Team Lead, Operational Technology

Strathcona Resources Ltd. • Calgary, AB

1d • Hybrid

About The Position

Headquartered in Calgary, Alberta, Strathcona Resources Ltd. is one of North America’s fastest growing pure play heavy oil producers with operations focused on thermal oil and enhanced oil recovery near the Cold Lake and Lloydminster regions of Alberta and Saskatchewan.
Strathcona is committed to doing business the right way, guided by our core values: Integrity, Energy, and Intelligence. These values define who we are as a company, how we work together, and how we make decisions: We prioritize respect, accountability, and collaboration. That means everyone can shape and strengthen our culture and drive results in meaningful ways. Our people bring energy and curiosity to solve problems and deliver results. Be part of a team where performance, collaboration, and innovation come together to drive success.
We are seeking an experienced Team Lead, Operational Technology to lead the team responsible for the networks, infrastructure, and cyber security that Strathcona's field operations depend on every day. The team is a key resource to the automation group and other technical teams, and supports field and corporate groups across Alberta and Saskatchewan.
The successful candidate will set direction and standards for the group, keep our production systems secure and reliable, develop their people, and act as the main link between operations, vendors, and our technology teams – while staying close enough to the technology to make sound decisions and lead on complex problems.

Requirements

• Technical diploma or degree in a relevant field such as instrumentation, electrical, automation, engineering, or information technology; P.Eng. or C.E.T. considered an asset
• 8-10+ years of experience with operational technology, automation, or control systems in oil and gas, including 3+ years leading technical teams and owning budgets, vendor relationships, and multiple projects at once
• Strong knowledge of oil and gas operations and field infrastructure (ideally thermal and conventional production) and of control systems and automation platforms such as DeltaV, FactoryTalk, or Allen-Bradley
• Solid understanding of field networks and communications – wireless, radio, cellular, and satellite – and of operational technology security, including network separation and secure remote access
• Experience with operational data historians and dashboards (such as Pi), field data capture, and production reporting systems, including measurement requirements, alarm management, and functional safety practices

Nice To Haves

• P.Eng. or C.E.T. considered an asset

Responsibilities

• Lead and develop a team of operational technology, network, and security professionals, and own the team's budget, vendor contracts, and service provider performance
• Put safety first, with documentation and change control on every control system change
• Own the operational technology security program, aligned with Canadian industry standards and regulatory requirements, with reliable backups and a tested recovery plan
• Keep operational technology separate and protected from the corporate network, control who can access it, and set common infrastructure and network standards so projects are built consistently
• Maintain a clear inventory of field systems, keep them patched and current, and plan upgrades before systems fall out of vendor support
• Lead planning, prioritization, and risk management across the group's projects
• Run site programs through testing, commissioning, startup, and handover, and plan ahead for turnaround windows
• Act as the main point of contact between operations, vendors, service providers, and our technology teams, the escalation point for high-risk issues, and a key support to control room communications and operator alarms
• Improve field communications so operational data is reliable and complete, advance real-time monitoring, and support practical AI initiatives such as computer vision for leak and spill detection

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level
• Education Level: Associate degree