Planning and Development Engineer

Company Information

Bison Oil & Gas is a Denver-based upstream Oil & Gas Exploration and Production company committed to pursuing value through responsible oil and gas development that ensures maximum benefits to both shareholders and stakeholders by operating intelligently, ethically, responsibly, and on the cutting edge of technology.

Bison Oil & Gas IV operates in the DJ Basin of Colorado and Wyoming. Bison has operated in the DJ since 2015 and currently operates over 200,000 net acres, 400 wells, and ~30,000 BOE of production per day. Bison is a leading new-age operator that strives to operate with the least possible impact on the environment and our surrounding communities. Bison is one of the largest private companies in the DJ Basin.

Why this role matters to our organization

The Planning and Development Engineer impacts the long-term sustainability and profitability of Bison’s operations by planning and optimizing development and ensuring efficient execution of drilling projects. Through cross-disciplinary collaboration and analysis, this position helps maximize production and mitigate risks, while ensuring compliance with regulatory requirements. The individual in this role will also represent our company to the community and regulators, reinforcing our commitment to ethical, responsible, and cutting-edge resource development.

What it takes to be successful in this role

We are seeking a candidate who deeply values ethics, honesty, hard work, creativity, safety, growth, and a passion for our vision, all while embracing an open-minded approach that allows the best ideas to flourish. If you share these core values and are ready to contribute your skills and dedication, we encourage you to apply for this opportunity.

Summary

The Planning and Development Engineer will focus on planning new development, tracking timelines to ensure project execution and working closely with multiple disciplines to plan and deliver multi-year development projects. This role requires collaboration with various internal teams and external stakeholders. This position will play a key role in identifying and implementing improvements in existing assets, managing project development from exploration to decommissioning, and ensuring that projects meet economic, technical, and regulatory requirements.

Job Responsibilities and Essential Functions

• Collaborate with geologists, reservoir engineers, and other technical teams to define strategies for oil and gas field development. 

• Work with engineering and operations to plan and optimize pad designs, ensuring timely and efficient delivery of wells.

• Partner with internal teams to ensure that development plans align with operational capabilities and support daily production activities.

• Manage and prioritize development opportunities to align with company objectives.

• Support the process of site selection and well planning and assist with permitting and regulatory approvals.

• Engage with internal regulatory team as well as municipalities, regulatory bodies, and other external stakeholders to ensure compliance with local, federal, and state regulations. 

• Serve as a company’s spokesperson and ambassador during public meetings, hearings, and inspections, maintaining strong relationships with community leaders and regulatory officials.

• Assist in forecasting area development plans and actively manage key risks, ensuring alignment with regulatory and company goals.

Core Competencies

• Responsiveness to Tasks

• Ownership of Projects

• Hitting Deadlines 

• Highly organized

• New Skill Development

• Tackling New Challenges

• Working Well with Others 

Education and Experience (required)

• Bachelor’s degree in Petroleum Engineering or a related field.

• 5 years of experience in the upstream oil and gas industry, with a focus on asset development and project management.

• Strong understanding of geoscience and subsurface characterization as it relates to field development.

• Proven experience in collaborating with multi-functional teams and managing complex projects.

• Proficiency in Microsoft 365 products (Outlook, Excel, Word).

Education and Experience (preferred)

• Master’s degree in Petroleum Engineering or a related field.

• Knowledge and experience with urban municipality permitting and project execution in field operations.

Other Requirements

• Must be able to pass a pre-employment background screening

• Ability to legally work in the US without sponsorship 

Additional Information

Compensation: 

For salaried positions: Our cash compensation amount for this role is targeted at $120,100 – 197,300 annually in this location. Final offer amounts are determined by multiple factors including candidate experience and expertise and may vary from the amount listed above. 

Top Benefits & Perks

As a member of Bison, you’ll enjoy an impressive benefits package:

• Medical Plan: Bison offers multiple medical plans to choose from. 

Lowest level plan premiums are covered at 100% for employee and dependents

Additional buy-up plan options available with premiums covered at 75% for employee and dependents

• HSA with Bison contribution.

• Dental Plan: Bison covers premiums for dental plans for employees and dependents. 

• Vision plans. 

• Long-term disability, life insurance, and AD&D covered by Bison. 

• 401k plan: Bison matches 100% of employee contributions up to the first 4% of compensation. 

• Paid Time Off. 

• Paid Volunteer Day. 

• Sick Time.

• Cellphone reimbursement. 

Location

This position is located Denver, CO. Candidates currently residing in locations outside of daily commuting distance will be considered, however, it is the expectation that the selected individual will be available at the work location. No relocation or travel assistance will be provided by the Company for this position. 

Work Environment

This position operates in an office environment. This entails working inside in an office space wherein employee may be provided a public work station (cubicle) or private office. From time to time, the role will require field visits where exposure to extreme weather conditions, fumes, airborne particles, vibrations, dust, electrical charges and other unforeseen exposures may be encountered. 

Physical Demands

In the performance of the duties and responsibilities of this job, the employee is required to have visual acuity to operate a motor vehicle and view a computer terminal for prolonged periods of time. While at work sites, the employee will be expected to walk and stand. Individuals might be asked to climb, balance, stoop, kneel, crouch, reach, and/or crawl. Individuals might be required to lift, carry, push, or pull up to 50 lbs. in the performance of this position. 

Position Type and Working Hours

This is a full-time position. Typical work hours are from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday – Thursday and 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. working Friday’s. Employee must be capable and willing to work overtime as required and to participate in occasional meetings, events, seminars, conferences, or other activities outside of typical work hours. Employees responsible for project operations are expected to monitor and, in some cases, respond to emails, calls, or texts outside of business hours.

Travel

Occasional travel to work site locations may be expected. Overnight stays may be required from time to time for training, seminars, field visits, or visits to onsite locations. 

Disclaimer

This job posting is not intended to contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties, or responsibilities that are required of the employee. The Company reserves the right to change or assign additional duties, responsibilities, and activities at any time with or without notice. 

Hiring Practices

Bison is proud to be an equal-opportunity employer. We do not discriminate in hiring or any employment decision based on race, color, religion, national origin, age, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions), marital status, ancestry, physical or mental disability, genetic information, veteran status, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, or other applicable legally protected characteristic. We consider qualified applicants with criminal histories, consistent with applicable federal, state, and local law. We are also committed to providing reasonable accommodations for qualified individuals with disabilities and disabled veterans in our application procedures. If you need assistance or an accommodation due to a disability, you may contact HR Manager at careers@bisonog.com.