate appraisal results into development inputs for concept and FID.
• Provide technical authority on deepwater well design and operations.
• Review and approve drilling programs and ensure regulatory compliance.
• Lead and develop drilling/completions engineers; manage offshore and in-country staff.
• Oversee rig contracting, logistics, and international contractor performance.
• Collaborate with subsurface, exploration, development, facilities and subsea teams.

Skills

Leadership experience

Deepwater operations

Cross-functional collaboration

Education

Bachelor's degree in Petroleum/Mechanical/Chemical or related engineering

Job description

At Murphy Oil Corporation, we believe the rich experiences and backgrounds of our employees strengthen our Company, create a productive workforce, and drive our success. We encourage you to apply for the positions for which you meet the qualifications.

Job Summary

Murphy Oil Corporation is seeking an experienced Drilling and Completions Manager to lead well delivery for its deepwater project offshore Côte d'Ivoire. This role will own the planning and execution of a deepwater appraisal program and will be accountable for delivering those wells safely, on schedule and within budget while capturing the data needed to support the development decision.

The successful candidate brings a drilling-focused D&C background, proven deepwater experience and a track record of leading engineering teams. They will provide technical authority over complex deepwater well designs, manage a team of engineers in Houston, oversee rig and in-country operations, and work closely with subsurface, exploration, development and facilities teams. As the project moves toward FID, the D&C Manager will also shape the development well concept, costs and execution strategy.

This role will work in our Houston Corporate office and may work up to two (2) days a week remotely, as business needs allow. This position also may require occasional international travel to Côte d'Ivoire, as well as periodic offshore visits to the rig during operations.

Responsibilities

• Lead planning and execution of a deepwater appraisal programs, from well concept and basis of design through drilling, evaluation, testing and plug and abandonment or suspension.
• Develop and own the program schedule, cost estimates, AFEs and risk register, and report performance against plan to management and joint venture partners.
• Drive the D&C well delivery process through each stage gate, ensuring peer reviews, risk assessments and management-of-change processes are completed and documented.
• Work with subsurface teams to define appraisal objectives and data acquisition requirements (coring, logging, formation pressure and fluid sampling, and well testing) and design wells that achieve them.
• Translate appraisal results into development inputs, including well count, well and completion design, cost and schedule estimates, to support concept selection and FID.
• Serve as the technical authority for deepwater well design, including casing and cementing design, pore pressure and fracture gradient management, wellhead and BOP requirements, drilling fluids, and well control planning.
• Review and approve drilling programs, well designs and operational procedures, and ensure compliance with company standards, industry practice (API, IOGP) and local regulatory requirements.
• Lead, coach and develop a team of drilling and completions engineers, setting clear priorities, accountabilities and performance expectations.
• Provide oversight of in-country personnel, including drilling supervisors, logistics and shore-base staff and contractor representatives.
• Build a strong safety and execution culture and support staff development and succession across the D&C team.
• Lead the D&C contracting strategy, including rig (drillship) selection and contracting, integrated and discrete service contracts, and long-lead equipment such as wellheads, casing and completion equipment.
• Manage relationships and performance of international suppliers, service companies and drilling contractors.
• Integrate D&C workflows with subsurface, exploration, development, facilities and subsea teams to deliver a coherent appraisal and development plan.
• Represent D&C at joint venture partner technical and operating committee meetings, and with senior management.

Qualifications/Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Petroleum, Mechanical, Chemical or a related engineering discipline.
• 15+ years of drilling and completions experience, with a strong emphasis on drilling engineering and operations.
• 8+ years of deepwater drilling experience, including well design and operations on floating rigs (drillships or semi-submersibles).
• 5+ years of people leadership as a manager, superintendent or team lead, with direct reports.
• Demonstrated experience delivering complex deepwater wells, including exploration or appraisal wells.
• Experience working with international in-country personnel, suppliers, service companies and drilling contractors.
• Proven business acumen, including budget ownership, AFE management, contracting and making decisions that balance cost, schedule and risk.
• Current IWCF or IADC WellSharp well control certification at supervisor level, or the ability to obtain it.

Preferred Qualifications

• Drilling or project experience in West Africa (e.g., Côte d'Ivoire, Ghana, Nigeria, Senegal, Angola) or other international deepwater basins.
• Experience taking a project from appraisal through concept selection and FID into development.
• Experience with appraisal well testing and data acquisition programs.
• Experience with rig contracting and mobilization into a new operating country, including shore-base setup.
• Working knowledge of French.
• Graduate degree or professional engineering license.

The individual is required to follow all applicable safety precautions. Work is performed almost entirely in a controlled (i.e., inside) environment and does not typically subject the incumbent to any hazardous/extreme elements; some positions may require regularly moving or transporting items weighing up to 25 lbs. around the office for various needs. The successful candidate must be able to complete all essential physical requirements of the job with or without reasonable accommodation.

PURPOSE

We believe in providing energy that empowers people.

MISSION

We challenge the norm, tap into our strong legacy and use our foresight and financial discipline to deliver inspired energy solutions.

VISION

We see a future where we are an industry leader who is positively impacting lives for the next 100 years and beyond.

VALUES & BEHAVIORS

Do Right Always

• Respect people, safety, environment and the law
• Follow through on commitments
• Make it better

Think Beyond Possible

• Offer solution
• Step up and lead
• Don’t settle for “good enough”
• Embrace new opportunities

Stay With It

• Show resilience
• Lean into challenges
• Support each other
• Consider the implications

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Murphy Oil Corporation participates in the Department of Homeland Security U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services' E-Verify program. Please read the E-Verify Notice-English / E-Verify Notice-Spanish and Right to Work Notice before proceeding with your job application.

For additional information, you may also visit the USCIS website.

Murphy Oil Corporation is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, pregnancy, genetic information, disability, and status as a protected veteran, or any other category protected by federal, state or local laws.

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