Lead Lease Operator – Night Position

Discovery Natural Resources LLC is a domestic, onshore exploration and production company with over 1,000 wells in operation in Texas.

Reporting to the Production Superintendent, the Night Lead Lease Operator is a leadership role responsible for overseeing a team of 4-8 contract lease operators during night shifts. This role ensures safety, consistency, and prioritization of field operations, working closely with the control room to respond to SCADA alerts and dispatch personnel to routes or areas requiring attention. The Night Lead Lease Operator trains and mentors’ operators, drives operational efficiency, and fosters a culture that is selfless, accountable, and never settling, aligning field activities with company goals.

Primary Responsibilities

- Oversee a team of 4-8 contract lease operators during night shifts, ensuring safe and efficient execution of production tasks across assigned routes.

- Collaborate with the control room to respond to SCADA alerts, prioritizing and dispatching operators to address operational needs promptly.

- Coordinate with production, maintenance, and automation teams to ensure seamless execution of night-shift activities.

- Champion a proactive safety culture, conducting night-shift safety meetings and field audits to ensure compliance with Discovery’s HSE policies and regulatory requirements.

- Address potential hazards immediately, ensuring a safe work environment for all contract operators.

- Lead by example to reinforce safety standards and accountability during night operations.

- Train and mentor contract lease operators, providing structured feedback to enhance skills and ensure consistency in performance.

- Ensure operator capabilities to handle night-shift challenges, adapting coaching methods to individual needs.

- Foster a culture of accountability and excellence, aligning team performance with company standards.

- Prioritize high-impact tasks based on control room SCADA data and field conditions, ensuring minimal downtime and optimal production.

- Work with the control room to monitor performance and dispatch operators to address issues like equipment malfunctions or production anomalies.

- Support production forecasting by providing field insights to management and engineering teams.

- Champion the adoption of new technologies and methods during night operations, collaborating with the control room to implement SCADA-driven solutions.

- Identify opportunities to improve night-shift workflows and encourage operator feedback to drive continuous improvement.

- Ensure consistent application of operational processes to maintain efficiency and reliability.

- Serve as the primary night-shift liaison between field operations, the control room, and management, ensuring clear communication of production data and challenges.

- Maintain accurate documentation and reporting using tools like Siteview, Wellview, Outlook, Word, and Excel.

- Build strong relationships with contract operators and cross-functional teams to align on operational goals.

Education and Experience

- High school diploma or GED preferred

- 8+ years of lease operating experience in the oil and gas industry.

Physical Requirements

- Ability to climb stairs, as required on 10-, 15-, 20- & 25-foot production tanks.

- Ability to lift 55 lbs 3 feet above ground level.

- Possible exposure to numerous oil field chemicals.

- Ability to work with pumping units which may be 15 to 20 feet above ground.

- Periodic exposure to all types of weather conditions for long periods of time.

- Ability to hear over loud background noises.

- Ability to regularly work in a fast-paced environment full of risks.

Skills and Knowledge

- Commitment to Discovery Natural Resources expectations and core values.

- Strong understanding of oil and gas production operations, including well monitoring and optimization.

- Familiarity with SCADA systems and ability to interpret data for operational decisions.

- Proven ability to lead and train small teams, fostering consistency and accountability.

- Knowledge of state and federal oil and gas regulatory obligations.

- Excellent communication and interpersonal skills to collaborate with the control room and cross-functional teams.

- Proficient in production applications (Field Operator/Evin), and other operational software for reporting and analysis.

- Valid driver’s license and good driving record, with the ability to safely operate a vehicle in rural and variable weather conditions during night shifts.

- Majority of work will be outdoors under variable weather conditions. May require occasional lifting of heavy objects. Physical ability to perform routine maintenance on oil and gas wells as required.