Subsurface Data Services Team Lead

Sword is the trusted partner for critical technology. We deliver the operational resilience and practical innovation that are essential for the most demanding enterprise and critical national infrastructure environments. By modernising legacy systems and securing daily operations, our expert teams help vital organisations lower risk, protect operations, and grow safely.

Join Sword and develop your career as part of a talented, collaborative team that delivers real-world impact and meaningful outcomes for our customers.

About the role:

As a Subsurface Data Services Team Lead, you will take responsibility for the day-to-day coordination and delivery of managed data services within a leading energy organisation, overseeing a team of Data Analysts and Data Management professionals.

Working closely with the Service Delivery Manager and key stakeholders, you will ensure services are delivered effectively, operational priorities are managed, and the team has the support and direction needed to deliver consistently high standards.

This is a people-focused and service-oriented leadership role, combining operational management, customer engagement and continuous improvement within a specialist subsurface data environment.

You will play an important role in maintaining strong customer relationships, improving service performance and supporting the ongoing development of the team. While an understanding of subsurface data management and associated applications is valuable, the emphasis is on leadership, coordination and service delivery rather than hands-on technical expertise.

As a Subsurface Data Services Team Lead, you will:

• Lead, coordinate and support a team of Data Analysts and Data Management professionals delivering subsurface data services.
• Oversee day-to-day service operations, ensuring activities are prioritised, allocated and delivered effectively.
• Act as a key point of contact for customers and stakeholders, maintaining strong working relationships and clear communication.
• Manage team workloads, resource planning and utilisation to meet operational requirements.
• Monitor service performance, ensuring service requests, incidents and operational activities are managed in line with agreed service levels.
• Prepare and present operational reports, service performance updates and management information.
• Facilitate regular service review meetings, providing updates on performance, priorities and improvement activities.
• Work closely with the Service Delivery Manager to support customer satisfaction, service quality and operational objectives.
• Identify opportunities to improve processes, streamline workflows and enhance service efficiency.
• Coordinate onboarding, knowledge transfer and service transition activities.
• Maintain accurate operational procedures, work instructions and service documentation.
• Support data quality, consistency and adherence to established governance standards.
• Collaborate with technical specialists supporting subsurface applications and data management environments.
• Coach, mentor and develop team members, promoting a positive, collaborative and accountable team culture.
• Support recruitment, onboarding, training and capability development across the team.
• Contribute to risk management, audit readiness and continuous service improvement initiatives.

• Experience leading or coordinating teams within data management, technical services, managed services or a similar operational environment.
• A good understanding of subsurface data management, geoscience data or related data services within the energy sector.
• Strong people management skills, with the ability to motivate, support and develop team members.
• Experience overseeing service delivery, managing operational priorities and coordinating resources.
• Excellent stakeholder management and customer engagement skills, with confidence communicating across technical and non-technical teams.
• Familiarity with ITIL principles and structured service management processes.
• Experience monitoring service performance, producing operational reports and supporting service improvement activities.
• Strong organisational and planning skills, with the ability to balance competing priorities.
• An understanding of subsurface data workflows and associated applications such as Petrel, OpenWorks, Techlog, Studio Manager or similar platforms.
• A proactive approach to problem-solving, process improvement and operational efficiency.
• Strong communication, collaboration and relationship-building skills.
• Ability to take ownership of day-to-day operations while working collaboratively with service management and technical teams.

At Sword, our core values and culture are based on caring about our people, investing in training and career development, and building inclusive teams where we are all encouraged to contribute to achieve success. We offer comprehensive benefits designed to support your professional development and enhance your overall quality of life. Here's what you can expect as part of our benefits package:

• Personalised Career Development: We create a development plan customised to your goals and aspirations, with a range of learning and development opportunities within a culture that encourages growth.
• Flexible working: Flexible work arrangements to support your work-life balance. We can’t promise to always be able to meet every request, however, are keen to discuss your individual preferences to make it work where we can.
• A Fantastic Benefits Package: This includes generous annual leave allowance, enhanced family friendly benefits, pension scheme, access to private health, well-being, and insurance schemes.

At Sword we are dedicated to fostering a diverse and inclusive workplace and are proud to be an equal opportunities employer, ensuring that all applicants receive fair and equal consideration for employment, regardless of whether they meet every requirement. If you don’t tick all the boxes but feel you have some of the relevant skills and experience we’re looking for, please do consider applying and highlight your transferable skills and experience. We embrace diversity in all its forms, valuing individuals regardless of age, disability, gender identity or reassignment, marital or civil partner status, pregnancy or maternity status, race, colour, nationality, ethnic or national origin, religion or belief, sex, or sexual orientation. Your perspective and potential are important to us.

If we can do anything to help make the hiring process more accessible, please let our talent acquisition team know when you apply so we can support any adjustments.

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