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Drilling Superintendent

  • Calgary, AB, Canada

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Experience
10+ years of drilling operations experience, including significant rig-site leadership experience
Posting language
English
Posted

Original job description

The Opportunity

At Canadian Natural, we are proud to be a leader in Canada’s energy industry. Join us and help drive innovation and long-term value through integrity, teamwork, and a passion for doing things right.

Make your mark while you grow your career! As a member of the Drilling Operations team, you will lead the safe, efficient, and cost-effective execution of Canadian Natural's drilling programs. Reporting to the Drilling Operations Manager, you will provide operational leadership to drilling engineers, wellsite supervisors, contractors, and service providers to ensure wells are delivered safely, on schedule, and within budget.

This role is responsible for supporting all phases of drilling operations, including planning, execution, performance optimization, cost control, regulatory compliance, contractor management, and post-well reviews. Frequent field visits are required to support wellsite operations, reinforce safety expectations, and drive continuous improvement.

  • Job Location: Calgary
  • Shift Schedule: 5x2 (Monday to Friday)
  • Safety Sensitive Position: Yes
  • Application Deadline: November 4, 2026

Key Accountabilities

  • Supervise up to three drilling rigs across multiple operating areas and provide operational leadership and support to Wellsite Supervisors and drilling teams
  • Ensure drilling operations are executed safely, efficiently, and in compliance with approved programs, company standards, and regulatory requirements
  • Promote a strong safety culture through field engagement, worksite observations, incident reviews, and continuous improvement initiatives, and ensure compliance with all applicable regulatory, environmental, and occupational health and safety requirements
  • Support drilling engineers during well planning, program development, risk reviews and execution, and review drilling programs, well designs, AFEs, and operational plans to ensure execution readiness
  • Monitor drilling performance and drilling costs, identify opportunities to reduce NPT, drive operational improvements, review forecasts, and ensure operations remain within approved AFE limits
  • Review and approve contractor invoices through OpenInvoice, ensure cost accountability and manage contractor and vendor performance related to safety, quality, service delivery, and cost control
  • Participate in pre-spud reviews, operational readiness reviews, post-well evaluations, and lessons learned sessions and prepare and communicate end-of-well summaries, performance results, and improvement opportunities

What You Bring to the Role

  • 10+ years of drilling operations experience, including significant rig-site leadership experience
  • Previous experience as a Wellsite Supervisor or equivalent operational leadership role and contractor management experience
  • Strong technical understanding of drilling operations, well control, rig equipment, and drilling best practices
  • Strong planning, organizational, problem-solving, and decision-making skills.
  • Experience managing drilling budgets, AFEs, cost forecasting, and invoice approvals and working knowledge of regulatory requirements and industry standards
  • Strong communication and collaboration skills with the ability to influence multidisciplinary teams, and a commitment to safety, operational discipline, integrity, and continuous improvement
  • Valid Supervisor-Level Well Control Certification (IADC, IWCF, or equivalent)

What We Offer

  • Competitive salary, stock options, company-matched stock savings plan, and annual bonus program
  • Relocation assistance may be available pursuant to Canadian Natural's Relocation Policy
  • 100% employer-paid Extended Health, Dental, and Vision Benefits
  • Health & Wellness Spending Account
  • Employee & Family Assistance Program
  • Community volunteer opportunities
  • Access to online learning and professional development programs
  • Paid vacation and Summer Fridays

What We Offer:

  • Competitive salary, stock options, company matched stock savings plan, annual bonuses
  • May be eligible for relocation pursuant to Canadian Natural’s Relocation Policy
  • 100% Employer paid extended Health, Dental and Vision Benefits 
  • Health & Wellness Spending Account
  • Multiple volunteer opportunities within the community
  • Employee & Family Assistance Program
  • Access to online learning platforms for continuous learning and development
  • Paid vacation and time off during summer Fridays

Check out our COMPENSATION & BENEFITS to learn more about what we have to offer!


We are proud to be ranked as one of Forbes' Canada's Best Employers in 2025 and 2026.

We invest in your career through offering a culture that focuses on developing people, working together and doing it right, with fun and integrity.

Industry Leader: We commenced business in 1989 with a handful of employees and modest production, but today we employ more than 10,000 people and produce over 1 million BOE/d.

Community Investment: Social responsibility is a critical element of our commitment to responsible operations and part of our success and pride as a Company. We are committed to investing in the communities where we live and work, creating shared value along the way.

Compensation and Benefits: We strive to share Company success with all employees through a comprehensive total compensation package.

Our People, Our Stories: Our stories demonstrate the strong culture that exists at Canadian Natural – one that focuses on developing people, working together and doing it right, with fun and integrity.

Check out some of our Employee Testimonials!

All candidates applying to Canadian Natural must have legal authorization to work in Canada with no restrictions. 

While we appreciate all applications we receive, kindly note only candidates under consideration will be contacted.

More about this job

Responsibilities

The Drilling Superintendent leads the safe and efficient execution of drilling programs by supervising drilling rigs and providing operational leadership to wellsite teams. This role manages planning, cost control, regulatory compliance, and contractor performance to ensure wells are delivered on schedule and within budget.

Requirements

Candidates must have over 10 years of drilling operations experience, including significant rig-site leadership and contractor management. A valid Supervisor-Level Well Control Certification is required, along with strong technical knowledge of drilling practices and regulatory standards.

Skills

  • Drilling operations
  • Wellsite supervision
  • Contractor management
  • Well control
  • Budget management
  • Cost forecasting
  • Regulatory compliance
  • Operational leadership
  • Risk management
  • Performance optimization
  • Incident review
  • Safety culture
  • Technical drilling
  • Problem-solving
  • Decision-making
  • Communication

Benefits

  • Competitive salary
  • Stock options
  • Company-matched stock savings plan
  • Annual bonus program
  • Relocation assistance
  • Extended health benefits
  • Dental benefits
  • Vision benefits
  • Health & wellness spending account
  • Employee & family assistance program
  • Volunteer opportunities
  • Online learning and professional development
  • Paid vacation
  • Summer Fridays

Visa sponsorship

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Categories

  • Energy
  • Management & Leadership
  • Engineering
  • Security & Safety
  • Manufacturing

Keywords

  • Drilling Superintendent
  • Drilling Operations
  • Wellsite Supervisor
  • Well Control
  • IADC
  • IWCF
  • AFE
  • OpenInvoice
  • NPT
  • Regulatory Compliance
  • Contractor Management
  • Safety Culture
  • Operational Readiness
  • Cost Control
  • Energy Industry
  • Drilling Programs
  • Well Design
  • Risk Reviews
  • Performance Monitoring
  • Field Operations

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