Manager, Monitoring & Compliance, Research & Development

We are recruiting to fill the position below:

Job Title: Manager, Monitoring & Compliance, Research & Development

Location: Port Harcourt, Rivers
Reports to: Divisional Manager, Capacity Building & NC District Coordination
Direct Reports: Monitoring & Compliance and Research & Development Officer

Job Summary

• To manage and coordinate all Nigerian Content ("NC") monitoring, compliance, and Research and Development ("R&D") activities across OERNL operations, by translating the requirements of the Nigerian Oil and Gas Industry Content Development ("NOGICD") Act into policies, processes, practical controls, reporting frameworks, and innovation initiatives, in order to strengthen regulatory alignment, protect operational continuity, and reinforce stakeholder trust.

Key Responsibility Areas (KRAs) and Initiatives
Regulatory Compliance and Policy Implementation:

• Monitor and enforce compliance across internal operations and external contractors by identifying gaps, issuing compliance observations, and recommending corrective or preventive actions, to ensure regulatory lapses are addressed before they threaten operational continuity.
• Design and embed internal Nigerian Content policies, guidelines, and operational workflows into standard operating procedures ("SOPs"), to ensure consistent execution across OERNL's operations and provide a defensible compliance framework during audits.
• Ensure full compliance with statutory training and development obligations under the NOGICD Act by verifying that all Human Capacity Development ("HCD") submissions, plans, and evidence packs meet NCDMB requirements, to avoid non-compliance findings during regulatory reviews.
• Coordinate compliance with the NOGICD Act, NCDMB directives, and industry-specific regulatory frameworks, including local workforce, procurement, subcontracting, and reporting obligations, to ensure OERNL preserves reputational integrity and minimizes operational risks.
• Identify non-compliance risks and design mitigation strategies using structured risk assessment tools and analytical frameworks, to reduce compliance risk exposure and prevent repeat incidents that could result in penalties or operational disruptions.

Reporting, Documentation, and Audit Readiness:

• Act as Project Lead for all internal and external NCDMB audits by coordinating document reviews, responding to audit queries, and providing required evidence, to ensure audit cycles are completed smoothly and without findings that could threaten operations or regulatory relationships.
• Compile, validate, and submit periodic Nigerian Content reports to the NCDMB and other regulatory bodies using approved templates and validated datasets, to ensure reporting obligations are met on schedule and OERNL's regulatory standing remains strong.
• Leverage compliance data and performance insights to produce trend analyses and recommendations for the Deputy Manager NC Coordination, Compliance and Projects, to ensure that monitoring outputs drive continuous improvement rather than merely documenting past performance.
• Track compliance KPIs and generate management dashboards using standardized reporting metrics, to give leadership real-time visibility into NC performance and enable informed decisions that strengthen operational continuity.
• Maintain a centralized repository of HCD plans, approvals, correspondences, and evidence packs by applying classification and access control rules, to preserve institutional memory and ensure leadership can retrieve information quickly during audits or inspections.

Stakeholder Engagement and Regulatory Liaison:

• Coordinate management-level meetings with regulators and counterparties by preparing briefing notes, presentations, and follow-up correspondence, to ensure OERNL leadership is well informed, and discussions directly support approvals, renewals, and smooth operations.
• Build and sustain strategic partnerships with academic institutions, original equipment manufacturers ("OEMs"), and industry bodies, to strengthen OERNL's R&D ecosystem and broaden access to specialized knowledge and resources that support innovation and local capacity development.
• Map and engage key regulators, ministries, agencies, and counterparties through structured engagement plans and regular interactions, to build trusted relationships and avoid misalignment that could threaten operations or license renewals.
• Build and sustain strong, trust-based relationships with the NCDMB by maintaining regular engagement, transparent communication, and timely responsiveness to directives, to ensure OERNL's compliance posture is well understood, and its regulatory standing remains strong.
• Maintain a stakeholder database and communication log using tracking tools, to ensure all engagements are documented and institutional memory is preserved, reducing the risk of missed obligations or conflicting messages.

Research and Development Coordination:

• Prepare and submit R&D reports, proposals, and progress updates to the NCDMB and internal leadership, to demonstrate OERNL's commitment to technology development and maintain visibility of the organization’s innovation pipeline.
• Monitor and evaluate the outcomes of R&D initiatives against agreed objectives and budgets, to assess return on investment, document lessons learnt and inform future prioritization of research and innovation activities.
• Identify and assess R&D opportunities by scanning industry developments, emerging technologies, and regulatory incentives, to position OERNL to benefit from innovation-driven operational improvements and NCDMB recognition.
• Manage relationships with research institutions, technology partners, and industry collaborators by tracking deliverables, milestones, and intellectual property considerations, to ensure R&D partnerships produce tangible, compliant outcomes.
• Lead and Coordinate OERNL's R&D activities and partnerships in line with the NOGICD Act's requirements for technology transfer and indigenous innovation, to ensure the organization meets its statutory obligations and contributes to sectoral knowledge advancement.

Team Leadership and Performance Management:

• Monitor and evaluate individual and team performance using scorecards and progress reviews, to identify underperformance early, implement corrective actions, and sustain a high-performance culture across the function.
• Coach and develop team members through structured mentoring, on-the-job training, and constructive feedback, to enhance technical skills, reduce capability gaps, and maintain efficient, compliant operations across the monitoring and compliance function.
• Assign and delegate tasks according to team strengths and development needs, to ensure accountability is clear, delivery timelines are met, and operational risks are minimized.
• Define and communicate clear performance goals aligned with organizational priorities and NC compliance targets, to ensure every team member contributes meaningfully to the division's objectives and resources are optimized.
• Foster collaboration through regular team meetings and open communication, to ensure knowledge flows seamlessly, delays are avoided, and the team operates with shared accountability for compliance outcomes.

Qualifications and Experience Requirements
Minimum Qualification:

• Bachelor’s Degree in Economics, Engineering, Law, Business Administration, Social Sciences, or a related field.

Minimum Years of Experience and Relevant Areas:

• Minimum of 10 years' relevant experience in the Nigerian oil and gas industry, energy, or infrastructure sectors, including practical exposure to Nigerian Content compliance and regulatory interfaces.
• Working knowledge of the Petroleum Industry Act ("PIA") and proven familiarity with NCDMB platforms such as the Nigerian Oil and Gas Industry Content Joint Qualification System ("NOGIC JQS") and the NCDMB Portal are essential.

Any Additional Qualifications / Certifications or Experience (Desirable but not essential):

• Proficiency in Power BI for compliance dashboards and data visualization.
• Familiarity with SQL or advanced data analytics tools for compliance monitoring.
• Experience with digital learning systems and e-learning platforms in the context of HCD program oversight.
• Prior experience in a supervisory role or managing a team.
• Nigerian Institute of Management ("NIM") or Project Management Professional ("PMP") certification.
• Master's degree (MBA or M.Sc.) in a relevant field such as Organizational Development, Compliance, or Energy Policy.

Proven experience in:

• Preparing and submitting regulatory reports, scorecards, and compliance documentation to the NCDMB.
• Coordinating internal and external audits and managing audit readiness processes.
• Coordinating R&D activities, technology transfer initiatives, or innovation partnerships within a regulated industry.
• Monitoring and enforcing compliance with the NOGICD Act across operations, projects, and contracts.
• Stakeholder and regulatory liaison with the NCDMB, joint venture partners, host communities, and government agencies.