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Researcher, Well Integrity

 

InnoTech Alberta is seeking a Researcher to join its In Situ Recovery team to support our well integrity applied research and innovation services for industrial clients.  With a focus on supporting Alberta’s energy and service sectors, the In Situ recovery team works closely with industrial clients to de-risk well integrity technologies; this includes evaluating advanced wellbore barrier materials through laboratory testing and field data analysis.  The Researcher will be responsible for driving client services in some of these service offerings including development and management of associated projects and programs, business development and client interaction, design of experiments and testing protocols, analysis and interpretation of experimental results, and active direction of staff in the execution of projects. 

 

Are you our next Researcher for Well Integrity Services? You would be a good fit for this position if you are:

  • Motivated to tackle new technical challenges and develop innovative solutions to problems
  • Resourceful, creative, and forward thinking Chemist, Physicist, or Engineer
  • Collaborative by nature and able to work in a team environment across diverse disciplines
  • Want to make a difference within Alberta’s energy and manufacturing sectors

 

We are game changers

InnoTech Alberta, a subsidiary of Alberta Innovates, is a leading research and technology organization serving the needs of the industry, service companies and the public sector. Our leading-edge expertise and industrial-scale research and demonstration facilities accelerate and de-risk technology development and deployment for our clients with a focus on industrial solutions and commercial applications. With over 230 employees, InnoTech operates within several locations across the province, including Vegreville, Edmonton, Devon, and Calgary. We are Alberta’s innovation engine - with 100 years of bold ideas that feed, grow, fuel, and build Alberta’s agriculture, energy, environment, and forestry sectors.  Visit us at: InnoTechAlberta.ca

 

Intrigued? Here’s some more information about the position:

Reporting to the Manager of the In Situ Recovery team, the Researcher’s role will focus on supporting the team’s Well Integrity service offering with concurrent pursuits relative to testing conventional (cement) and alternative barrier materials. Besides using qualified barrier materials, there a several other technical disciplines required to maintain well integrity, leak detection and leak path identification, deployment of sealants, monitoring of seal performance after placement.

The In Situ recovery team develops technologies from bench top concept through laboratory evaluations to designing and monitoring field applications.   As a researcher on this team, you would characterize and test barrier materials in the laboratory, such as cement formulations, epoxies, molten metals.  This analysis would be followed by upscaling the findings from laboratory scale to field scale and communicating the results to industrial clients.   In addition, the work may look at leak path identification for leaky wells and contributing to deploying these barrier materials to remediate wells.

Understanding material testing practices will be an asset, as well as basic understanding of multiphase fluid flow principles.  InnoTech research challenges, evaluates, monitors, and validates solutions that address industry needs for oil and gas operators.

 

Specific related responsibilities will include, but are not limited to, the following:

Project Management and Technical Expertise

  • Develop and manage execution of applied research and development programs and projects including:
    • Definition and monitoring of project schedule, budget, and scope of work
    • Managing and forecasting project workforce and asset allocation ensuring effective and optimal scheduling and delegation of tasking to appropriate staff members
    • Managing project outcomes ensuring deliverables of commensurate quality
    • Preparation of technical and progress reporting
    • Engagement with clients and project stakeholders to validate scope of work and change orders, provide progress updates, and manage expectations
  • Use and apply innovative technical expertise and capabilities to:
    • Develop, evaluate, and de-risk novel technologies and procedures for unique client applications
    • Contribute to development of codes, standards, and best practices to support client qualification requirements
    • Enhance the team’s capabilities and capacity to provide related services to clients including professional development, procurement of capital assets, and development of unique facilities
    • Design project experiments and testing protocols, analyze and interpret data and experimental results, and draw conclusions
    • Provide consultation on projects within the Division and with others to enhance multi-disciplinary capabilities
  • Provide coaching and mentoring to junior employees
  • Adhere to corporate project management and workplace health and safety standards and practices and InnoTech Alberta’s Professional Practice Management Plan (PPMP)

 

Business Development and Client Engagement

  • Provide support and apply technical expertise in business development efforts, including:
    • Engagement with external clients and stakeholders to identify business opportunities
    • Monitoring and analyzing industry market intelligence, industry best practices, and emerging trends and championing identified business opportunities
    • Preparing program and project proposals and budgets for presentation to external and internal clients to solicit funding support
    • Facilitating client discussions and convening events to enable collaborative joint industry projects and multi-stakeholder initiatives to address common industry challenges 
    • Negotiating and arranging contractual agreements with clients

The position will be based in InnoTech Alberta’s Calgary Research Park location.

 

Qualifications and skills we are looking for:

  • Education and Experience Requirements:
    • Post Secondary degree in Chemistry, Physics, or Engineering
    • A PhD is preferred, for a master’s degree extended work experience may be substituted for education credentials, if appropriate.
    • Minimum 5 years of technical or research and project/program management experience related to technology qualification or well integrity.
  • Key Skills and Abilities:
    • Excellent problem-solving skills and ability to apply technical solutions from multiple industries and sectors to address client needs
    • Strong project management and delivery skills
    • Excellent verbal communication and presentation skills
    • Strong written communication skills, demonstrated through technical reports and proposals
    • Ability to facilitate and work collaboratively with internal and external stakeholders
    • Strong organization skills and attention to detail that reflects ability to perform and prioritize multiple tasks, competing agendas and heavy client demands
    • Demonstrated ability to be self-motivated and proactive
    • Leadership and interpersonal skills and ability to coach and mentor junior staff
    • Negotiation, conflict management, and decision-making skills
    • Proficiency with Microsoft Office programs
    • Basic understanding of contract elements and process

 

Why InnoTech Alberta?

We offer our employees opportunities to work on projects that will expand their skill sets while witnessing the visible impacts of their efforts. We value the development of our employees and create opportunities for working in capacities that allow new skills to be learned. We know that the wellness of our team is the most important part of our business, so we offer a strong benefits package and generous vacation and paid time off programs to promote work-life balance. 

 

Additional Information

At InnoTech Alberta, we respect diversity and embrace an inclusive culture. We value uniqueness and different perspectives as they play a critical role in our success. To achieve this, individuals are selected based on qualifications, merit, and abilities and we encourage applications from all backgrounds to apply.  

 

The final candidate will be required to undergo a security clearance. All interviewees must be able to meet the requirement specified in the Physical Demand Analysis. This document will be supplied during the interview process to the successful candidate. This competition will remain open until a successful candidate is found.

 

INNOTECH ALBERTA IS COMMITTED TO THE PRINCIPLE OF EQUITY IN EMPLOYMENT AND ENCOURAGES APPLICATIONS FROM ALL QUALIFIED INDIVIDUALS. WE WISH TO THANK ALL APPLICANTS FOR THEIR INTEREST. HOWEVER, ONLY THOSE INVITED FOR AN INTERVIEW WILL BE CONTACTED.

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