Optimization Team Manager

Entity:

Production & Operations

Job Family Group:

Operations Group

Job Description:

Role Synopsis

The Optimization Team Manager will lead the centralized Optimization Team, driving operational excellence across multiple business units (BUs). This role is responsible for aligning optimization strategies, managing cross-functional resources, and enabling autonomous production operations through digital tools and centralized surveillance. The manager will ensure consistent performance, foster collaboration, and mitigate risks associated with organizational change.

Key Accountabilities

Leadership & Strategy

• Lead the integration of BU Optimization Teams under a centralized model.
• Define and communicate the vision for autonomous and digitally enabled production optimization.
• Develop and align OKRs between Central Optimization and BU teams.
• Serve as a champion for standardization of tools, processes, and performance metrics.

Team Management

• Hire, develop, and manage a high-performing team of Optimizers and Team Leads.
• Ensure field teams are embedded and support the businesses objectives.
• Maintain dotted-line relationships with BU leadership to ensure alignment and responsiveness.

Operational Excellence

• Coordinate the delivery of standard facility designs that allow for autonomous well optimization and remote restart capability.
• Oversee centralized alarm surveillance, communication and escalation to manage risk and improve efficiencies.
• Drive initiatives to reduce MTBR, improve RTP, and enhance production efficiency.
• Collaborate with Midstream, P&S, and Technology teams to develop robust alerting and optimization tools (e.g., PI Vision, Palantir, AlertOps).

Process & Performance

• Map workflows, define swim lanes, and clarify roles/responsibilities across teams.
• Develop, implement and monitor KPIs and performance metrics.
• Track value creation using tools like Palantir and ensure performance documentation in systems like Lattice.

Risk Management

• Identify and mitigate risks related to organizational structure, communication gaps, and role clarity.
• Ensure Optimizers remain connected to field operations and maintain credibility with Route Operators.
• Develop and maintain a prioritization toolset for optimization activities.

Performance Metrics

The Optimization Team Manager will be accountable for improving and tracking the following metrics:

• Wrench Time Impact – Measure time spent on hands-on field work vs. administrative tasks.
• Deferment Reduction – Track and reduce deferred production volumes.
• Intra-Day Downtime – Monitor and minimize downtime within a single production day.
• Base Optimization – Evaluate improvements in baseline production efficiency.
• Response Time to RTP (Return to Production) – Measure speed of response to production interruptions.
• MTTR (Mean Time to Repair) – Track time taken to resolve equipment failures.
• Alarm Management Efficiency – Time in alarm status before action is taken.
• Compressor Restart Efficiency – Number of remote restarts and time saved.
• Optimizer Productivity – Number of wells optimized per FTE and impact on MTBR.
• Tool Utilization – Adoption and effectiveness of digital tools like Palantir and PI Vision.

Essential Experience and Education

• Minimum 10+ years in upstream oil and gas production operations or optimization, including at least 5 years in a leadership role managing multi-disciplinary teams.
• Proven expertise in deploying digital optimization tools such as PI Vision, Palantir Foundry, and AlertOps, and implementing autonomous well optimization and remote restart capabilities through standardized facility designs.
• Strong ability to develop and monitor KPIs (e.g., MTBR, RTP, MTTR) and apply data-driven insights to improve production efficiency.
• Demonstrated success in collaborating with Midstream, Production & Surveillance, and Technology teams to deliver integrated optimization solutions.
• Experience leading organizational change management and mitigating operational risks related to alarm management and downtime reduction.
• Exceptional communication and stakeholder engagement skills to influence BU leadership and field teams.
• Bachelor’s degree in Petroleum, Mechanical, or Chemical Engineering, or a related technical discipline required; Master’s degree in Engineering Management, Operations M