Asset Retirement Obligation (ARO) Director
Job Category : Operations
Requisition Number : ASSET
- Posted : January 7, 2026
- Full-Time
- On-site
Locations
Showing 1 location
Houston
333 Clay Street
Suite 3300
Houston, TX 77002, USA
Talos Energy is a leading offshore energy company focused on offshore oil and gas exploration and production.
The TWG ARO Director will be based in Houston and report to the VP of Wells. This position is responsible for overseeing all aspects of the end‑of‑life operations of non‑producing assets in the Gulf of America and Gulf Coast State Waters. This role requires the development of annual, strategic ARO objectives, key vendor selection and management, and strategic contract concepts and negotiation, coupled with close coordination with multiple teams to ensure safety, compliance, efficiency, and operational effectiveness. Extensive experience in well operations or structure removal is essential.
DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES:
- Accountable for creating and fostering a progressive, top tier HSE culture. Establish clear safety and environmental performance expectations with contractors, vendors and internal personnel. Embrace the TWG Beyond Safety philosophy, striving to become a high reliability organization.
- Actively participate in setting the strategic goals and objectives for the organization as a valued member of the TWG Leadership Team. This team includes the Drilling Operations Manager, the Completions Operations Manager and the Well Work Operations Manager.
- Build and maintain an inclusive team of qualified and talented employees and contractors. Recognize traits required to achieve long range goals and objectives and make personnel decisions accordingly. Establish clear expectations for performance and development of personnel. Give timely, specific, and meaningful feedback.
- Ensure compliance with and continual improvement of the TWG Management System and associated TWG Design Standards, which, as a package, establishes the minimum expectations for offshore drilling, completion, well work operations, and decommissioning worldwide.
- Establish and foster a competitive, performance‑oriented culture that relentlessly pursues operational excellence and continuous improvement. Ensure lessons learned, best practices and improvements are captured and incorporated appropriately in the TWG Management System.
- Ensure the collective talent, knowledge and ability of the Talos Wells Group, especially the Completions and Well Work groups, is effectively applied to vetting ideas and possible solutions, assessing and managing risks, and resolving critical issues that arise during execution.
- Develop and execute long‑term strategies for decommissioning and asset retirement, aligning operational activities with company objectives and regulatory requirements.
- Collaborate with legal, finance, and environmental teams to manage risk, maintain compliance with regulations, and adhere to ARO liabilities.
- Manage a $100 million+ annual budget, ensuring optimization and effectiveness.
- Act as the main point of contact for regulatory bodies, government agencies, and trade associations to ensure compliance and foster positive relationships.
REQUIRED SKILLS & QUALIFICATIONS:
- Demonstrated record of Safety Leadership
- Thorough understanding of Gulf of America abandonment andcommissioning regulations
- Thorough understanding of well work techniques and methodologies for offshore
- Demonstrated capability to handle complex and concurrent projects with multiple facets.
- Proficient in MS Office applications such as Excel, Word, PowerPoint and Outlook
- Demonstrates unwavering commitment to integrity and has a strong moral compass. Creates a learning environment where problems and failures can be accurately diagnosed, resolved and prevented in the future.
- Effective at leading people and motivating teams and organizations to perform at a higher level and fully embrace the continuous improvement cycle.
- Ability to recognize and develop talent, quickly identifying strengths, weaknesses and potential and acting accordingly.
- Capable of making timely, accurate decisions based on problem solving skills and personal experience. Knows how to ask the right questions, engage the appropriate resources, and come to a timely decision.
- Able to prioritize a daunting list of “to‑dos” by separating the mission‑critical requirements from the “nice‑to‑haves” and allocate resources and efforts accordingly.
- Demonstrates resiliency under pressure, controlling outwardly displayed emotions and quickly moving the team from a reactive mode to a plan‑based, proactive mode.
- Comfortable with confronting challenges, both operational and personnel, and able to make and convey tough decisions objectively and professionally.
- Willing to work a demanding and flexible schedule.
EDUCATION & EXPERIENCE:
- Education: Bachelor of Science degree in Engineering from accredited 4‑year university
- Professional Experience: 10 years of progressive experience in ARO operations, preferably with a strong background in well operations or the removal of structures.
- Team Leadership: Direct experience managing teams across procurement, logistics, and operations functions.
- Contract & Vendor Management: Proven track record in managing complex, high‑value contracts, and vendor relationships.
PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:
- Employee must be able to sit for extended periods of time and have use of arms and hands in repetitive motion. A fair amount of standing and walking is also required for the position
- Ability to travel internationally if required
- Ability to travel to make site visits to vendor facilities, offshore assets and other Talos office locations as required
- Ability to travel without limitation, including airplanes, helicopters, and boats
- Ability to move freely on offshore assets, including stairs and ladders
Equal Opportunity Employer/Protected Veterans/Individuals with Disabilities
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