Oil & Gas Executive Search and Recruiting

Oil & Gas Executive Search

The Senior Hire Your Oil & Gas Company
Cannot Afford to Get Wrong

We conduct retained executive search exclusively in the energy sector. For upstream, midstream, and downstream operators who need a C-suite executive, VP-level leader, or a highly specialised technical professional — and need to find them discreetly.

Start a Search Enquiry ↓ Register as a Candidate ↓
100%
Energy sector
exclusive
Retained
Search only —
no contingency
Midland
TX HQ — Permian
Basin roots
Our Expertise

Why Energy People Group for Oil & Gas Executive Search

We work exclusively in the energy sector — oil and gas is not one practice area among many for us. It is the core of what we do. That means our candidate network, our market knowledge, and our understanding of what makes a hire succeed in this industry runs deep.

We are headquartered in Midland, TX — the heart of the Permian Basin — and we conduct searches nationally across every major producing region. Whether you’re an independent E&P, a private equity-backed midstream operator, or a large downstream refiner, we understand the culture, the commercial pressures, and the leadership profiles that drive performance in your business.

Our work covers two distinct placement categories. The first is executive and senior leadership — C-suite, VP, and Director-level roles where the hire sets the direction of the business. The second is senior technical specialists — the Reservoir Engineers, Geologists, Land Analysts, Division Order Analysts, and Production Engineers whose expertise is the operational backbone of any oil and gas company. Both matter. Both are hard to find. Both require the same quality of search.

Senior technical professionals are also, in our experience, the future leadership pipeline. We treat them accordingly — not as a secondary tier, but as a distinct and valued placement category in their own right.

Upstream

Exploration & Production Leadership

From independents to majors — we place the executives who lead exploration strategy, production operations, reservoir management, and engineering across the full E&P lifecycle.

Midstream

Gathering, Processing & Transportation

Pipeline operators, gas processors, and NGL fractionators require leaders with a unique blend of operational, commercial, and regulatory expertise. We know this talent pool.

Downstream

Refining, Petrochemicals & Trading

Refinery GMs, VP Refining, VP Trading, and HSE leadership in complex downstream environments — roles where technical depth and commercial acuity must coexist.

Roles We Place

Senior Oil & Gas Positions We Recruit For

We place across two tracks: executive and senior leadership (C-suite through Director) and senior technical specialists — the subject-matter experts whose depth of knowledge is irreplaceable at any level of the org chart.

Upstream Leadership

  • Chief Executive Officer (CEO)
  • Chief Operating Officer (COO)
  • VP Exploration
  • VP Production / Operations
  • VP Engineering
  • VP Drilling & Completions
  • VP Land & Business Development
  • CFO / VP Finance
  • General Counsel
  • VP HSE

Midstream & Downstream

  • President / CEO
  • VP Operations
  • VP Business Development
  • VP Commercial
  • General Manager — Gathering & Processing
  • Refinery General Manager
  • VP Refining / VP Supply & Trading
  • VP Regulatory & Government Affairs
  • Chief HSE Officer
  • VP Finance / CFO
  • General Counsel
  • VP Strategy & Corporate Development

Functional & Cross-Sector

  • VP Human Resources / CHRO
  • VP Strategy
  • VP Information Technology / CIO
  • VP Supply Chain
  • VP Investor Relations
  • Director — Corporate Development
  • Director — EHS & Sustainability
  • Director — Regulatory Affairs
  • VP Communications
  • Director — Accounting & Reporting

Senior Technical Specialists

  • Reservoir Engineer (Senior / Principal)
  • Production Engineer (Senior)
  • Petroleum Geologist (Senior / Staff)
  • Geophysicist (Senior / Principal)
  • Drilling Engineer (Senior)
  • Completions Engineer (Senior)
  • Land Analyst / Senior Land Analyst
  • Division Order Analyst (Senior)
  • Environmental / HSE Specialist (Senior)
  • Facilities / Process Engineer (Senior)
  • Petrophysicist
  • Subsurface Data Analyst

A note on senior technical roles: We treat technical specialist placements as a distinct and equally important category — not a secondary tier. Reservoir Engineers, Geologists, Land Analysts, and Division Order Analysts are the operational backbone of any oil and gas company, and in our experience, the best ones become the next generation of technical leaders. If your expertise is deep and specialised, we want to know you.

Retained vs. Contingency

Why Retained Search Produces Better Oil & Gas Hires

For senior roles — where the wrong hire costs more than the search fee by a factor of ten — the approach matters as much as the outcome.

Retained Search (EPG)

Exclusive. Proactive. Thorough.

  • Full market mapping — we approach candidates who aren’t looking
  • Exclusive engagement — our full attention on your search
  • Thorough candidate qualification before presentation
  • Confidential process — protects both company and candidate
  • Regular progress updates and transparent reporting
  • Negotiation and offer management support
Contingency / Job Board

Reactive. Competitive. Inconsistent.

  • Limited to candidates already in market or on databases
  • Multiple firms working same search — attention is divided
  • Speed incentivised over quality of fit
  • Candidate confidentiality difficult to protect
  • Limited reporting and process visibility
  • Less effective for senior or technical niche roles
The Process

How We Work — For Both Sides of the Search

Whether you’re a company looking to hire or an executive open to the right opportunity, here’s what working with Energy People Group looks like.

For Client Companies

1

Scoping Call

We discuss the role, your organisation, the ideal profile, timeline, and whether retained search is the right approach. No obligation.

2

Search & Identification

We map the market and proactively approach qualified candidates — including those not actively seeking a move — who match your brief.

3

Candidate Presentation

We present a shortlist of thoroughly qualified, briefed candidates with detailed profiles. You meet only the right people.

4

Offer & Close

We manage the interview process, provide feedback, and support negotiation through to accepted offer and start date.

For Candidates

1

Confidential Registration

You share your background, sector, level, and what a genuinely compelling opportunity would look like. No commitment. Strictly confidential.

2

We Match You

When a live client search matches your profile, we reach out directly — with enough context for you to decide whether it’s worth a conversation.

3

You Decide

No pressure. If the opportunity resonates, we brief you fully on the client, role, and process before you commit to anything.

4

We Support You Through

Preparation, interview feedback, and negotiation support — we manage the process from first call to accepted offer, at no cost to you.

Get in Touch

Start a Search — or Register Your Profile

Whether you’re a company looking to make a senior oil and gas hire, or an executive open to the right opportunity, the first step is a confidential conversation.

Use the form, or contact Melissa directly. We respond within one business day.

Prefer to reach us directly?

(432) 360-0777 info@energypeoplegroup.com Book a Call with Melissa

Search Enquiry

Tell us about your role and we’ll be in touch within one business day.

Need the full enquiry form? Visit For Companies →

Candidate Registration

Confidential. No commitment. We’ll contact you only when a relevant search is live.

Want the full registration form? Visit For Candidates →

Latest Oil & Gas Insights

Market intelligence and hiring trends for upstream, midstream and downstream operators.

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Common Questions

Oil & Gas Executive Search — Frequently Asked Questions

Answers to the questions companies and candidates most commonly ask about retained oil and gas search.

A retained executive search firm like Energy People Group is exclusively engaged by the client company before any search work begins. We conduct thorough market mapping, proactively identify and approach candidates who are not actively job seeking, and manage the entire process through to offer acceptance. A contingency recruiter submits available candidates speculatively and is only paid on placement — which creates incentives to move fast rather than find the right person. For senior oil and gas roles, retained search consistently produces better hires and a more confidential, controlled process for both company and candidate.
We place senior executive and technical specialist roles across the full oil and gas value chain. Upstream: CEOs, COOs, VP Exploration, VP Production, Chief Geologist, VP Engineering, Reservoir Engineering Directors. Midstream: Presidents, GMs, VP Operations, VP Business Development, VP Commercial. Downstream: Refinery GMs, VP Refining, VP Trading, Chief HSE Officers. We also place functional leaders including CFOs, General Counsel, VP HR, and VP Strategy across all three segments.
A typical retained executive search for a senior oil and gas role takes between 8 and 14 weeks from kickoff to accepted offer, depending on the seniority and specificity of the role, market availability, and the client’s interview process. We provide a detailed timeline and regular progress updates throughout. Searches for highly specialised technical roles — such as reservoir engineering directors or niche midstream operations leaders — may take slightly longer due to the limited candidate pool.
Yes. While we are headquartered in Midland, TX and have deep roots in the Permian Basin, we conduct oil and gas executive searches nationally and have placed candidates across major producing basins including the Eagle Ford, DJ Basin, Bakken, and Gulf of Mexico. We also work with international operators and service companies with US-based leadership requirements.
Absolutely. Confidentiality is a non-negotiable part of how Energy People Group operates. When an executive registers their profile with us, their identity and details are never shared with any client — or disclosed to anyone — without their explicit prior consent. We will not confirm or deny that any individual has spoken with us. Many of the candidates we place are currently employed and performing well; they are considering a move only if the right opportunity presents itself.
Oil and gas leadership hiring requires an intimate understanding of the technical landscape, commercial dynamics, and the specific culture of E&P, midstream, and downstream organisations. A generalist recruiter will not understand the difference between a reservoir engineer and a production engineer, or why a Permian Basin operator needs a different leadership profile than a Gulf Coast refinery. Energy People Group works exclusively in the energy sector — our network, our knowledge, and our candidate relationships are built entirely within this world.
Energy People Group operates on a retained search basis, meaning our fee is paid by the client company in structured instalments tied to search milestones — not on a contingency basis. Candidates are never charged at any stage. Our fee structure reflects the exclusive, high-commitment nature of the engagement and is discussed transparently during the initial scoping call.
The process begins with a confidential scoping call with Melissa Hooper, our lead consultant. During that conversation we discuss the role, your organisation, the profile you’re looking for, timeline, and whether retained search is the right approach for your situation. You can initiate that conversation by completing the enquiry form on this page, calling us directly at (432) 360-0777, or emailing [email protected].

Other Sectors We Cover

Energy Law

General Counsel & regulatory leadership

Water & Utilities

Infrastructure & regulatory affairs

Renewables

Wind, solar, storage & DER platforms

Nuclear

Legacy ops, SMR & advanced reactors