Surface Operations Specialist (Midland, TX)

The University of Texas System; Midland (TX); On-site; USD 80,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

The University of Texas System is seeking a Surface Operations Specialist to ensure oil and gas lease compliance and promote sustainable land stewardship for University Lands. You will collaborate across departments and with operators to maintain leases in paying quantities and oversee plugging, abandonment, and restoration activities.

Ideal candidates have a Bachelor’s degree and extensive experience in oil & gas operations, with strong GIS and reporting skills.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in a related field.
• 7 years of oil and gas operations experience.
• Direct experience with exploration and production companies or contractors.
• Experience with surface operations and land management.
• Ability to learn, motivate, and work independently.

Responsibilities

• Develop and manage UL lease compliance and restoration records.
• Inspect wells and oversee plugging and abandonment.
• Coordinate with internal departments and external operators for compliance.
• Oversee production well tests to verify pay quantities.
• Supervise restoration work by UL-hired contractors.

Skills

Independent work

Written communication

Verbal communication

GIS proficiency

Microsoft Office

Problem solving

Environmental compliance

Education

Bachelor’s degree

Tools

GIS Systems

Mapping software

Job description

FLSA Status

Exempt

Earliest Start Date

Immediately

Salary

Salary commensurate with experience

Hours per Week

40 hours weekly

Hiring Department

University Lands

About Us

For more than 140 years, The University of Texas System has improved the lives of Texans - and people all over the world - through education, health care, and research. The System consists of nine academic institutions, four health institutions, and The University of Texas System Administration. The institutions of the UT System employ more than 160,000 faculty, health care professionals, researchers, support staff, and student workers.

The UT System Administration is primarily based in Austin, Texas. It supports the missions of the System's thirteen institutions by providing financial, legal, planning, purchasing, government relations, communications, development, and other central services. Serving a growing state, the UT System Administration strives to provide a welcoming, supportive work environment that embraces different perspectives - not only because it enables the organization to be stronger, creative, and thoughtful, but because it is the right thing to do. To that end, UT System Administration embraces state laws on military and former foster children employment preferences.

Purpose of Position

The Surface Operations Specialist plays a pivotal role in enhancing the value and sustainability of University Lands (UL) by ensuring oil and gas lease compliance and fostering responsible land stewardship. Collaborating with multiple internal departments and externally with Oil & Gas operators, the Specialist ensures leases are producing in paying quantities. When leases are not economic, the Specialist coordinates proper plugging and abandonment procedures and surface restoration activities to keep Permanent University Fund (PUF) lands safe and sustainable.

Key responsibilities include identifying non-productive, low-producing, abandoned, or terminated oil and gas wells, overseeing proper plugging of wellbores, and the diligent pursuit of the abandonment and reclamation of end-of-life leases. These land management functions are critical to safeguarding the long-term viability and value of the PUF surface estate, and by ensuring these lands are maintained sustainably, the Surface Operations Specialist plays a vital role in the stewardship of the PUF lands.

Essential Functions

• Develop and support relationships both internally and externally to ensure compliance, environmental sustainability, and the professional management of PUF lands.
• Collaborate closely with Surface Operations, Range Management, Sustainability, Regulatory, Audit, Mineral Land, Legal, Accounting, IT/GIS, and Commercial Surface/ROW for the responsible administration of UL leases, enforcing lessee obligations, and ensuring surface compliance related to the lifecycle of development and reclamation on PUF Lands.
• Serve as a pivotal representative engaging with all other external operators and lessees on the land to facilitate effective communication, collaboration, and alignment of efforts towards sustainable utilization and management of PUF resources.
• Independently schedule and perform oil and gas lease inspections, generate reports and restoration letters, and communicate the findings with operators.
• Create documentation of on-the-ground status and reports for operator notices and communication. Administer status records with actual field observations and report findings to UL departments.
• Manage operator engagement for the performance of production well tests to demonstrate wells or leases are capable of production in paying quantities.
• Inspect oil and gas drilling, production, and storage operations to determine compliance with federal and state laws and regulations. Witness and inspect well plugging operations to ensure compliance with state regulations.
• Record and report field observations to Surface Landmen and the Environmental Coordinator with specific attention to spills from upstream/midstream oil and gas activity to prevent environmental, livestock, and wildlife damage.
• Coordinate field audits and educate UL Audit and Regulatory Department regarding the purposes and operation of specific production, separation, and storage equipment.
• Manage decisions regarding the UL lease inspection database. Supervise specific investigations and effectively communicate with operators and internal UL staff.
• Provide direct supervision for abandoned equipment removal with equipment reclamation service companies. Manage and supervise UL-hired contractors to perform similar restoration work as needed.
• Coordinate pipeline and commercial surface lease restoration efforts with the Commercial Contract Surface Department for expired contracts. Oversee contract service providers conducting business or operations on University Lands.
• Other duties as assigned.

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

• Knowledge of surface ownership, operations, and land management.
• Ability to work independently with little or no direct supervision and remain highly professional, organized, responsible, dependable, and responsive.
• Experience in surface operations and management including field observation, site abandonment, lease inspections and terminations, restorations and reclamation projects.
• Must be a self-motivated and self-driven individual combined with excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Capable of understanding O&G and surface contracts and administering the requirements.
• Evaluate complex issues or risks, mediate interactions, and provide effective solutions to initiate remedial actions for all surface and environmental concerns.
• Must have the ability to learn, motivate, offer expert discernment, make challenging choices, and work independently or as a highly effective team member.
• Must be a skilled user of all Microsoft Office programs, GIS Systems, and mapping applications.
• The ability to understand and use GIS for navigation and documentation is essential.
• Excellent professional judgment is required to negotiate work plans and timelines and ensure Operators comply.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree required from an accredited college or university, preferably in energy management, land management, engineering, technology, or related fields.
• Each additional year of experience or education over the required minimum may substitute on a year-for-year basis.
• Direct experience with an exploration and production company or contractor.
• 7 years of professional or technical work in oil and gas operations.
• Experience and expertise in surface operations, land management, and/or reclamation projects.

Preferred Qualifications

• 10 years of professional or technical work in oil and gas operations. Permian Basin experience is preferred.
• A working knowledge of University Land surface management, operations, policies, and procedures.
• Previous supervisor or managerial role or leadership in a team environment.
• Knowledge of federal and state oil & gas exploration and production regulations.

Working Conditions

• Driving of UT owned vehicle required
• May work in all weather conditions
• May work around standard office conditions
• Requires occasional evening or weekend hours

Additional Information

The retirement plan for this position is Teacher Retirement System of Texas (TRS), subject to a minimum of 20 hours per week and at least 135 days in length. Participation in TRS is mandatory.

A background check will be conducted on candidates under final consideration. The background check may include any or all of the following: criminal history check, prior employment verification, education verification, professional references check, and motor vehicle records check. Background checks are conducted by third-party vendors. Upon request form the third-party vendor, candidates under final consideration must provide the required information for the background checks to be completed.

EO/AA Statement

The University of Texas System Administration is committed to providing equal employment opportunity for all qualified applicants and employees in all terms and conditions of employment. U. T. System will provide equal employment opportunity to all qualified persons and will not discriminate on the basis of race, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity/expression, pregnancy, religion, national origin, age, disability, genetic information, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by federal or state laws.

For information on accommodations for individuals with disabilities, please contact the Office of Talent and Innovation at [e-mail] .