Environmental & Permitting Manager

Business/Functional Purpose

Through its merger with Oil Search, Santos acquired and assumed operatorship over a world-class portfolio of oil leases on the Alaskan North Slope, USA.

Santos' focus in Alaska is the advancement of our Pikka Phase 1 project, which includes a single drill site, an oil processing facility, and other infrastructure to support production of 80,000 barrels of oil per day.

Pikka has been identified as being among the top quartile of oil and gas development projects for greenhouse gas emissions performance. Pikka is poised to play an important role in the energy transition and is aligned with our company goal of managing climate change risk. The project is on track to be ready for first oil in 2026.

The Pikka Unit is one of the largest conventional oil discoveries made in the United States in the last 30 years, and the Pikka Phase 1 Project is the most significant development on Alaska's North Slope in more than 20 years.

The permitted Pikka development project includes two additional drill sites. The Alaska assets also include discoveries made from both the Mitquq and Stirrup exploration wells drilled in 2020. These opportunities combine to offer a clear path to long-term growth in Alaska.

Position Purpose

Reporting to the Senior HSES Manager, the Environmental and Compliance Manager provides leadership, guidance, and technical support for all environmental management and permitting activities across the Business Unit. The role works closely with BU teams to develop and implement plans that achieve environmental objectives while ensuring compliance with regulatory and corporate requirements.

This position is responsible for the development and implementation of the BU Environmental and Social Management System, including site-specific Environmental Management Plans, and contractor environmental management plans, ensuring effective permit implementation and compliance. The Manager oversees environmental assurance and reporting, and coordinates sustainability and climate initiatives, aligning BU activities with relevant standards and corporate goals.

As the BU subject matter expert, the Manager provides technical oversight of environmental studies required for permitting, supports field operations, and leads the permitting and environmental compliance teams, including those deployed to operational locations. The role manages the preparation and communication of federal, state, and local permit requirements to internal and external stakeholders, ensuring regulatory alignment and supporting operational decision-making.

The Manager also contributes to environmental stewardship by maintaining engagement with regulatory and industry bodies, monitoring emerging trends and regulatory developments, and implementing corporate initiatives in areas such as biodiversity, climate change, and sustainability.

Key Accountabilities and Responsibilities

Lead the application and continuous improvement of Santos Ltd. policies and procedures related to safety, health, environment, process, people, and planning, ensuring effective integration into Business Unit operations and compliance with corporate and regulatory standards.

Provide leadership, guidance, and direction to the permitting and environmental team, ensuring effective coordination, technical excellence, and consistent delivery of environmental and regulatory commitments across Business Unit activities.

Prepare and present environmental status updates, regulatory information, and permitting progress to key internal and external stakeholders, ensuring clear communication of requirements, risks, and compliance obligations.

Develop, implement, and maintain environmental management systems, processes, and procedures to ensure compliance with regulatory requirements, reduce environmental risk, and support safe and sustainable operations.

Oversee and coordinate federal, state, and local permitting activities to ensure timely approvals, regulatory compliance, and effective integration of permit requirements into project planning and execution.

Oversee communication with internal and external stakeholders to ensure clear understanding of permit requirements, environmental obligations, and guidelines that support Santos's continued license to operate.

Oversee the Business Unit's implementation of sustainability and climate change initiatives, ensuring integration into operational planning, alignment with corporate strategy, and measurable progress toward environmental performance goals.

Provide subject matter expertise in environmental and permitting matters to support field operations and project teams, including the design, review, and execution of environmental studies and assessments.

Qualifications

Bachelor's degree, preferably in environmental management or relevant field

10 years' experience in environmental management or 7 years with a master's degree in a relevant field.

Experience

Extensive knowledge of oil and gas exploration and production field operations.

Extensive knowledge of Alaska and federal environmental regulations

Working knowledge of Arctic environments.

Experience developing and implementing environmental management and compliance programs, including resourcing and budgeting.

Experience managing staff and contractors.

Skills/Technical Competencies

Strong analytical, organizational, presentation, and multitasking skills.

Must be extremely organized and be able to prioritize workload.

Outstanding attention to detail and quality of work.

Delivers results through realistic planning to accomplish goals.

Builds strong relationships based on trust and seeks opportunities to collaborate across organizational boundaries to achieve business goals.