Staff Counsel - Surface Land

Diamondback E&P LLC; United States; On-site; USD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Relocation assistance

Equal Employment Opportunity

Job summary

Diamondback E&P LLC is seeking a Staff Counsel in the United States to provide legal support for surface land and operations related to mineral development. This role includes drafting and negotiating various surface-related agreements and advising business units on property and commercial matters.

The ideal candidate will have a Juris Doctor (J.D.), be active in the Texas bar, and possess over five years of legal experience in the oil & gas sector. Relocation assistance is available for this position.

Qualifications

• Five (5+) years of legal experience in a related field.
• Active admission to a state bar in Texas.
• Ability to advise on contractual matters in oil & gas.

Responsibilities

• Provide legal support to Surface Land and Operations teams.
• Draft and negotiate surface‑related agreements.
• Deliver legal guidance across land and commercial activities.

Skills

Legal experience in upstream and/or midstream oil & gas

Contract negotiation

Strong analytical skills

Excellent written and verbal communication

Education

Juris Doctor (J.D.)

Job description

Job Overview

The Staff Counsel will provide legal support to the Company’s Surface Land and Operations group on matters related to surface issues in connection with mineral development and operations. The role focuses on drafting, reviewing, and negotiating surface‑related agreements, infrastructure development, midstream operations, and asset acquisitions, divestitures and exchanges, while advising business units on property, operational, and commercial matters. Title and level will be commensurate with experience and qualifications.

Job Responsibilities

• Provide legal support to the Surface Land and Operations teams on surface development matters for oil and gas operations, joint operations, pipelines, infrastructure, midstream operations, and surface use.
• Draft, review, and negotiate surface‑related agreements, including Surface Use Agreements, Rights‑of‑Way and Easements (surface and subsurface), water purchase, takeaway, and offload agreements, and saltwater disposal agreements.
• Advise departments and business units on property‑related transactional and commercial matters.
• Deliver timely, practical legal guidance across land, operations, and commercial activities.

Required Qualifications

• Juris Doctor (J.D.) from an accredited law school with strong academic credentials.
• Active admission to a state bar; ability to practice in‑house in Texas.
• Five (5+) years of legal experience (law firm, government, or in‑house).
• Experience in upstream and/or midstream oil & gas, including complex property matters and agreement negotiation.
• Strong ability to advise on contractual matters related to oil & gas infrastructure, development, and operations.
• Highly organized with ability to manage multiple priorities independently and collaboratively.

Preferred Qualifications

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Strong analytical, problem‑solving, and critical thinking abilities.
• Demonstrated ability to draft and review complex legal documents and provide practical business‑focused advice in a fast‑paced environment.

Additional Information

Relocation assistance is available for this position.

Work Authorization: Diamondback Energy does not currently sponsor employment visas for this position.

Equal Employment Opportunity: Diamondback is an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer. Diamondback provides equal employment opportunities to all qualified applicants without regard to race, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, color, age, religion, veteran or disability status, genetic information, pregnancy, or any other status protected by law. Diamondback participates in E‑Verify.