General Manager (Safety & Response)
Location: Houston, TX (30% Travel)

Airswift is working in partnership with a deepwater offshore response organization. The company employs a mix of experienced engineers and crisis response specialists well-versed in the technical world of offshore operations and incident response. 

In the event of a compromised well incident, the company activates its Response Team and works with the Well Operator to deploy the Containment System, which is assembled and launched from the companies shore bases. The company personnel integrate into the Operator’s broader response plan to manage the mobilization and operation of its Containment System – on behalf of the Operator – until the compromised well is controlled and capped.

PRIMARY GOALS: Strengthen the organization’s deployment readiness to ensure high performance in deepwater project execution, construction oversight, and well?containment crisis management. Serve as the Command Liaison during incident response, representing the organization with the U.S. Coast Guard, other regulatory bodies, and leadership from member companies. Demonstrate strong seniority, presence, and confident communication to influence stakeholders without formal authority. Act as a trusted subject?matter expert, offering guidance and decision support in high?pressure, multi?stakeholder emergency?response environments. JOB DUTIES:
Functional / General Manager Duties: Develop, coach, and evaluate HSE, Process Safety, EP&R, and Deployment Readiness teams. Build and manage departmental priorities, plans, and budgets. Demonstrate visible safety leadership through regular visits to field operations and other sites with potential hazards. Lead the organization’s periodic Process Safety Risk Assessment revalidation and ensure risk assessments are completed and acted upon for new equipment, personnel, and procedures. Oversee the Integrated Preparedness Plan, including multi?year drills and exercises aligned with national standards and member?company programs. Chair the Business Continuity Team to mitigate weather, health, and other major disruption risks. Lead the Operations Excellence System Steering Committee to drive continuous improvement of critical processes and systems. Coordinate with government agencies, regulators, and industry associations on emergency?response and regulatory matters. Ensure deployment procedures for all incident?response equipment are current and effective. Partner with Operations to align deployment plans, work management, and simultaneous?operations strategies. Develop resourcing models for all phases of containment?system deployment: mobilization, installation, commissioning, operations, and recovery. Establish and maintain contracting strategies, including mutual?aid and rental?equipment arrangements. Implement strategies to continuously improve the safety, speed, and cost efficiency of deployment operations. Collaborate with Training leadership to ensure staff and key third?party personnel are properly trained and competent. Lead and manage special projects assigned by executive leadership.
Response-Specific/ Command Liaison Duties: Upon activation, report to the Incident Command Post or any other location designated by the Responsible Party. Serve as the primary communication bridge between the Incident Command structure and the organization’s response team, ensuring alignment with Unified Command objectives. Support embedded advisors in guiding the Responsible Party on effective application of the containment system based on rig, well, and site conditions, and in coordinating with other simultaneous operations. Obtain necessary approvals for required work?authorization documents, such as deployment work orders. Facilitate alignment between Unified Command and the response team on roles and responsibilities, management of change, scheduling updates, and procedure approvals. Participate in drills and exercises—internal, member?driven, or regulator?initiated—in the Command Liaison role as needed.
REQUIRED SKILLS & EXPERIENCE: Bachelor of Science degree in Engineering 20+ years of experience in the Oil & Gas industry Deepwater Gulf of Mexico project execution experience, with demonstrated project management expertise in the construction, transportation, and commissioning of offshore floating production facilities (e.g., FPSOs) and associated subsea systems Emergency Preparedness & Response experience, including operation under FEMA’s National Incident Management System (NIMS) Technical and operational risk management experience, with proven ability to identify risks and provide prevention, mitigation, and management guidance, including for simultaneous field activities Exceptional communication and stakeholder engagement skills, with the ability to interact effectively across all organizational levels, member companies, regulators, media, and the public Incident Command System (ICS) experience, preferably serving as an Incident Commander, Qualified Individual (QI), or Section Chief Regulatory engagement experience, ideally with U.S. regulators such as the Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement (BSEE) and the U.S. Coast Guard (USCG)
STAND-OUT SKILLS & EXPERIENCE: Foundational or advanced expertise in well construction, including comprehensive understanding of well design, failure modes, well operations, and risk mitigation Experience in HSE leadership, including the implementation and continuous improvement of Personal, Process, Operational, and Behavioral?based safety systems Experience with heavy?lift vessel operations and heave compensation systems