Subsurface and Wells Lead
📍 Location: North East England (with flexibility and occasional travel across the UK)
📄 Permanent Opportunity
About the Organisation

NES Fircroft are working on an exclusive basis with The Northern Endurance Partnership

The Northern Endurance Partnership (NEP) is developing onshore and offshore infrastructure needed to transport CO2 from carbon capture projects across Teesside and the Humber – collectively known as the East Coast Cluster - to secure storage under the North Sea. The infrastructure is crucial to achieving net zero in the UK’s most carbon intensive industrial regions.

NEP is in an incorporated joint venture established solely to develop and operate CO₂ transportation and storage infrastructure on behalf of the NEP Shareholders – bp, Equinor and TotalEnergies.

In December 2024, NEP announced financial close, giving the green light to proceed to the execution phase of the transportation and storage infrastructure network that will serve three initial carbon capture projects on Teesside: NZT Power, H2Teesside and Teesside Hydrogen CO2 Capture. NEP expects to commence construction from the middle of 2025 with start-up expected in 2028.

The Role
Reporting to the Technical Manager, the Subsurface and Wells Lead will coordinate wells and subsurface activity across several storage licences and permits. The successful candidate will be responsible for managing relationships with delivery partners, regulators, and shareholders to ensure high technical standards, effective governance, and regulatory compliance.
Although this position does not carry direct line management responsibility, it requires strong leadership and the ability to influence technical delivery across diverse teams.

Key Responsibilities

• Technical Coordination: Oversee delivery of wells and subsurface activity by external operating partners. Ensure work meets agreed technical, safety, and schedule standards.
• Regulatory Interface: Represent the organisation in discussions with regulatory authorities concerning wells and subsurface matters.
• Project Oversight: Manage the organisation’s role in drilling and appraisal programmes and monitor performance under relevant construction agreements.
• Licence Stewardship: Coordinate and challenge the technical quality of subsurface evaluations across active storage sites and support the appraisal of future stores.
• Stakeholder Engagement: Act as a primary contact for internal technical committees, shareholder representatives, and external forums in relation to wells and storage development.

Candidate Profile
Essential Experience & Skills

• Professional background in subsurface or wells disciplines within CCS, energy, or adjacent sectors.
• Familiarity with UK carbon storage licensing and regulatory processes.
• Experience in risk-based subsurface appraisal and technical assurance.
• Working knowledge of well design, drilling, and completions.
• Excellent stakeholder engagement and cross-functional coordination abilities.
• Strategic mindset with the ability to provide constructive challenge and systems-level thinking.

Desirable

• Direct experience in CCS projects or low-carbon energy ventures.
• Exposure to well intervention or injection operations.
• Established presence in relevant technical or regulatory networks.

Why Apply?
This is a rare opportunity to play a leading role in one of the UK’s flagship low-carbon infrastructure programmes. You’ll be working alongside industry specialists in a collaborative and mission-driven organisation shaping the future of decarbonisation.

With over 90 years' combined experience, NES Fircroft (NES) is proud to be the world's leading engineering staffing provider spanning the Oil & Gas, Power & Renewables, Chemicals, Construction & Infrastructure, Life Sciences, Mining and Manufacturing sectors worldwide. With more than 80 offices in 45 countries, we are able to provide our clients with the engineering and technical expertise they need, wherever and whenever it is needed. We offer contractors far more than a traditional recruitment service, supporting with everything from securing visas and work permits, to providing market-leading benefits packages and accommodation, ensuring they are safely and compliantly able to support our clients.