Catalysis Operations Lead

Entity:

Technology

Job Family Group:

Research & Technology Group:

Job Description:

At bp, we provide an excellent working environment and employee benefits such as an open and inclusive culture, a great work-life balance, tremendous learning and development opportunities to craft your career path, life and health insurance, medical care package and many others.

Who we are

Fuels & Low Carbon Technology (F&LCT) is a global organization of more than 300 technologists, scientists, and engineers who develop groundbreaking solutions across bp’s Fuels, Refining, Bioenergy, and Hydrogen businesses. The organization also supports bp’s wider Technology function through innovation management, modelling, digital science, and academic research partnerships—providing the scientific and engineering foundation that enables bp’s low carbon and operational ambitions.

Within F&LCT, the Bioenergy & Hydrogen Technology (B&HT) team focuses on crafting and scaling technologies that unlock bp’s low carbon growth. The team advances pathways across bioenergy, biogas, SAF, hydrogen, and novel feedstocks, while working closely with bp businesses to ensure solutions meet real operational and commercial needs. B&HT plays a central role in defining bp’s technology direction for today’s energy needs as well as the energy transition by driving innovation from early-stage concepts through deployment ready solutions.

Job Purpose and primary objectives:

We are delighted to present this excellent opportunity for Catalysis Operations Lead to join our global team of scientists who provide data and insight reaching across bp – from research and innovation into low carbon technologies, to critical business support for our global value chain.

The Research Operations team is expected to work across multiple interfaces to ensure business needs are being met and developed. The team operates complex equipment, including high‑throughput reactors, electrolysers, and bench‑scale systems. These capabilities support bp’s strategic framework across fuels (including biofuels), SAF, biogas, feedstocks, hydrogen, oil and gas, and cross‑cutting low‑carbon initiatives.

Key responsibilities include:

• Deliver safe, standards‑adherent experimental operations, contributing to the development of a proactive safety culture.
• Provide operational leadership by managing day‑to‑day laboratory operations, including scheduling, resource allocation, and equipment maintenance.
• Develop, manage, and deliver the team’s annual programme in line with agreed priorities and available resources.
• Lead and manage the team while building and sustaining a healthy talent pipeline to meet current and future business needs.
• Oversee performance management, including effective technology project management, reliable experimental operations, and the capture and protection of intellectual property.
• Collaborate with business technology colleagues to assess new process and product options, identify core analytical chemistry needs, and deliver or transfer results and insights to meet those needs.
• Manage relevant third‑party relationships as required to support operational and strategic objectives.

Essential Criteria & Qualifications:

• Bachelor's or Master's degree in Chemistry or a related field, or demonstrate equivalent proven experience, including several years of operational or supervisory experience within a laboratory, pilot plant, industrial, or production environment.
• Record of strong leadership, hands-on mechanical aptitude, proficiency in chemical processes, and high attention to safety (HSSE).
• Proven ability to manage changing priorities, strong organizational skills, and effective communication across R&D.
• Management of operating expenses and continuous improvement of operations (efficiency, effectiveness and capability).
• Experience in leading, mentoring and developing people in a technical function.

Desirable Experience:

• Experience with digital and AI tools in lab/plant operations.
• Management of third-party collaborations.
• Experience with electrolyzers, high throughput or other complex equipment.
• Experience with gas chromatography and other online analytical methods

Other

• Travel – less than 5%.

About bp

Our purpose is to deliver energy to the world, today and tomorrow. For over 100 years, bp has focused on discovering, developing, and producing oil and gas in the nations where we operate. We are one of the few companies globally that can provide governments and customers with an integrated energy offering. Delivering our strategy sustainably is fundamental to achieving our ambition to be a net zero company by 2050 or sooner!

We will ensure that individuals with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodation to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform crucial job functions, and to receive other benefits and privileges of employment. Please contact us to request accommodation.

Additional Information

We are an equal opportunity employer and value diversity at our company. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, sex, gender, gender expression, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, or disability status.

Even though the job is advertised as full time, please contact the hiring manager or the recruiter as flexible working arrangements may be considered.

We support our people to learn and grow in a diverse and challenging environment. We believe that our team is strengthened by diversity. We are committed to crafting an inclusive environment in which everyone is respected and treated fairly.

There are many aspects of our employees’ lives that are meaningful, so we offer benefits to enable your work to fit with your life. These benefits can include flexible working options, collaboration spaces in a modern office environment, and many others benefits.

Travel Requirement

Up to 10% travel should be expected with this role

Relocation Assistance:

This role is eligible for relocation within country

Remote Type:

This position is not available for remote working

Skills:

Agility core practices, Analytical Thinking, Bioprocess Design, Chemical kinetic modelling, Collaboration, Communication, Creativity and Innovation, Curiosity, Experimental Design, Industry technology knowledge, Intellectual Asset Management, Life cycle and circularity, Multi-physics modelling, New process technology scale-up, Novel process development, Pilot and demonstration plant operation, Presenting, Problem Solving, Process Safety Engineering, Science and Technology Leadership, Scientific publication, Talent Matching, Technoeconomic evaluation of processes, Thermophysical modelling, Thought Leadership

Legal Disclaimer:

We are an equal opportunity employer. We do not discriminate on the basis of protected characteristics like race, religion, color, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, veteran status or disability status. Individuals with an accessibility need may request an adjustment/accommodation related to bp’s recruiting process (e.g., accessing the job application, completing required assessments, participating in telephone screenings or interviews, etc.). If you would like to request an adjustment/accommodation related to the recruitment process, please contact us.

If you are selected for a position and depending upon your role, your employment may be contingent upon adherence to local policy. This may include pre-placement drug screening, medical review of physical fitness for the role, and background checks.