Senior Geologist - Exploration & New Ventures

Placements24; Sandton; Hybrid; ZAR 1,200,000 - 2,400,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical benefits

Retirement plan

Bonus structure

International exposure

Job summary

Placements24 in Sandton, Gauteng seeks a highly experienced Senior Geologist to lead Exploration and New Ventures in the oil and gas sector. The role focuses on identifying, evaluating, and securing new opportunities, integrating geological data, and mentoring junior staff within a collaborative team.

The ideal candidate holds a Master’s or PhD in geoscience with 10+ years in exploration, strong play fairway mapping, and a proven track record of business-ready prospect generation and stakeholder

Qualifications

• Advanced degree in Geology or related geoscience field (M.S. or Ph.D.).
• At least 10 years in oil and gas exploration with focus on new ventures.
• Proven track record in identifying and securing exploration opportunities.
• Expertise in basin analysis and play fairway mapping.
• Proficient in seismic interpretation and stratigraphy.
• Strong communication and stakeholder engagement abilities.

Responsibilities

• Identify, evaluate and rank exploration acreage and new venture opportunities globally and locally.
• Integrate geological data to assess prospectivity and estimate resources.
• Develop geological models and play fairway analyses for new concepts.
• Lead due diligence on acquisitions and farm-ins.
• Present technical/economic evaluations to management and potential partners.
• Mentor junior geologists and lead external consultants.

Skills

Prospect generation

Geology expertise

Seismic interpretation

Leadership

Education

Master's degree or PhD in Geology

Tools

Petrel

Kingdom

Geoscience software

Job description

About the Role

Our client, a prominent entity within the Oil & Gas sector, is seeking a highly experienced and results-oriented Senior Geologist to spearhead their Exploration and New Ventures initiatives. This critical role, based in the bustling commercial hub of Sandton, Gauteng, involves identifying, evaluating, and securing new exploration opportunities. The ideal candidate will possess extensive geological expertise, a proven track record in prospect generation, and strong business acumen. This is an exceptional opportunity to shape the future exploration strategy of our client in South Africa and potentially beyond, working within a collaborative and dynamic team environment. We are looking for a strategic thinker with a passion for discovery in the energy sector.

Key Responsibilities

• Identify, evaluate, and rank potential exploration acreage and new venture opportunities globally and domestically.
• Integrate geological, geophysical, and engineering data to assess prospectivity and estimate potential resources.
• Develop geological models and play fairway analyses for new exploration concepts.
• Conduct due diligence on potential acquisitions and farm-in opportunities.
• Prepare technical presentations and economic evaluations for management and potential partners.
• Collaborate closely with geophysicists, reservoir engineers, and business development teams.
• Lead subsurface evaluation teams for bid rounds and licensing processes.
• Stay abreast of industry trends, new exploration technologies, and geological concepts.
• Mentor junior geologists and contribute to the technical growth of the exploration department.
• Manage external consultants and data providers as needed.

Requirements

• Master's degree or Ph.D. in Geology, Geological Sciences, or a related geoscience field.
• Minimum of 10 years of progressive experience in oil and gas exploration geology, with a strong focus on new ventures and prospect generation.
• Demonstrated success in identifying and securing new exploration opportunities.
• Expertise in basin analysis, play fairway mapping, and prospect evaluation techniques.
• Proficiency with geological software and interpretation tools (e.g., Petrel, Kingdom).
• Strong understanding of seismic interpretation, sequence stratigraphy, and structural geology.
• Excellent analytical, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills.
• Exceptional communication, negotiation, and presentation skills, with experience interacting with senior management and external stakeholders.
• Ability to work effectively in a multidisciplinary and often remote team setting.
• Experience in evaluating diverse geological settings and basin types.

Benefits

Our client offers a highly competitive salary, executive-level benefits including comprehensive medical, retirement, and bonus structures, as well as significant opportunities for career advancement and international exposure. Join a leading company in Sandton, Gauteng, and play a pivotal role in driving future exploration success. Specific details regarding compensation and benefits will be provided to qualified candidates.