Wells Decommissioning Manager

DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES:

The Wells Decommissioning Manager is responsible for overseeing all the end-of-life wells operations of non-producing assets in the Gulf of America and Louisiana State Waters. This role requires strategic planning, managing operations, vendor management, and contract negotiation, alongside close coordination with cross-functional teams to ensure safety, compliance, efficiency, and operational effectiveness. The Wells Decommissioning Manager will lead complex projects to meet ARO requirements, manage logistics, and manage their team’s procurement to ensure cost-effective operations. Extensive experience in well P&A operations is essential.  The role will be predominantly office-based and will liaise with regulatory, production, facilities and the Platform / Pipeline Decommissioning teams to maintain good working relationships and ensure efficient delivery of the objectives:

• Champion for Safety: Embrace the safety culture of transparent operations while following HSE policies and guidelines.
• Strategic Planning & Execution: Develop and execute long-term strategies for decommissioning multiple types of wells while aligning operational activities with organizational goals and regulatory requirements.
• Technical Support: Provide engineering support to lead the Wells ARO teams to prepare programs and/or operations support for P&A projects. This shall include, but not be limited to, preparing project costing, and  bid documents, gathering and interpretation of well data, cement plugging design, log correlation, P&A well program preparation, trouble shooting and resolution of problems. Make recommendations to Director of ARO for all activities associated with the P&A of wells. 
• Operations Support:  Activities include, but are not limited to, implementation of the wells P&A program, daily reporting, cost control, and ensuring that the work is completed in accordance with HSE policies, guidelines, and regulatory compliance. Supervisory duties include the oversight of duties of the well site-based P&A Supervisors and third-party subcontractors. Ensure implementation of simultaneous operations procedures and a seamless transition with offshore staff.
• Project & Vendor Management: Lead project planning and implementation, managing relationships with vendors and contractors to ensure high standards in quality, compliance, and timely execution.  Coordination of morning and other operational meetings with Field personnel.
• Risk & Compliance Management: Collaborate with legal, finance, and environmental teams to manage risk, maintain compliance with environmental regulations, and adhere to ARO liabilities.
• Financial Oversight: Manage the ARO wells part of a $100M budget, ensuring cost optimization and procurement efficiency across departments to improve operational margins.
• Team Leadership: Lead the ARO wells team including engineering and operations, driving optimization.

EDUCATION & EXPERIENCE:

• Education: Bachelor of Science degree in Engineering from accredited 4-year university
• Professional Experience: 10 years of progressive experience in decommissioning operations with a strong background in well operations.
• Team Leadership: Experience managing teams across procurement, logistics, and operations functions.
• Contract & Vendor Management: Proven track record in managing complex, high-value contracts, and vendor relationships.

REQUIRED SKILLS & QUALIFICATIONS:

• HSE Leadership: Successful in leading safe and compliant operations without harming the environment.  
• Regulatory Compliance: Strong knowledge of and ensuring compliance of Offshore U.S and Louisiana regulations, particularly in decommissioning and environmental safety.
• Project Management: Proven ability to manage wells P&A project planning and execution. Able to lead and implement continuous improvement initiatives including lessons learned.
• Technical Knowledge:

• Well Control
• Well Abandonment planning and operations.
• Gulf Coast wells decommissioning related Service Providers
• Multi-string cutting and removal
• Cement plugs and mechanical barriers
• Section milling operations
• Fishing operations
• Lift Boats, inland water decommissioning, rig-less P&A, Subsea operations
• Slickline, E-Line, and HWO

• Negotiation & Contract Management: Experience in the RFP process, negotiating service contracts and managing vendor relationships to meet project and operational needs.
• Financial Management: Demonstrated skill in managing a budget, cost control, and implementing cost-saving measures.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:

• Employee must be able to sit for extended periods of time and have use of arms and hands in repetitive motion. A fair amount of standing and walking is also required for the position.
• Ability to travel internationally if required.
• Ability to travel to make site visits to vendor facilities, offshore assets and other Talos office locations as required.
• Ability to travel without limitation, including airplanes, helicopters, and boats.
• Ability to utilize swing ropes to access platforms offshore as required.

Ability to move freely on offshore assets, including stairs, ladders and lifting up to 50-lbs, and endure extreme weather conditions and hazardous atmospheres