New Mexico State Land Office
Santa Fe, New Mexico

Communitization and Subsurface Petroleum Specialist (NMSLO #5967)

Hybrid$83,782 - $134,056/yrPosted Sep 22, 2026

Job details

Location
Santa Fe, New Mexico
Work type
Hybrid
Compensation
$83,782 - $134,056/yr
Posted
Sep 22, 2026
Apply on
careers.share.nm.gov

About this role

Salary

 

$40.28 - $64.45 Hourly

$83,790 - $134,063 Annually

This position is a Pay Band C11

Posting Details

 
THIS POSTING WILL BE USED FOR ONGOING RECRUITMENT AND MAY CLOSE AT ANY TIME. APPLICANT LISTS MAY BE SCREENED MORE THAN ONCE.

The New Mexico State Land Office has been named a Regional Top Workplace every year since 2023 and a National Top Workplace every year since 2024, reflecting its ongoing commitment to an exceptional workplace culture. To learn more about why the Land Office was voted a Top Workplace, and about the great benefits offered by the agency, copy and paste the below link into your browser: https://www.nmstatelands.org/job-opportunities/

The NM State Land Office has a Non-Emergency Telework Policy, which allows eligible employees to telework up to twenty-four (24) hours a week consistent with the agency's business needs.

As a valued State Land Office employee, you will receive a hiring bonus of forty (40) hours of leave at your start date to be used at any time. This is in addition to standard leave accrual for employees.

Why does the job exist?

 
The core mission of the New Mexico State Land Office (NMSLO) is to responsibly generate revenue through a wide array of leasing activities on state trust lands on behalf of public schools, universities and hospitals. This position provides engineering expertise and analysis to the Oil, Gas and Minerals Division. This position includes assisting with and reviewing communitization agreements, reviewing leases and wells for paying quantities, and reviewing proposed subsurface agreements. This position may also provide other engineering support and expertise to the division as needed.

How does it get done?

 
This position reviews, evaluates, processes and approves applications from the oil & gas industry involving state trust lands. This positions evaluates and approves communitization agreement and subsurface applications from the perspective that the land utilized in such a manner is in the best interests of the New Mexico State Land Office trust, and, thereby, its beneficiaries. This position evaluates the state economic interest in all wells. This position monitors well production and refers non-compliant wells for possible termination. This position reviews oil and gas well completions for required communitization agreements. This positions reviews plugged and abandoned wells and related data for communitization terminations, and reviews existing communitization agreements for production in paying quantities and recommend Commissioner terminations of the agreements for lands not being prudently utilized or developed.

Who are the customers?

 
Internal: Oil, Gas, and Minerals Division; Administrative Services; Commercial Division; Legal Division; Surface Resources Division; and executive State Land Office management officials (Office of the Commissioner).

External: New Mexico public schools, universities and hospitals; individuals; general public; lessees (agricultural, oil and gas companies, commercial, rights-of-ways); natural resource authorization users; program enrollees; hunters; other government entities (state, federal, city, county, tribal).

Ideal Candidate

 
The ideal candidate will have:

- A strong background in petroleum engineering,
- Strong knowledge of well drilling and completion techniques, reservoir analyses, reading and interpreting well logs,
- Understanding of decline curves and assessing the economics of oil & gas production wells,
- Strong communication skills, both verbal and written,
- A strong understanding of maximizing oil and gas development; and
- Experience in managing projects.

Minimum Qualification

 
Bachelor's Degree in Environmental, Mechanical, Civil, or Geological Engineering and four (4) years of experience in a government regulatory role including oil field experience. Any combination of education from an accredited college or university in a related field and/or direct experience in this occupation totaling eight (8) years may substitute for the required education and experience.

Employment Requirements

 
Must possess and maintain a valid New Mexico Driver's License.

Must obtain and maintain a State of New Mexico Driving Certificate.

Working Conditions

 
Work is performed primarily in an office setting with exposure to Visual/Video Display Terminal (VDT) and extensive personal computer to include working with computers, faxes, copiers and printers, and phone usage with extended periods of sitting, standing, bending, squatting, climbing, reaching, kneeling and crawling. Ability to lift up to 25 lbs. Some travel may be required.

Supplemental Information

 

Do you know what Total Compensation is? Click here

Agency Contact Information: Jaiden Trujillo, (505) 827-5858 Email

For information on Statutory Requirements for this position, click the Classification Description link on the job advertisement.

Bargaining Unit Position

 
This position is not covered by a collective bargaining agreement.
Ready to apply?
ApplyBolt finds matching jobs, tailors your resume, and submits applications for you.

About New Mexico State Land Office

New Mexico State Land Office
Santa Fe, New Mexico
All jobsWebsiteLinkedIn