Vice President, Technical

CNPC R&D (DIFC) Company Limited is CNPC (China National Petroleum Corporation)’s R&D and Technical Support Centre based in Dubai, supporting CNPC’s upstream assets and business interests and promoting CNPC’s technologies through various means across the Middle East, including but not limited to UAE, Iraq, Oman, while conducting strategic R&D projects in close collaboration with CNPC’s upstream research and engineering institutes and other internal and external partners.

Purpose of the Role

The Vice President, Technical is a key member of the senior management team and is responsible for the overall leadership and performance of the Company’s technical business, including R&D, technical support and project delivery.

The role focuses on technical business strategy, project portfolio management, client engagement, resource allocation, organizational capability, technical team building and development, and delivery performance, ensuring that the Company’s technical activities are aligned with its business objectives and delivered to the required standards of quality, cost, schedule and client satisfaction.

The Vice President, Technical works closely with the Company’s Chief Technical Experts and other senior technical specialists, providing overall business, organizational and resource direction while leveraging their professional expertise to ensure technical quality and excellence. The Vice President, Technical also participates in formulating the overall corporate development strategy and annual work objectives, the development direction of technology R&D and technical support, as well as project management methodologies, implementation processes, performance indicators and their continuous improvement.

• Lead the management of complex energy projects to achieve client satisfaction and support the interests of shareholders.
• Embed world-class standards, workflows and project management practices across projects.
• Work closely with Chief Technical Experts and key technical specialists to drive quality excellence and ensure the effective application of technical expertise to business and project objectives.
• Promote technical excellence, cross-functional integration and effective collaboration across disciplines and functions.
• Maintain a global network of leading industrindustrial organizationsy, academic and professional institutions to identify and introduce the latest technologies, expertise and best practices to the Company, enhancing its capabilities and reputation in multidisciplinary integration.
• Assist in formulating the Company’s overall annual development strategy and business plan.
• Formulate the strategic direction and overall plan for scientific and technological R&D, technical support, and technology and product promotion.
• Formulate the annual work plan for scientific and technological R&D, technical support, and technology and product promotion, and oversee its effective implementation.
• Organize the formulation and continuous improvement of relevant rules, regulations and management procedures for scientific and technological R&D, technical support, and technology and product promotion, and supervise their implementation.
• Collect and analyse industry-leading information, benchmark advanced management practices and systems, track technological frontiers, and provide constructive recommendations to strengthen the Company’s core competitiveness and accelerate technological innovation.

• Oversee the overall performance and delivery of the Company’s R&D, technical support and technology-related project portfolio.
• Perform QAQC as a member of technical committee member.
• Ensure projects are delivered effectively against agreed scope, quality, schedule, cost and client requirements.
• Lead the construction and continuous improvement of workflows, procedures and standards aligned with international industry best practices to enhance the quality of studies, operations and data-gathering campaigns.
• Systematically promote the application of risk and uncertainty management techniques across projects and technical activities.
• Establish appropriate mechanisms for project planning, monitoring, review, performance assessment, risk management and continuous improvement.
• Participate in the pre-sales activities of strategic projects and introduce the Company’s technical capabilities, solutions and technological strengths to clients.
• Suggest and steer the initiation of new projects, proposals and strategic asset/JV client engagements.
• Lead project coordination, reviews and interfaces with internal teams in Dubai and Beijing, as well as external service providers, consultants and vendors.
• Ensure timely communication of project progress, key risks, technical issues and recommendations to senior management and clients.
• Supervise and assess scientific and technological R&D, technical support, transformation and promotion of scientific research achievements.
• Take overall responsibility for the effective implementation and performance of the Company’s annual technical work plan.

• Formulate and drive the Company’s strategic direction for technology R&D, technology transfer, commercialization and promotion in alignment with business needs and market opportunities.
• Track emerging technologies and industry developments and identify opportunities for their application within the Company’s R&D and technical support activities.
• Promote the integration and application of advanced technologies across multidisciplinary projects to enhance technical quality, efficiency and business value.
• Lead the digital and artificial intelligence-aidedt development of the Company, including the construction, implementation and management of relevant infrastructure, platforms and application systems.
• Promote collaboration with CNPC research and engineering institutes and other affiliates within CNPC in Beijing, universities, technology companies and other internal and external partners to accelerate technology development, transfer and application.
• Support the transformation and promotion of scientific research achievements and facilitate their application in relevant assets and business activities.

• Take overall responsibility for the development and effectiveness of the Company’s technical organization.
• Lead the building, development and capability enhancement of the technical team to ensure the organization has the appropriate capabilities and resources to achieve its strategic and operational objectives.
• Develop technical talent, promote knowledge sharing and support professional development, mentoring and succession planning.
• Identify current and future technical capability requirements and work with management and HR to develop appropriate talent and resource plans.
• Ensure effective allocation and coordination of technical resources across projects and business priorities.
• Foster a high-performance culture characterized by accountability, collaboration, technical excellence, innovation and continuous improvement.
• Work closely with Chief Technical Experts and technical specialists to ensure that appropriate professional expertise is available to support major projects and strategic initiatives.

• Represent the Company as a senior technical leader in internal and external meetings.
• Maintain effective relationships with key clients, shareholders, JV partners, industry organizations, research institutions and strategic partners.
• Serve as a senior representative of the Company in strategic client engagements, project reviews, business development activities, tenders and industry forums.
• Communicate the Company’s technical capabilities, project experience and technology strengths effectively to clients and partners.
• Build and maintain a strong professional network across the international oil and gas industry, academia, research institutions and technology organizations.

Qualification and Experience

• PhD Degree in Geology (focusing on oil and gas development geology) or Petroleum Engineering
• Excellent command of English, both written and spoken; CEFR C2 or equivalent.

Proficiency in Chinese is a plus.

• Familiar with reservoir modelling by Petrel and simulation by Eclipe or tNavigator.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office (Word, PowerPoint, Excel, Outlook)
• At least 20 years of experience in the international oil and gas industry, including at least 8 years in a management role with a major international oil company, oilfield services company, or other leading energy organization.
• Proven track record in major international oil companies, oilfield service companies, or large research institutions, with demonstrated success in team leadership and market/business development.
• Strong professional integrity, ethical conduct, and commitment to work; fully aligned with the corporate culture and core values of China National Petroleum Corporation (CNPC).
• Recognized industry influence with a strong professional reputation and the ability to develop and maintain key client relationships at a senior level.
• Meets or exceeds CNPC criteria for senior-level talent or possesses high-quality client and partner networks in the Middle East region.