Drilling & Rigless Manager

Title:

Job Title:  Drilling & Rigless Manager
Company:  KBR-Iraq
Project:   Majnoon
Location: Basra, Iraq
Employment Type:   Full-time, Contract

Rotation: 28/28

Required: Expats

About Company

"Belong, Connect, Grow, with KBR

The KBR team delivers future-forward science, technology and engineering solutions and mission-critical services that help governments and companies around the world accomplish their most important objectives, while also helping achieve their sustainability goals.

KBR Sustainable Technology Solutions provides holistic and value-added solutions across the entire asset life cycle. These include world-class licensed process technologies, differentiated advisory services, deep technical domain expertise, energy transition solutions, high-end design and engineering capabilities, and smart solutions to optimize planned and operating assets."

Job Purpose

Oversee and Supervise the drilling operations and rigless interventions ensuring a safe, efficient, and cost-effective development of the Majnoon reservoirs through the provision of development wells. both production and injection. Lead the planning, execution, and supervision of drilling campaigns, workover activities, and reservoir stimulation programs, with a focus on maximizing reservoir performance, maintaining high safety and environmental standards, and delivering project milestones on schedule and within budget.

Job Responsibilities

• Develop and implement drilling and rigless execution plans for development, appraisal, and workover campaigns in alignment with project objectives and HSE policies.
• Lead the design, procurement, and management of drilling programs, ensuring compliance with applicable codes, standards, and regulatory requirements.
• Coordinate with multidisciplinary teams (Reservoir, Operations and Surface Facilities, Subsurface, HSE, Logistics, and Construction) to optimize well delivery and minimize non-productive time.
• Manage contractor selection, scope of work, performance metrics, and interfaces to ensure Quality, Cost, Schedule (QCS) objectives are met.
• Oversee wellsite operations, including rig mobilization/demobilization, casing and cementing programs, mud systems, well control, and safety management.
• Plan and supervise rigless interventions (wireline, coiled tubing, chemical stimulation, slickline, etc.) to meet production and reservoir management targets.
• Develop and manage budgets, forecasts, and cost controls for drilling and rigless activities; monitor expenditures and optimize resources.
• Lead risk assessments, Job Safety Analyses (JSAs), and permit-to-work processes; ensure adherence to company safety standards and Iraqi regulatory requirements.
• Drive continuous improvement initiatives for drilling practices, equipment reliability, and performance analytics; implement lessons learned.
• Prepare, review, and approve technical documentation (drilling programs, casing designs, intervention procedures, start-up and commissioning checklists, close-out reports).
• Ensure data integrity and reporting: daily/weekly/monthly drilling reports, drilling performance metrics, well integrity logs, and dashboards for management review.
• Mentor and develop junior engineers and field staff; foster a culture of safety, reliability, and technical excellence.
• Collaborate with QA/QC and procurement to ensure supplier qualifications and compliance.
• Support near-term and long-term field development planning, including reserve estimation inputs and production optimization strategies.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in a relevant field (e.g., Petroleum Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Chemical Engineering, or related discipline).
• Minimum of 15 years of experience in Wells, management of Drilling operations, and wells completion / intervention, and background in production optimization.
• Experience in onshore drilling operations in complex environments; exposure to Basra/Iraq-based projects is a plus.
• Demonstrated leadership of cross-functional teams and ability to manage multiple priorities in a high-hazard setting.

Technical Skills

• Comprehensive knowledge of drilling engineering principles, rig operations, wellbore construction, and completion technologies.
• Rigless intervention technologies (wireline, slickline, coiled tubing, hydraulic fracturing stimulation, acidizing, nitrogen/air lift, etc.) and associated surface facilities.
• Reservoir management concepts, well integrity, production optimization, and artificial lift methods.
• Familiarity with HSE standards, risk management, permit-to-work systems, and incident investigation techniques.
• Proficiency with drilling software and data analytics tools (e.g., well planning, drilling simulators, surveillance software) and standard office software.
• Knowledge of standards and regulatory requirements relevant to Iraq (local oil & gas regulations, environmental, and safety compliance).

Other Requirements

• Strong communication, negotiation, and stakeholder management skills.
• Ability to work onsite in Basra with readiness to respond to emergencies or off-hours demands.
• Fluency in English; knowledge of Arabic is advantageous.