Production Operations Manager (Remote)

Placements24; United States; Remote; USD 250,000 - 500,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Executive health

Dental & Vision

Stock options

Long-term incentives

Retirement plan

Flexible remote work

International travel

Executive coaching

Paid time off

Job summary

Placements24 client is seeking a highly experienced Production Operations Manager to lead remote oil and gas production efforts from South Africa. The role focuses on safety, efficiency, and cost optimization while guiding a large team of engineers, supervisors, and operators.

The successful candidate will drive KPIs, ensure asset integrity, and manage maintenance, with oversight across multiple sites in the Welkom, Free State region. A strategic, remote-first leader is essential.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Petroleum or Mechanical Engineering or related field.
• Master’s degree or MBA is advantageous for leadership roles.
• Minimum 12 years of progressive oil and gas production operations experience, with 5+ years in management/supervisory roles.
• Proven ability to manage large-scale facilities and lead large teams.
• Strong knowledge of production optimization techniques and safety/Regulatory compliance.

Responsibilities

• Develop and implement strategic production plans to meet targets.
• Oversee daily production operations with focus on safety, efficiency and environmental compliance.
• Manage operational budgets and control costs.
• Lead and mentor production engineers, supervisors and operators.
• Implement KPIs and monitor production performance.
• Ensure integrity and reliability of facilities and equipment.
• Oversee maintenance planning to minimize downtime.
• Coordinate interfaces with drilling, reservoir engineering, and HSE.
• Drive continuous improvement and best practices in production.

Skills

Leadership

Strategic planning

Budget management

Remote leadership

Production optimization

Team building

Education

Bachelor's degree in Petroleum or Mechanical Engineering

Master's degree or MBA (advantageous)

Tools

Production monitoring systems

HSE compliance systems

Job description

About the Role

Our client, a distinguished entity in the global energy landscape, is actively seeking a highly experienced and strategic Production Operations Manager to lead their production operations. This is a critical, fully remote role, allowing you to contribute your expertise from anywhere within South Africa. You will be responsible for overseeing the safe, efficient, and environmentally sound production of oil and gas from our client's assets. This leadership position requires a deep understanding of production engineering principles, operational management, and cost optimization. The ideal candidate will have a proven track record in managing complex production facilities and leading large teams. As a remote-first organization, we foster a culture of trust, accountability, and high performance, providing the necessary digital infrastructure and support for seamless remote operations. You will drive continuous improvement initiatives, ensuring maximum asset integrity and production uptime. This role offers a unique opportunity to shape the future of production operations for a leading energy company while enjoying the flexibility of remote work. We are looking for a visionary leader to manage operations impacting the Welkom, Free State region, from a distance.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop and implement strategic production plans to meet company targets.
• Oversee daily production operations, ensuring safety, efficiency, and environmental compliance.
• Manage operational budgets and control production costs.
• Lead and mentor a team of production engineers, supervisors, and field operators.
• Implement and monitor key performance indicators (KPIs) for production performance.
• Ensure the integrity and reliability of production facilities and equipment.
• Oversee maintenance planning and execution to minimize downtime.
• Manage interfaces with other departments, including drilling, reservoir engineering, and HSE.
• Drive continuous improvement initiatives and implement best practices in production operations.
• Ensure compliance with all regulatory requirements and company policies.
• Manage emergency response procedures and ensure readiness.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Petroleum Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or a related technical field.
• A Master's degree or MBA is advantageous.
• Minimum of 12 years of progressive experience in oil and gas production operations, with at least 5 years in a management or supervisory role.
• Demonstrated experience in managing large-scale production facilities and teams.
• Strong understanding of production optimization techniques, artificial lift systems, and facility operations.
• Proven ability to manage budgets and control operational expenditures.
• Excellent leadership, communication, and strategic planning skills.
• Experience with production monitoring and reporting systems.
• Strong knowledge of HSE regulations and best practices in the oil and gas industry.
• Ability to work independently and manage complex remote operations.
• Must be eligible to work remotely within South Africa.

Benefits

• Highly competitive executive-level salary.
• Executive health, dental, and vision coverage.
• Significant annual bonus potential.
• Stock options or equity participation.
• Generous long-term incentive plan.
• Comprehensive retirement benefits.
• Flexible remote working arrangements.
• Opportunities for international travel and industry engagement.
• Executive coaching and leadership development programs.
• Paid time off and holidays.