Quality Assurance Lead

Alaska-Santos; Anchorage (AK); On-site; USD 180,000 - 240,000; Full time

Job summary

Alaska-Santos is seeking a senior QA leader to own and drive the quality assurance program for drilling and completions on the North Slope. You will provide technical leadership to QA personnel, inspectors and contractors, ensuring alignment with the Santos Management System and regulatory requirements.

You will lead investigations, drive corrective actions, and partner with Supply Chain to enforce QA across all service agreements.

Qualifications

• Bachelor degree with 10+ years in QA, 5+ years supporting drilling/completions.
• Deep expertise in drilling and completions design and operations.
• Extensive knowledge of OCTG specs, inspection and acceptance criteria.
• Proven lead in quality incident investigations with systemic corrective actions.
• Ability to influence engineering, operations and supply chain on QA matters.

Responsibilities

• Own and lead the Alaska Drilling and Completions QA program.
• Provide technical leadership to QA personnel, inspectors and contractors.
• Lead quality incident investigations and close-out actions.
• Improve QA registers, inspection and test plans across drilling and completions.
• Represent QA in forums, advise on equipment and quality outcomes.
• Partner with Supply Chain to embed QA in service contracts.
• Oversee third-party inspectors' deployment and performance.
• Monitor QA metrics and elevate risks to the Operations Manager.
• Champion quality culture across the team.
• Comply with Santos Management System and safety requirements.

Skills

Leadership

Root cause analysis

Quality management systems

Stakeholder influence

Regulatory compliance

Education

Bachelor's degree

Tools

Inspection proficiency

Metallurgy knowledge

Job description

Accountabilities for this position are:

• Own and lead the Santos Alaska Drilling and Completions quality assurance program, ensuring it is current, fit-for-purpose and fully aligned to the Santos Management System and applicable regulatory requirements.
• Provide technical leadership and direction to quality assurance personal, third-party inspectors and contractor quality representatives, setting clear performance expectations and coaching team members to build capability.
• Lead quality incident investigations, apply structured root cause analysis methodologies and ensure timely, effective close-out of all findings, corrective actions and lessons learned across the Drilling and Completions team.
• Drive continuous improvement of quality assurance registers, inspection and test plans and quality management processes across all phases of drilling and completions activities.
• Represent the quality function in operational and engineering forums, providing expert advice and influencing decisions on equipment, materials and operational quality outcomes.
• Partner with Supply Chain leadership to ensure quality requirements are clearly specified, contractually embedded and effectively enforced across all service agreements and vendor relationships.
• Oversee the engagement, deployment, performance management and scheduling of third-party inspectors to support North Slope operations, ensuring inspector competency and performance standards are maintained.
• Monitor and report on quality assurance performance metrics, identify systemic trends and elevate risks to the Drilling and Completions Operations Manager as required.
• Champion quality culture across the Drilling and Completions team, embedding quality assurance thinking into daily operations and influencing contractor and service partner behaviours.
• Comply with the Santos Management System, Delegation of Authority and all corporate governance and safety requirements.

Professional Experience

Essential experience required for this position includes:

• Bachelor Degree with a minimum of 10 years of experience in quality assurance, with at least 5 years in role providing direct support to drilling and completions operations.
• Deep expertise in drilling and completions design and operations.
• Extensive knowledge of OCTG and other Drilling and Completions materials specification, inspection and acceptance criteria.
• Proven track record of leading quality incident investigations and driving systemic corrective action and continuous improvement outcomes.
• Demonstrated ability to influence stakeholders, including engineering, operations and supply chain leaders, on quality related matters.

Desired experience for this position includes:

• Experience working in Arctic or remote operational environments, including the North Slope of Alaska.
• Experience managing contractor and vendor quality performance at a senior level.
• Familiarity with API, ISO, and ASME standards relevant to drilling and completions operations.
• Experience representing the quality function in operational leadership forums or cross-functional governance processes.

Technical Competencies

Technical competencies for this position are:

• Proficiency in inspection methodologies include magnetic particle inspection, ultrasonic inspection and threaded connection visual inspection and gauging.
• Capability in quality assurance planning, including the development and review of inspection and test plans for complex drilling and completions operations.
• Advanced root cause analysis methodologies and systemic corrective action management.
• Proficiency in quality incident management software and quality performance reporting.
• Continuous improvement methodology and demonstrated application to drilling and completions quality systems at a program level.
• Deep understanding of metallurgy and mechanical testing of OCTG and service partner equipment.
• Ability to interpret well plans and translate complex equipment and material requirements into quality assurance strategies and actions.
• Understanding of contractor management frameworks and their application to quality performance oversight.

Qualifications

Essential qualifications required for this position are:

• Formal qualifications in material inspection techniques, including magnetic particle inspection, ultrasonic inspection and threaded connection visual inspection and gauging.
• Demonstrated advanced understanding of metallurgy and mechanical testing relevant to OCTG and drilling and completions service partner equipment.
• Proven ability to lead and influence engineering and operations teams at a senior level to identify, escalation and resolve quality issues.
• Highly effective communicator with demonstrated ability to present quality assurance strategies and outcomes to senior operational and technical audiences.
• Demonstrated ability to design, implement and continuously improve quality assurance programs for complex, multi-contractor drilling and completions operations.
• Willingness and ability to travel to North Slope drilling and completions locations and service partner facilities as required.

Desired qualifications for this position are:

• API Q1 or Q2 certification, or equivalent quality management system qualification.
• ISO 9001 Lead Auditor certification.
• Relevant engineering or technical degree or diploma in a related discipline.