1. ROLE PURPOSE

The General Manager — Drilling Division (GM, Drilling) is a senior operations leader responsible for the safe, efficient, and reliable execution of all drilling activities and supporting operations. The GM oversees day-to-day drilling operations, project planning and execution, maintenance, HSE, and logistics across the drilling business.

The GM leads five operational divisions, manages multiple direct reports (Safety, Maintenance, Logistics, Drilling Department leads and others), sets operational standards and budgets, drives continuous improvement, and ensures compliance with regulatory and client requirements.

2. KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

Operational Leadership

• Provide strategic and tactical leadership for drilling operations, ensuring projects are delivered on time, within budget, and to specification.

• Develop, implement, and enforce standard operating procedures (SOPs), best practices, and performance metrics for drilling and supporting functions.

• Coordinate resource allocation (rigs, crews, contractors, equipment) across projects and sites.

• Lead the launch of a digital platform to capture and analyse rig performance data.

• Follow up and supervise the implementation of all decisions and directives from the CEO.

• Resolve operational issues and conflicts, and develop effective solutions to complex problems.

Project Planning & Execution

• Oversee drilling project planning, risk assessments, cost estimates, scheduling, and execution.

• Monitor project progress, provide corrective actions for deviations, and report status to executive leadership and clients.

• Ensure effective mobilization/demobilization and site setup for drilling campaigns.

Health, Safety & Environment (HSE)

• Own HSE performance for the division; lead incident prevention, investigation, and corrective action processes.

• Ensure compliance with local, national, and industry HSE regulations and client requirements.

• Promote a safety-first culture through training, audits, toolbox talks, and HSE KPI tracking.

Maintenance & Reliability

• Oversee maintenance programs for rigs and critical equipment, ensuring planned maintenance, spare parts availability, and minimal downtime.

• Drive reliability and lifecycle management initiatives to reduce equipment failures and costs.

Logistics & Supply Chain

• Ensure timely and cost-effective logistics, warehousing, and materials management to support operations.

• Oversee contracting, procurement coordination, and vendor performance for operational needs.

People & Organization

• Lead, mentor, and develop direct reports and operational teams; establish clear accountability and reporting lines.

• Recruit, retain, and develop talent; establish competency frameworks and training plans for field and office roles.

• Promote cross-functional collaboration between Safety, Maintenance, Logistics, Drilling, and corporate functions.

Financial & Commercial

• Develop and manage the drilling division budget, forecasts, and cost controls.

• Drive operational cost efficiencies and margin improvement while maintaining quality and safety standards.

• Support commercial activities including client meetings, proposals, scope reviews, and contract performance.

Compliance, Reporting & Continuous Improvement

• Ensure regulatory, contractual, and quality compliance across all operations.

• Implement performance measurement systems and lead continuous improvement initiatives (LEAN, Six Sigma, reliability engineering or equivalent).

• Prepare and present operational reports, metrics, and recommendations to the executive team.

3. QUALIFICATIONS & EXPERIENCE

Experience

• 12+ years in drilling, oil & gas, or mining/resource-sector operations, with progressive leadership roles; 5+ years in a senior operations or GM/COO-type role preferred.

• Proven experience managing multi-disciplinary teams in field and office environments and overseeing multiple simultaneous drilling projects.

• Demonstrated track record in HSE leadership, incident reduction, and safety culture transformation.

• Experience with rig operations, maintenance strategy, logistics coordination, and contracting/supplier management.

• Prior P&L, budgeting, and cost-control experience.

Education & Professional Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering (Petroleum, Mechanical, Mining, or similar), Operations Management, or related field. Master’sdegree or MBA desirable.• Professional registration/certification (e.g., PE, Chartered Engineer) is an advantage.

• HSE certifications (e.g., NEBOSH, IOSH or equivalent) preferred.

• Formal training in project management, reliability engineering, or operations leadership (PMP, Six Sigma) is beneficial.

4. SKILLS & COMPETENCIES

Technical & Leadership Competencies

• Strong operational and technical understanding of drilling practices, rig systems, maintenance, and logistics.

• Excellent leadership, people-management, and stakeholder engagement skills.

• Strong decision-making under pressure, problem-solving, and risk management capabilities.

• Commercial acumen with ability to manage budgets, contracts, and vendor relationships.

• Excellent communication skills (written and verbal), reporting, and executive presentation capability.

• Ability to travel frequently to field sites and work in remote/rig environments as required.

Behavioural Attributes

• Results-driven, pragmatic, and hands-on when operational demands require it.

• Collaborative leader who builds high-performing teams and fosters a culture of continuous improvement.

• High integrity, resilient, and adaptable to changing operational demands.

• Safety-first mindset and strong personal accountability.

5. KEY PERFORMANCE INDICATORS (KPIs)

• On-time, on-budget delivery of drilling campaigns and projects.

• Reduction in LTIs/recordable incidents and improved HSE metrics year-on-year.

• Improved rig uptime and reduced maintenance-related downtime.

• Achievement of divisional budget targets and margin improvements.

• High employee retention and demonstrated competency development across teams.