Quality Assurance Lead

Quality Assurance Lead

Accountabilities for this position are:

• Own and lead the Santos Alaska Drilling and Completions quality assurance program, ensuring it is current, fit-for-purpose and fully aligned to the Santos Management System and applicable regulatory requirements.
• Provide technical leadership and direction to quality assurance personal, third-party inspectors and contractor quality representatives, setting clear performance expectations and coaching team members to build capability.
• Lead quality incident investigations, apply structured root cause analysis methodologies and ensure timely, effective close-out of all findings, corrective actions and lessons learned across the Drilling and Completions team.
• Drive continuous improvement of quality assurance registers, inspection and test plans and quality management processes across all phases of drilling and completions activities.
• Represent the quality function in operational and engineering forums, providing expert advice and influencing decisions on equipment, materials and operational quality outcomes.
• Partner with Supply Chain leadership to ensure quality requirements are clearly specified, contractually embedded and effectively enforced across all service agreements and vendor relationships.
• Oversee the engagement, deployment, performance management and scheduling of third-party inspectors to support North Slope operations, ensuring inspector competency and performance standards are maintained.
• Monitor and report on quality assurance performance metrics, identify systemic trends and escalate risks to the Drilling and Completions Operations Manager as required.
• Champion quality culture across the Drilling and Completions team, embedding quality assurance thinking into daily operations and influencing contractor and service partner behaviours.
• Comply with the Santos Management System, Delegation of Authority and all corporate governance and safety requirements.

Professional Experience

Essential experience required for this position includes:

• Bachelor Degree with a minimum of 10 years of experience in quality assurance, with at least 5 years in role providing direct support to drilling and completions operations.
• Deep expertise in drilling and completions design and operations.
• Extensive knowledge of OCTG and other Drilling and Completions materials specification, inspection and acceptance criteria.
• Proven track record of leading quality incident investigations and driving systemic corrective action and continuous improvement outcomes.
• Demonstrated ability to influence stakeholders, including engineering, operations and supply chain leaders, on quality related matters.

Desired experience for this position includes:

• Experience working in Arctic or remote operational environments, including the North Slope of Alaska.
• Experience managing contractor and vendor quality performance at a senior level.
• Familiarity with API, ISO, and ASME standards relevant to drilling and completions operations.
• Experience representing the quality function in operational leadership forums or cross-functional governance processes.

Technical Competencies

Technical competencies for this position are:

• Proficiency in inspection methodologies include magnetic particle inspection, ultrasonic inspection and threaded connection visual inspection and gauging.
• Capability in quality assurance planning, including the development and review of inspection and test plans for complex drilling and completions operations.
• Advanced root cause analysis methodologies and systemic corrective action management.
• Proficiency in quality incident management software and quality performance reporting.
• Continuous improvement methodology and demonstrated application to drilling and completions quality systems at a program level.
• Deep understanding of metallurgy and mechanical testing of OCTG and service partner equipment.
• Ability to interpret well plans and translate complex equipment and material requirements into quality assurance strategies and actions.
• Understanding of contractor management frameworks and their application to quality performance oversight.

Qualifications

Essential qualifications required for this position are:

• Formal qualifications in material inspection techniques, including magnetic particle inspection, ultrasonic inspection and threaded connection visual inspection and gauging.
• Demonstrated advanced understanding of metallurgy and mechanical testing relevant to OCTG and drilling and completions service partner equipment.
• Proven ability to lead and influence engineering and operations teams at a senior level to identify, escalate and resolve quality issues.
• Highly effective communicator with demonstrated ability to present quality assurance strategies and outcomes to senior operational and technical audiences.
• Demonstrated ability to design, implement and continuously improve quality assurance programs for complex, multi-contractor drilling and completions operations.
• Willingness and ability to travel to North Slope drilling and completions locations and service partner facilities as required.

Desired qualifications for this position are:

• API Q1 or Q2 certification, or equivalent quality management system qualification.
• ISO 9001 Lead Auditor certification.
• Relevant engineering or technical degree or diploma in a related discipline.