Senior Director, Project Management - Subsurface & Drilling

Join to apply for the Senior Director, Project Management - Subsurface & Drilling role at Worley

Worley is a global professional services company of energy, chemicals and resources experts headquartered in Australia. Right now, we’re bridging two worlds as we accelerate to more sustainable energy sources, while helping our customers provide the energy, chemicals and resources that society needs now. We partner with our customers to deliver projects and create value over the life of their portfolio of assets. We solve complex problems by finding integrated data-centric solutions from the first stages of consulting and engineering to installation and commissioning, to the last stages of decommissioning and remediation. Join us and help drive innovation and sustainability in our projects.

Role Context
Provides direction and project management to ensure project completion in accordance with contractual obligations. Defines project goals and devises methods to accomplish them; develops in-depth knowledge of customer objectives, contract terms, and corporate policies. Plans, organizes, manages, and controls projects with the established policies, procedures, systems, and requirements approved by Worley. Supervises project personnel through subordinate leaders. Project managers will exhibit leadership skills necessary to achieve project goals. A successful candidate must have experience providing leadership and strategic oversight to deliver the execution strategy for oil and gas asset production projects (upstream projects that have included subsurface and well engineering teams) from concept through first oil.

Responsibilities

• Typically manage one of the most complex, highest risk projects or programs within Worley.
• Work directly with upstream Operators (preferably independents).
• Visualize and design new concepts and ideas related to technical/functional projects.
• Frame projects with clear scope, schedule, and realistic expectations with Operators.
• Lead work through other project managers when applicable.

Decision Making

• Develop and own the overall project execution plan, including scope, schedule, budget, and resource allocation.
• Lead a multi-disciplinary project team (engineering, procurement, construction, commissioning, HSE) to deliver first oil on time and within budget.
• Manage project risks and opportunities with systematic identification, assessment, and mitigation planning.
• Oversee proposals, negotiate the operating agreement, and make technical decisions.
• Oversee contractor selection, contract negotiation, and performance monitoring to align with project objectives and corporate standards.
• Maintain strict adherence to health, safety, environment, and quality (HSEQ) requirements and foster a culture of safety excellence.
• Interface with internal and external stakeholders, including host governments, joint venture partners, regulatory bodies, and community representatives.

Supervision Authority

• Assign project work and provide technical guidance to people on large to mega-sized projects.
• Direct and indirect reports and authority for performance evaluations impacting pay.
• Make recommendations concerning selection, training, rating and discipline of personnel.
• Provide administrative direction to subordinate supervision; contact with the workforce is normally through such levels rather than direct.

Health & Safety

• Be a strong safety proponent/leader/champion for Life.
• Lead HSE conversations, site walks, assessments and incident investigations.
• Develop and support project-specific HSE plans and initiatives; drive safety culture at work and home.
• Oversee safety plans for multiple contractors involved in the project.

Leadership

• Lead large cross-functional internal and external project teams and potentially subcontractors or other PMs.
• Collaborate effectively with the customer’s management team.
• Motivate and monitor team performance, ensuring quality and timeliness; address performance gaps.
• Establish a collaborative team environment with a clear vision, expectations and accountability.

Financial Acumen

• Understand business drivers, financial reporting standards and customer contracts.
• Ensure proper change control processes are used by the project team.
• Understand project costs including gross margin analysis; manage lump sum and fixed-price contracts.
• Master cost control, scheduling, and estimating; lead risk mitigation.
• Manage cash flow, including accounts receivable and work in progress to minimize DSO.

You’ll Have

Technical/Industry Experience and Qualifications:

• Demonstrated experience delivering greenfield or brownfield oil production projects on schedule and within budget (Upstream onshore/offshore).
• Experience managing reservoir, drilling, subsurface interfaces, upstream projects with subsurface and well engineering teams.
• Ability to oversee large-scale complex projects, covering planning, directing, supervising and controlling all technical, fiscal and administrative functions.
• Strategy experience for procurement of equipment/materials, subcontracting, and materials planning; multiple contracts.
• Ability to review, select and manage mixed contracting strategies (Unit Price, Lump Sum, Reimbursable).
• Experience with managing complex scope changes and providing timely information to leadership.
• Effective communication and presentation skills for senior management; persuasive and collaborative leadership style.

Education – Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Petroleum, Mechanical, Chemical, or Civil Engineering (or equivalent).
• Experience across oil and gas value-chain segments; delivering complex upstream projects through first oil.
• Extensive experience in HSE management and regulatory compliance in oil and gas.

Preferred

• Master’s degree in Engineering, Project Management, or MBA.
• Experience in reservoir interface, subsurface activities, drilling contracting, well engineering & execution, and exploration risk management.
• International exposure, cross-cultural teamwork across jurisdictions.

Moving Forward

We want our people to be energized and empowered to drive sustainable impact. We focus on a values-inspired culture that unlocks brilliance through belonging, connection and innovation. We’re building a diverse, inclusive and respectful workplace. We’re reskilling our people and supporting the transition to today’s low carbon energy infrastructure and technology. Join us to broaden your horizons and deliver sustainable change.

Company

Worley

Location

Primary Location: GBR-GL-London; Other Locations: GBR-GC-Glasgow, GBR-NWE-Manchester, GBR-AC-Aberdeen, GBR-SOT-Stockton

Job: Project Management; Schedule: Full-time; Employment Type: Employee; Management Level: Senior Director

Job Posting: Sep 25, 2025; Unposting Date: Dec 25, 2025

Reporting Manager Title: Senior Vice President - Portfolio Management

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