Vice President of Lithium Development Manager

The Vice President of Lithium Development provides senior-level technical and operational leadership for lithium development projects performed in support of Southwest Operating’s clients. The position oversees drilling, completions, artificial lift, testing, project execution, multimillion-dollar budgets, and client communication.

This role serves as a key technical advisor and client-facing representative of Southwest Operating, providing recommendations and project oversight while recognizing that final project decisions may remain with the client.

• Lead and oversee lithium development activities, including deep-well planning, vertical and horizontal drilling, completions, artificial lift, testing, and production-related activities.
• Provide technical guidance related to casing, cementing, directional drilling, Oil Based Mud (OBM) systems, drilling hydraulics, wellbore stability, pressure management, and well control.
• Evaluate drilling, reservoir, completion, testing, and production data and provide technical recommendations to clients and executive leadership.
• Serve as a primary technical point of contact for clients and coordinate with contractors, service companies, consultants, and other project stakeholders.
• Develop, manage, and report on multimillion-dollar project budgets, forecasts, AFEs, schedules, costs, and material operational or financial risks.
• Monitor project performance to improve efficiency, reduce nonproductive time, manage risk, control costs, and support compliance with applicable regulations, client requirements, industry standards, and H2S safety requirements.
• Prepare and deliver technical presentations, project updates, budget information, risks, and recommendations to clients, executive leadership, investors, partners, and other stakeholders.
• Recruit and lead engineering and technical personnel as needed and perform other duties assigned in support of Southwest Operating’s lithium development objectives.

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering from an accredited institution.
• Significant experience in drilling, completions, production operations, artificial lift, or well development.
• Demonstrated experience drilling deep wellbores into formations such as the Cotton Valley, Smackover, or comparable formations.
• Strong knowledge of drilling engineering, well construction, well control, drilling fluids, completions, artificial lift, and well testing.
• Experience managing complex drilling or development projects, contractors, substantial budgets, and client relationships.

• Bachelor’s degree in Petroleum Engineering or Mechanical Engineering; other engineering disciplines will be considered.
• Experience with both vertical and horizontal drilling operations.
• Experience with drilling, completions, artificial lift, production well testing, and Oil Based Mud (OBM) systems.
• Experience with high-pressure/high-temperature wells, H2S environments, or senior engineering/operations leadership.

• Ability to travel frequently to drilling, project, vendor, and client locations and work in active oilfield environments while wearing required PPE and following applicable H2S and other safety requirements.