Service Delivery Lead - Subsurface Data Services

Sword is a leading provider of business technology solutions within the Energy, Public and Finance Sectors, driving transformational change within our clients. We use proven technology, specialist teams and domain expertise to build solid technical foundations across platforms, data, and business applications. We have a passion for using technology to solve business problems, working in partnership with our clients to help in achieving their goals.

We are looking for an experienced Service Delivery Lead – Subsurface Data Services to play a pivotal role in shaping and evolving critical service capabilities within a fast-paced energy environment.

This is an opportunity to build and mature modern service operations that underpin complex subsurface and energy data landscapes, helping to ensure services are reliable, scalable, secure, and aligned to evolving business priorities. Sitting at the intersection of operations, technology, and subsurface data, you will influence how services are designed, transitioned, governed, and continuously improved.

You will work across large-scale operational and transformation initiatives, driving service excellence through strong governance, structured operational processes, and a focus on continuous improvement. From service transition and operational readiness through to monitoring, performance, and stakeholder engagement, this role offers the opportunity to make a tangible impact within a highly specialised domain.

This position is ideal for someone who enjoys building capability, navigating complexity, influencing stakeholders, and bringing clarity and structure to evolving service environments across the energy sector.

• Establish, develop, and maintain a scalable service operating model
• Build and mature an end-to-end service function supporting subsurface data operations
• Lead the implementation of core service management processes including incident, problem, change, request, and release management
• Translate business and operational requirements into effective service solutions
• Develop monitoring, alerting, reporting, and operational visibility capabilities
• Ensure high availability, reliability, and performance of services supporting critical energy operations
• Drive improvements in data quality, integrity, consistency, and governance
• Design and implement scalable processes for data ingestion, validation, storage, and distribution
• Support the implementation and optimisation of data platforms, tools, and technologies
• Work with subsurface datasets including seismic, wells, production, and reservoir data
• Support environments leveraging platforms such as Petrel, Open Works, Kingdom, DELFI, and OSDU
• Lead the full service transition lifecycle including planning, readiness assessments, testing, operational acceptance, and BAU handover
• Ensure governance, compliance, and risk management obligations are effectively embedded
• Lead and mentor high-performing subsurface data teams including Data Managers and Analysts
• Facilitate workshops, design reviews, operational acceptance activities, and decision-making forums
• Promote a culture of collaboration, accountability, continuous improvement, and service excellence
• Communicate complex service concepts clearly to both technical and non-technical stakeholders
• Build strong stakeholder relationships and manage expectations across diverse business groups

• Proven experience leading high-performing service or operational teams within the energy sector
• Strong experience within subsurface data management or technical data service environments
• Demonstrated success delivering large-scale service transitions within complex stakeholder landscapes
• Strong understanding of ITIL principles including service design, service transition, and service operations
• Experience establishing and improving operational governance and service management processes
• Knowledge of subsurface data types and associated operational workflows
• Familiarity with industry platforms such as Petrel, Open Works, Kingdom, DELFI, or OSDU
• Excellent stakeholder engagement, influencing, and communication skills
• S…