POSITION DESCRIPTION – FIELD WELLS SUPERINTENDENT

Job Summary

The Field Wells Superintendent is the Drilling & Completions team field-based lead responsible for overseeing drilling and completions operations, logistics, and contractor performance for drilling and well-services activities. The Superintendent ensures safe, efficient, and compliant execution of activities, coordinates logistics and supply chain activities, manages relationships with drilling and well-services contractors, and provides operational leadership and reporting to the Drilling & Completions Manager.

Key Responsibilities

• Act as the company’s drilling and completions team lead and primary representative for the drilling contractor and well-services contractors (cementing, MWD/LWD, perforating, stimulation, completion services, rentals).
• Plan, coordinate and deconflict daily and weekly drilling and well-services programs in conjunction with Nairobi based team, field operations teams and contractor supervisors.
• Oversee the management of field logistics and supply chain: rig/tubulars/equipment mobilization & demobilization, transport, fuel, water, materials, camp support, waste removal and spare parts.
• Ensure contractors meet contractual obligations, KPIs and agreed work systems; conduct performance reviews, intervene on non-conformance and manage corrective actions.
• Involvement in planning activities (HAZID/HAZOP, permit-to-work, toolbox talks, pre-spud meetings) and enforce company HSE standards and local regulatory requirements.
• Oversee well control, BOP and pressure-control arrangements; verify competency and certification of rig and service crews.
• Monitor operational progress, well program adherence, NPT drivers and costs; escalate deviations and recommend mitigation and cost-saving measures.
• Coordinate maintenance, inspections and spares management for critical field equipment to minimize downtime.
• Maintain accurate operational records and provide timely reports to management.
• Manage Drilling and Completions interfaces with other stakeholders in the field.
• Coordinate emergency response, incident investigation and implementation of corrective/preventive actions.
• Support contractual change management, scope clarifications and commercial interfaces with procurement and contract administration.

Qualifications

• Degree in Petroleum Engineering, Mechanical Engineering or related technical discipline preferred; equivalent industry experience acceptable.
• 10+ years’ onshore drilling operations experience with progressive supervisory responsibility; prior experience as Drilling Superintendent, Toolpusher or Operations Supervisor preferred.

Technical Skills & Knowledge

• Practical knowledge of onshore rig operations, well control, BOP systems, casing and cementing programs, directional drilling basics and rig mechanical systems.
• Strong experience in logistics, materials management and field supply chain for remote operations.
• Competence in contractor management, KPI monitoring and contract compliance.
• Proficiency in MS Office and wellsite reporting tools; familiarity with scheduling tools.
• Well control certification (IWCF/ IADC or equivalent) and relevant safety certifications (H2S, first aid, permit-to-work).

Behavioural & Interpersonal Skills

• Strong analytical, problem-solving and decision-making skills.
• Effective communication and stakeholder management; ability to coordinate cross-functional teams.
• Ability to work under pressure and adapt plans to changing field conditions.
• Leadership, contractor management and mentoring skills.

Experience & Conditions

• Strong leadership, decision-making and people management skills in multi-disciplinary, multi-national teams.
• Effective communication and stakeholder management (contractors, camp services, corporate functions, regulators).
• Ability to operate under pressure, adapt plans to changing field conditions and resolve conflicts onsite.
• Cultural sensitivity and ability to work in remote, rotational environments.

Performance Indicators

• On-time and on-budget well delivery against plan baseline.
• Rate and root causes of NPT attributable to contractor performance or logistics.
• Contractor KPI compliance and investigation of HSE incidents.
• Variance between planned and actual drilling metrics (days, cost, materials).
• Quality and timeliness of operational reporting and lessons-learned.

Desirable

• Hazardous material handling, treatment and disposal management experience.

• Act as the company’s drilling and completions team lead and primary representative for the drilling contractor and well-services contractors (cementing, MWD/LWD, perforating, stimulation, completion services, rentals).
• Plan, coordinate and deconflict daily and weekly drilling and well-services programs in conjunction with Nairobi based team, field operations teams and contractor supervisors.
• Oversee the management of field logistics and supply chain: rig/tubulars/equipment mobilization & demobilization, transport, fuel, water, materials, camp support, waste removal and spare parts.
• Ensure contractors meet contractual obligations, KPIs and agreed work systems; conduct performance reviews, intervene on non-conformance and manage corrective actions.
• Involvement in planning activities (HAZID/HAZOP, permit-to-work, toolbox talks, pre-spud meetings) and enforce company HSE standards and local regulatory requirements.
• Oversee well control, BOP and pressure-control arrangements; verify competency and certification of rig and service crews.
• Monitor operational progress, well program adherence, NPT drivers and costs; escalate deviations and recommend mitigation and cost-saving measures.
• Coordinate maintenance, inspections and spares management for critical field equipment to minimize downtime.
• Maintain accurate operational records and provide timely reports to management.
• Manage Drilling and Completions interfaces with other stakeholders in the field.
• Coordinate emergency response, incident investigation and implementation of corrective/preventive actions.
• Support contractual change management, scope clarifications and commercial interfaces with procurement and contract administration.

• Practical knowledge of onshore rig operations, well control, BOP systems, casing and cementing programs, directional drilling basics and rig mechanical systems.
• Strong experience in logistics, materials management and field supply chain for remote operations.
• Competence in contractor management, KPI monitoring and contract compliance.
• Proficiency in MS Office and wellsite reporting tools; familiarity with scheduling tools.
• Well control certification (IWCF/ IADC or equivalent) and relevant safety certifications (H2S, first aid, permit-to-work).
• Strong analytical, problem-solving and decision-making skills.
• Effective communication and stakeholder management; ability to coordinate cross-functional teams.
• Ability to work under pressure and adapt plans to changing field conditions.
• Leadership, contractor management and mentoring skills.
• Strong leadership, decision-making and people management skills in multi-disciplinary, multi-national teams.
• Effective communication and stakeholder management (contractors, camp services, corporate functions, regulators).
• Ability to operate under pressure, adapt plans to changing field conditions and resolve conflicts onsite.
• Cultural sensitivity and ability to work in remote, rotational environments.

• Degree in Petroleum Engineering, Mechanical Engineering or related technical discipline preferred; equivalent industry experience acceptable.
• 10+ years’ onshore drilling operations experience with progressive supervisory responsibility; prior experience as Drilling Superintendent, Toolpusher or Operations Supervisor preferred.
• Well control certification (IWCF/ IADC or equivalent) and relevant safety certifications (H2S, first aid, permit-to-work).