Anyone work in the oil industry negotiating contracts?

[Birdster]

Looking for a new role for myself and this contract was included in my search. Nothing to do with my field (IT) but I've come across people who have talked the talk about working in the oil industry, but I always take it with a pinch of salt.

I'm not looking to change, and negotiations aren't my strong point. I get the feeling that who ever takes this role on really earns their money. Can imagine it's long hours, away from home and very performance based.

http://www.jobsite.co.uk/job/interim-lead-contract...

[anonymous-user]

I do this for a fortune 100 oil comnpany. It is not contract negotiation but Contrract administration/enforcement, so the salary is not performance bassed in a sales commision sense. 750 pounds a day taxable in London is about 150K a year, which is on the low side if anything, for s short term position, typical salaries would be 80K for staff in a UK contractor to 300K tax free overseas with an Oil Company, you will need a good degree in Engineering or Law, and i would think a few years experience as a Contract Administrator to get this job.
There is loads of work around the world, I've had two offers in Europe in the last 6 weeks, but it is not easy to get into, there are a few QS's have asked questions on this site how about how to get into these jobs in the oil industry, remeber these contracts start at around 150M US$, I have an offer from my current company on a 25B US$ job, so as I've said befor being the PM on a computor instalation or a civil contractor doing building refurbishment will not hack it, most people pay good money because the risks are high on big value jobs so they want good people.
If you have experience then you can get jobs with consultants that are bassed on performance and the settlemnt value of claims, and salaries can be very good, but they tend to be few and far between and last weeks or even days.

[CRB14]

Berw, would you say it's easy to make the transition from construction?

I do exactly this and have done on £1bn projects but having spoken to a few agencies they're not interested.

[Birdster]

Thanks. I'm from a technical background and not looking to change. Thanks for the clarification and insight.

[malks222]

I have recently gone from construction QS to contracts/ procurement specialist in the oil and gas industry. As you may have noticed from job descriptions etc... there are a lot of transferable skills and a lot of crossover works. producing tenders, tender evaluation, drafting contracts, negotiations, looking after sub-contracts...... I have found the change pretty easy as it was very similar work, but was it easy to get the role- no! I was very fortunate to be in the right place at the right time and the current director of my department was looking to try QS's in the role to see if they could bring something to the table.

If you are looking for the change you should keep trying, but be prepared for knock backs. I would also suggest the salary/ job advertised in London is not what you should be expecting to start with! I'm by no means on a bad rate (i'm a contractor, different discussion) but that sort of daily rate looks a fairly senior position to me.

have a look on oilandgasjobs.com or something like that, and search for 'Procurement' roles and that should throw up a few different places to try. Also you really need to tailor your CV to show the work you were carrying out on pre contract/ pre construction stuff, as once it hits site it gets handed on to cost engineers and you never deal with the final account/ valuations. you basically become a buyer- tender works,negotiate, set up the contract, pass to the assets using the service and monitor/ deal with any issues along the way.

I am more than happy in the oil and gas sector now and neer see me returning to construction. plus if i want to make some serious cash for a bit the options of contracts abroad seem in ready supply! any questions feel free to drop me a PM

[anonymous-user]

I was never in construction, but the skills are the same, to me anyway as are the problems, just the "engineering" is different. Having said that not many people make the change, I would have no problem employing some one with a construction background, but my employer appears to, my advice is to look at some of the less popular locations for a first job, or take less money, we need 25qs's in the next year and the personnel dept appear hell bent on only looking at oil and gas people. Remember on an oil and gas plant a load of the works is civil and buildings, e.g. we tend to give the process contractor the access roads, drains admin buildings etc as part of the contract.

[malks222]

in the market for 25 QS/procurement specialists in the next year, with some oil and gas experience....... drop me a PM! my contract could be up for renewal soon and could be interested in other options. where would it be based?

[CRB14]

I was advised that I should be looking at some consultancy type firms such as Amec, Wood etc.

Are there any others worth trying?

[anonymous-user]

All the contractors are worth a try, my experience is you can not jump industry and location at the same time, unless you pick a bad location, I haven't worked in the uk or with uk contractors for 20 years so don't know who is active but foster wheeler, and I understand technip have bought shows in MK.