The NSTA’s hybrid working includes an expectation for staff to spend 40% of their time in the office.
The team, comprising eight staff located in Aberdeen and London, play a key role at the heart of the NSTA and is responsible for advising on, and taking, decisions on all non-operational aspects of the petroleum licensing regime (eg changes in ownership, royalty arrangements and operatorship appointment). The team issue new licences, implement amendments to existing licences and maintain/develop the associated system of record.
The NSTA’s licensing system covers oil and gas exploration and production; carbon capture and storage; and gas storage within Great Britain, its territorial sea and on the UK Continental Shelf. The associated licences are the key instruments underpinning activity, which give companies exclusive rights to specified areas and set out associated timeframes, commitments and obligations.
Brief overview of role
This is a significant role within the NSTA acting as a key liaison across the NSTA on licensing matters. The incumbent will have an important role contributing to recommendations, and the subsequent implementation of decisions, concerning M&A and licence assignment transactions; licence extensions/amendments and relinquishments; the regular programme of licensing rounds, including carbon capture & storage, in addition to more ad-hoc requests for exploration, methane drainage, and gas storage licences.
The successful candidate will possess, or have the capacity to develop, a keen commercial mind together with deployable experience that affords an ability to understand and distil a plethora of legal and contractual documentation into the key issues and act accordingly.
Candidates may come from the energy sector or similarly complex, regulated industries, as well as other regulatory bodies. What matters most is a proven ability to manage commercial transactions, coordinate multiple workstreams and synthesise information into well-structured assessments that inform strategic and regulatory decisions.
This role offers unique insight into licensing activities and involves efficient and effective regulation with a challenging and high-profile workload, requiring the timely anticipation of future events and deadlines, and internal and external communications.
Success in the role will require strong project management skills, and the ability to persuade and hold others to account at all levels is essential. The successful candidate will develop a working understanding of the regulatory requirements related to M&A in terms of the mechanics and risks together with an appropriate knowledge of energy commercial agreements and structures, which will instil confidence in colleagues and counterparties.
Detailed job description and key responsibilities
The NSTA is looking for a multi-skilled candidate, able to take ownership, understand and advise on complex legal and regulatory issues, whilst simultaneously finding ways of continually improving the UK’s licensing system.
The successful candidate’s key responsibilities will include:
· Developing detailed knowledge of the licensing process throughout its lifecycle, primarily as managed via the UK Energy Portal; this involves project and stakeholder management of assigned decisions.
· Developing and maintaining an understanding of relevant legislation, licence terms, model clauses and regulatory guidance.
· Supporting the teams’ continued delivery of a first-rate and timely service to industry in relation to requests for approval for corporate mergers and acquisitions; asset-based transactions; royalty agreements; and operator appointments.
· Inputting to the NSTA’s licensing and consenting decisions by advising NSTA decision makers on the application of the licence and statutory powers.
· Supporting Licensing Case Managers by sharing knowledge and insights of commercial norms and regulatory precedents to facilitate consistency and continuous improvement across the wider team.
· Drafting, circulating and overseeing the execution, and archiving, of new licences and amendments to existing licences
· Identifying and implementing practical ways to continually improve systems and methods of working to better support the team.
· Collaborating with colleagues responsible for licence stewardship, ensuring that future expiry dates are identified in good time to the appropriate internal resources, or flagged as appropriate to licensees.
· Identifying novel or contentious decisions and taking an active role working with the team and other contributors so that decisions made are reasoned and consistent, and that all relevant opinions from within the NSTA and other relevant bodies have been taken into account.
· Supporting the development and modernisation of licence management platforms by sharing knowledge and insights around licensing activities
Career Support and Learning and Development are key elements of the NSTA’s Great Place to Work Model which underpins staff engagement.Training, coaching will be provided to support successful delivery in the role.
Person specification
Competence 1: Decision Making and Judgement
Effectiveness in this area is about using sound judgement, evidence and knowledge to arrive at accurate, expert and professional decisions and advice.
Competence 2: Leading and Communicating
Being able to communicate purpose and direction with clarity, integrity and enthusiasm. Interacting and engaging with people in a straightforward, truthful and candid way. Working collaboratively, sharing information appropriately and building supportive, professional relationships with colleagues. Creating an inclusive working environment.
Competence 4: Delivery
Delivering timely performance with energy and taking responsibility and accountability for quality outcomes.
Specialist Skills, Qualifications, Experience, Licenses, Memberships or Language
· Attention to detail with focus on deadlines and delivery.
· Excellent interpersonal, verbal and written communication skills.
· The ability to prepare succinct internal recommendations and influence across all levels.
· Inquisitive mindset with an affinity for understanding legislation with the ability/desire to become comfortable with the regulatory framework or primary legislation.
· A keen commercial mind together with deployable experience that affords an ability to understand and distil a plethora of documentation into the key issues and act accordingly.
· Commercial or business experience that can be applied relevantly to the role.
· Positive and supportive attitude; in particular an ability to embrace, and effectively implement, continuous improvement and the associated changes.
· Aptitude for data analysis and ability to translate into insights and knowledge.
· Understanding of the UKCS Licensing system as managed via the UK Energy Portal.
· Relevant experience working in a business, commercial or compliance role within the oil and gas industry, the energy sector or another regulator.
· An understanding of energy industry commercial, financial and economic principles and M&A processes.
· Proficient in the use of the Microsoft suite of programs, including Power BI
* Salary £54,172
* Appointment Type Permanent
* Appointment Term Full time
* Vacancy Reference Number NSTA 467
* No. of posts 1
* Grade SEO
* Travel to other location within the UK? Occasional
* Level of Security Clearance Basic
* Medical Required? No
* Unless otherwise stated consideration will be given to requests to work on a part time or job share basis. Flexible working hours can also be considered.
* Closing date for applications 09 November 2025
* Anticipated shortlisting date TBD
* Anticipated interview date TBD
Inclusion and Diversity statement
The NSTA is committed to embedding equality and diversity into all our policies and processes. We will aim to recruit, retain and promote staff on the basis of competence and regardless of characteristics including those listed under the Equality Act 2010. These protected characteristics are; age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion and belief, sex and sexual orientation.
The NSTA is an accredited Disability Confident Committed employer. We have also been awarded silver accreditation for the Gender Diversity Benchmark through Business in the Community, The Prince’s Responsible Business Network. In addition, we are signed up to their Race at Work Charter and implement its five principles. As a further commitment to attracting, retaining and developing a diverse workforce we have signed up to the Axis Pledge.
#J-18808-Ljbffr