Surface Landman

Summary:

The Landman conducts research and technical reviews of leases and supporting documents to determine compliance with lease and contract provisions, unit agreements, administrative code rules, and statutes. Performs and oversees communications with Working Interest Partners, Surface Owners, and Royalty Owners, also the review of documents, and our goal is to respond to inquiries in a timely, efficient manner.

Responsibilities:

The successful candidate will work in the Land Department and perform a range of administrative and land tasks related to day‑to‑day operations, ongoing maintenance, and acquisition activity.

• Review and interpret a variety of documents and contracts, including Mineral Deeds, Oil and Gas Leases, Options, Joint Operating Agreements, Farmout Agreements, Exploration Agreements, Purchase and Sale Agreements, Surface Use Agreements, and Right‑of‑Way Agreements.
• Effectively communicate contractual obligations to multi‑function development teams and in‑field contractors.
• Ensure compliance with state, federal, and municipal requirements related to surface operations
• Identify when a surface use agreement, right‑of‑way, or easement is required for planned wells or currently operated locations.
• Demonstrate strong communication and negotiation skills when working with Surface Interest Owners and Agents, Working Interest Owners, and Royalty Owners.
• Maintain positive working relationships with external parties, including Surface Interest Owners, Working Interest Partners, and Royalty Owners.
• Serve as the primary point of contact for landowners regarding construction, restoration, traffic, and ongoing surface‑related issues.
• Work closely with Land, Accounting, and Technical teams to ensure the company meets its responsibilities to surface, working interest, and royalty owners.
• Maintain the company’s ownership records in an organized manner, ensuring accurate surface, working interest, royalty, and override ownership information in company systems, and coordinating with the Accounting Department as needed.
• Enter ownership information into the land database with corresponding electronic agreements, and review provisions to establish correlating production through cross‑reference of well property numbers to ensure surface payments, obligations, and notices are met in a timely manner.
• Prepare surface related costs for AFE authorizations for management approval and execution.
• Support Land staff with day‑to‑day responsibilities and needs arising from acquisition activity.

Key Competencies:

• Detail-oriented and organized with strong verbal/written communications skills.
• Proficient with Word, Excel, and other Microsoft Office applications.
• Ability to work in a team environment.
• Flexible: We are fast paced, so we need someone who is amenable to change.
• Utilize patience and good communication skills to ascertain the root causes of issues as they arise, obtain needed information and/or documents to resolve issues, and provide accurate resolution feedback.
• Excellent time management and organizational skills to foster teamwork in a dynamic fast paced environment.
• Practical and pragmatic approach to problem solving; hands on worker.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree from a four-year university, with a degree from an accredited AAPL program preferred.
• AAPL membership; RPL or CPL certification preferred.
• Minimum of 5 years of progressive in-house land experience in the oil and gas industry.
• At least 3 years of OK and Bakken experience preferred.

Physical Requirements: (with or without reasonable accommodation)

• Requires prolonged sitting, some bending and stooping 
• Occasional lifting up to 25 pounds. 
• Manual dexterity sufficient to operate a computer keyboard and calculator
• Ability to travel when required (less than 10%).

Benefits: 

• Competitive Base Salary 
• Annual Bonus Eligibility 
• 100% Employer covered health insurance premiums. 
• 401K with 4% employer match 

About Us:

Formentera Operations LLC is the operator for Formentera Partners, which is an energy focused, private equity strategy founded by Bryan Sheffield, Blake London, and Paul Treadwell in 2020, based in Austin, Texas. Formentera responsibly acquires and optimizes producing oil and gas assets in onshore United States basins.

Formentera is intentional and deliberate in cultivating our culture. We seek people who are not only exceptional within their own skills and aptitudes but who also care deeply about supporting each other’s growth and embracing the value that diverse teams, ideas and opinions creates. Operating with integrity and treating each other well at all times are foundational pillars at Formentera.  

Formentera provides equal employment opportunities to applicants and employees without regard to race, color, religion, sex, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, protected veteran status, disability or any other characteristics protected by federal, state, or local law where we employ. Formentera will not tolerate discrimination or harassment based on any of these characteristics. 

Notice to Third Party Agencies: 

Please note that Formentera does not accept unsolicited resumes from recruiters or employment agencies. Without a signed recruitment services agreement, Formentera will not consider or agree to payment of any referral compensation or recruiter fee. If a recruiter or agency submits a resume or candidate without a previously signed agreement, Formentera explicitly reserves the right to pursue and hire those candidates without any financial obligation to the recruiter or agency. Any unsolicited resumes, including those submitted to hiring manager(s), are deemed to be property of Formentera. 

NOTE: Formentera is not able to consider candidates requiring Visa sponsorship at this time.