Operations Manager – Oil & Gas Production

Location: Abu Dhabi, UAE
Employment Type: Full-Time
Career Level: Senior Management
Experience Required: 10–15 Years
Salary Range: USD $6,000 – $9,000 per month

Job Overview

We are seeking a highly experienced and technically accomplished Drilling Superintendent to lead the planning, execution, and supervision of onshore and offshore drilling operations in Abu Dhabi. This senior leadership role is responsible for ensuring wells are delivered safely, efficiently, on schedule, and within approved budgets, while meeting the highest technical, operational, and HSE standards.

The Drilling Superintendent will provide both strategic oversight and hands-on leadership across the full drilling lifecycle, from well design and planning through execution, completion, and handover. The role requires close coordination with drilling contractors, service companies, geology, reservoir, production, HSE, and logistics teams to ensure seamless delivery of drilling programs.

The ideal candidate will bring deep technical drilling expertise, strong risk management capabilities, and proven leadership experience in complex and high-risk drilling environments.

Key Responsibilities

Drilling Program Planning & Execution

• Plan, review, and manage drilling programs for onshore and offshore wells
• Ensure drilling designs, well programs, and procedures meet approved technical and operational standards
• Oversee execution of drilling activities in accordance with approved programs
• Ensure wells are delivered on time, within budget, and to required quality standards

Contractor & Service Company Management

• Supervise drilling contractors, rig crews, and service providers
• Ensure contractors comply with contractual, technical, and HSE requirements
• Review contractor performance and address execution gaps
• Manage day-to-day coordination between rig teams and service companies

Schedule, Cost & Performance Control

• Ensure adherence to drilling schedules and approved budgets
• Monitor drilling costs, daily expenditures, and operational efficiency
• Identify cost-optimization opportunities without compromising safety or well integrity
• Report deviations and implement corrective actions

Well Integrity & Technical Assurance

• Monitor well integrity throughout drilling operations
• Ensure proper casing, cementing, mud programs, and well control practices
• Review drilling parameters and optimize operational performance
• Ensure compliance with company well integrity and engineering standards

Risk Management & Operational Safety

• Conduct drilling risk assessments and hazard analyses
• Implement mitigation plans for operational, geological, and well-control risks
• Ensure strict adherence to blowout prevention, well control, and emergency response procedures
• Maintain focus on safety-critical activities at all times

Drilling Performance Monitoring

• Review daily drilling reports, well data, and performance metrics
• Analyze NPT (Non-Productive Time) and drilling efficiency
• Capture lessons learned and drive continuous improvement initiatives
• Apply best practices and new technologies to optimize drilling performance

Cross-Functional Coordination

• Coordinate with geology, reservoir, subsurface, and production teams
• Ensure alignment between well objectives and drilling execution
• Support production and completion teams during handover phases
• Participate in technical reviews, planning sessions, and operational meetings

HSE & Regulatory Compliance

• Ensure full compliance with company HSE policies, ADNOC / UAE regulations, and international standards
• Promote a strong safety culture across drilling teams and contractors
• Participate in safety audits, inspections, and drills
• Ensure all drilling activities meet environmental and regulatory requirements

Incident Management & Investigation

• Lead or support incident, near-miss, and well control investigations
• Conduct root cause analysis and ensure implementation of corrective actions
• Ensure lessons learned are communicated and applied across drilling operations
• Maintain transparent reporting to management and regulatory authorities

Leadership, Mentorship & Team Development

• Provide technical leadership and mentorship to drilling engineers and supervisors
• Develop team capability, competency frameworks, and succession planning
• Promote best practices and knowledge sharing across drilling teams
• Support professional development of junior and mid-level engineers

Reporting & Management Communication

• Prepare detailed drilling progress, performance, and cost reports
• Present operational updates, risks, and recommendations to senior management
• Provide insights to improve drilling efficiency, safety, and cost performance
• Support long-term drilling strategy and field development planning

Qualifications & Educational Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Petroleum Engineering or a related engineering discipline
• Advanced drilling or well control certifications are an advantage
• IWCF or IADC well control certification preferred
• Strong understanding of drilling engineering principles and industry standards

Experience Requirements

• Minimum 12 years of experience in oil and gas drilling operations
• Proven experience in both onshore and offshore drilling environments
• Exposure to complex wells, HPHT, or deep drilling operations is an advantage
• Experience supervising drilling rigs, contractors, and service providers
• Middle East oil and gas experience is strongly preferred

Skills & Competencies

• Deep technical knowledge of drilling equipment, operations, and well control
• Strong leadership, decision-making, and crisis management skills
• Excellent risk assessment and problem-solving abilities
• Strong commercial awareness and cost-control mindset
• Ability to manage high-pressure operations and multiple stakeholders
• Excellent communication, reporting, and coordination skills
• High commitment to safety, integrity, and operational excellence

Benefits & Compensation

• Executive-level monthly salary ranging from USD $7,000 to $10,500
• Offshore allowances and rotational benefits (where applicable)
• Comprehensive medical insurance coverage
• Paid annual leave as per UAE labor law
• Long-term contract stability with a leading oil and gas organization
• Opportunity to lead high-impact drilling programs and complex wells

Why Join Us

This role offers a senior leadership opportunity for an experienced drilling professional to oversee critical drilling operations in one of the world’s most active oil and gas regions. As Drilling Superintendent, you will play a pivotal role in delivering safe, efficient, and technically sound wells while shaping drilling strategy and mentoring the next generation of drilling professionals.