Senior Commercial Negotiator, International
Continental Resources · Hybrid
Job Summary
Continental Resources’ Business Development Group supports highly visible strategic initiatives, including acquisitions, divestitures, joint ventures, strategic partnerships and international investment opportunities.
This position will serve as a senior commercial representative responsible for evaluating, structuring, negotiating and executing complex domestic and international transactions. The ideal candidate will have significant upstream oil and gas experience, including international transactions, partnerships or asset development.
The successful candidate will demonstrate strong commercial judgment, executive presence and the ability to work effectively across technical, financial, operational and legal teams.
Duties and Responsibilities
Lead the commercial evaluation, structuring and negotiation of acquisitions, divestitures, joint ventures and strategic partnerships
Serve as the primary commercial representative on multidisciplinary transaction teams
Assess international opportunities, including fiscal regimes, concessions, production-sharing contracts, licenses, local partner structures, government approvals and country-specific commercial risks.
Develop commercial strategies and recommend transaction structures aligned with Continental’s objectives
Negotiate commercial agreements, including purchase and sale agreements, joint operating agreements, participation agreements, acreage trades and farm-in or farm-out arrangements and development agreements
Evaluate ownership, governance, economics, obligations, contractual structures, risk allocation including country-specific commercial risks
Coordinate with engineering, finance, operations, accounting, tax, regulatory, land and legal teams
Build and maintain relationships with counterparties, partners, advisors and government stakeholders and industry participants
Lead commercial due diligence and support opportunities from initial evaluation through closing
Support compliance review related to anti-bribery/anti-corruption, sanctions, export controls, local content and government interaction risks.
Support negotiations with international counterparties, including IOCs, NOCs, governments, private operators, financial sponsors and local partners.
Prepare and present commercial recommendations to executive management
Monitor industry trends, competitor activity and relevant transactions
Mentor less-experienced team members
Travel domestically and internationally as required
Other duties as assigned.
Skills and Competencies
Strong commercial and strategic judgment.
Advanced negotiation and relationship-management skills.
Knowledge of upstream oil and gas transactions and commercial agreements.
Ability to evaluate complex transaction structures and risks while balancing value, risk, governance and execution certainty.
Strong written, verbal and executive-level communication skills.
Ability to lead cross-functional teams and manage multiple priorities.
Global perspective and ability to work across cultures and jurisdictions.
Independent, results-oriented and effective in ambiguous situations.
High professional integrity, confidentiality and sound judgment in sensitive negotiations.
Required Qualifications
Bachelor’s degree in Business, Finance, Economics, Engineering, Energy Management or a related discipline from an accredited college or university.
Minimum of twelve (12) years of relevant upstream oil and gas experience.
Significant commercial, business development, corporate development or joint venture experience.
Experience negotiating and executing complex upstream transactions or agreements.
Experience with international fiscal regimes, including production-sharing contracts, concessions, licenses, service contracts or hybrid structures.
International oil and gas experience involving assets, transactions, partnerships or negotiations outside the United States.
Demonstrated ability to work effectively across cultures, jurisdictions and time zones.
Ability and willingness to travel domestically and internationally and work across multiple time zones.
An acceptable pre-employment background and drug test.
Preferred Qualifications
Master of Business Administration, Juris Doctor or other advanced degree
Fifteen (15) or more years of upstream commercial or business development experience
Experience across multiple international regions or jurisdictions
Experience working with and negotiating alongside international oil companies, national oil companies, governments or private operators
Professional working proficiency or fluency in Spanish
Professional working proficiency in other languages relevant to international oil and gas
Knowledge of production-sharing contracts, concessions, licenses, joint operating agreements and farm-in or farm-out structures
Experience leading transactions from origination through closing
Knowledge of upstream economics, valuation and investment analysis
Familiarity with geopolitical, regulatory, currency and country-risk considerations
Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Excel, PowerPoint and Word
Physical Requirements and Working Conditions
Requires prolonged sitting, some bending and stooping.
Occasional lifting up to 25 pounds.
Manual dexterity sufficient to operate a computer keyboard and calculator.
Continental Resources, Inc. provides equal employment opportunities and access for all applicants and employees without regard to race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions), sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, national origin, age, disability, genetic information, veteran status, or any other category protected by law.