Principal Licensing Manager

We aim to create a diverse team of talented, committed individuals; and be a great place to work; where employees are supported to develop their capability in a dynamic, busy organisation whilst promoting a positive work life balance.

Employee wellbeing is high on our agenda and we strive to promote a socially friendly, welcoming work atmosphere. We are firmly of the view that a happy team is a productive team and we strive to continue to be a Great Place to Work.

Flexible working is a key element for many, if not all, of our colleagues. Examples include flexible working hours and hybrid working. For this role, consideration will be given to requests to work on a part time or job share basis. Flexible working hours can also be considered.

The NSTA’s hybrid working includes an expectation for staff to spend 40% of their time in the office.

About the Team

The team, comprising eight staff located in Aberdeen and London, play a key role at the heart of the NSTA and is responsible for advising on, and taking, decisions on all non-operational aspects of the petroleum licensing regime. The team issue new licences, implement amendments to existing licences and maintain/develop the associated system of record.

The NSTA’s licensing system covers oil and gas exploration and production; carbon capture and storage; and gas storage within Great Britain, its territorial sea and on the UK Continental Shelf. The associated licences are the key instruments which give companies exclusive rights to specified areas and set out associated timeframes, commitments and obligations.

Brief overview of role

The Principal Licensing Manager reports to the Licensing Team Lead and has up to three direct reports. The successful candidate will possess a keen commercial mind with a breadth of experience which together afford the ability to understand and distil competing factors, often complex and potentially drawn from a variety of legislative sources, into the key issues and act accordingly.

The work is a blend of line management, individual contribution and delivery through collaboration and participation in a team environment. Project management, stakeholder management and an ability to both influence and hold others to account is essential.

It is expected that the successful candidate will have skills that are transferrable to the commercial and contractual arrangements governing joint ventures and be familiar with the mechanics, drivers and risks involved in mergers and acquisitions.

The Principal Licensing Manager is a key focal point between the NSTA and industry when assessing whether to grant certain approvals under the licences. This can involve interacting with the CEO/MD/CFO of licensees to ensure necessary commercially sensitive information is provided in sufficient detail and in a timely fashion.

This role may suit someone with a relevant commercial or policy background who wants to broaden their experience within a regulatory environment.

Detailed job description and key responsibilities

The NSTA is looking for a multi-skilled candidate, able to oversee others whilst contributing to the delivery around commercial legal matters and supporting the Licensing Team Lead in the development of both the systems of record and the capabilities of the licesing team.

The successful candidate’s duties will include:

• Manage and oversee a group of up to three direct reports ensuring the delivery of a first-rate and timely service to industry in relation to requests for approval for share based M&A; asset-based transactions; surrender of licensed acreage; and operator appointments;
• Review industry requests identifying potentially complex and challenging cases such that appropriate resources are deployed at the outset;
• Providing insight to the NSTA’s most important licensing and consenting decisions by advising senior leaders on the application of the NSTA’s licence and statutory powers in complex and novel circumstances whilst taking into account relevant opinions within the NSTA and other areas of HM Government;
• Oversee/support and ability to both review and undertake the actions to legally implement ‘operational licence decisions’ (e.g. work programme amendments, term/phase durations) in a time bound environment;
• Develop and maintain a thorough understanding of relevant legislation, licence terms and model clauses, enhancing the reputation of the Licensing Team as the source of knowledge on licensing matters
• Peer review and provide input on the drafting of documentation to implement decisions and amend the discretionary provisions within existing licences;
• Oversee the associated systems of record; having sufficient knowledge to be credible within the wider Licensing Team and able to advise internal and external parties on the functionality and logic therein;
• Maintaining effective relationships and networks with energy sector stakeholders;
• Supporting the Licensing Team by sharing knowledge and insights to facilitate consistency and continuous improvement across the team;
• Lead on more complex licensing matters ensuring all options are considered, contributing to implementation documentation and ensuring there is an appropriate assurance process;
• Advising on changes required to the NSTA’s onshore and offshore regulatory frameworks within their subject matter expertise through a licensing lens;
• Overseeing and delivering a first-rate and timely service to industry in relation to requests for approval for corporate mergers and acquisitions; asset-based transactions; royalty agreements; and operatorappointments.

Career Support and Learning and Development are key elements of the NSTA’s Great Place to Work Model which underpins staff engagement.Training, coaching will be provided to support successful delivery in the role.

Specialist Skills, Qualifications, Experience, Licenses, Memberships or Language

Essential:

• Experience of line management within an environment where the staff develop and flourish.
• Experience of managing projects, including a demonstrable ability to lead within informal multi-disciplinary teams.
• Commercial or business experience that can be applied relevantly to the role.
• Solid understanding of M&A mechanics and how these interact with the regu
• latory framework.Ability to quickly develop an appreciation of the E&P commercial agreements, joint venture arrangements.
• Degree, or equivalent experience in a relevantsubject or role.
• Excellent communication skills, written and verbal, particularly the communication of complex or detailed issues.
• Credibility, and an ability to form internal and externals relationships including with senior s
• taff in industry.An ability to learn and become an expert in working with regulatory frameworks and primary legislation.
• Proven ability to work and promote a positiveteam environment.
• Attention to detail with focus on deadlines and delivery.
• Positive and supportive attitude; in particular an ability to embrace, and effectively implement, continuous improvement and the associated changes.
• Aptitude for data analysis and ability to translate into insights and knowledge.

Desirable:

• Relevant experience working in a business or commercial role within the oil and gas industry, the energy sector or for anothereconomic regulator.
• An understanding of energy industry commercial, financial and economic principles and
• M&A processes.Knowledge of the licence model clauses, underlying legislation, working practices and NSTA goals/objectives.