HESS CORP'S STRATEGY TO OVERCOME THE LOOMING "GREAT CREW CHANGE"

Hess Corp., like other energy companies, is feeling early effects of “The Great Crew Change” as senior staff retire and early-career geoscientists are increasingly taking on advanced technical and leadership responsibilities. Companies are dealing with the problem in different ways. Hess, a large independent, has chosen to “Grow Our Own Timber” through our Foundation program to develop the fully-qualified professionals needed to replace retiring staff in the coming years.

The Foundation program was initiated globally in 2004 and has been successful in accelerating the professional development of our early-career geoscientists to become productive individual contributors within two years. Similar programs have since been developed for Hess’ engineers and other professionals.

MSc and PhD graduates, most of whom have participated in Hess’ summer internship program, are assigned mentors who act as technical and professional guides throughout their first two years. The graduates’ skills are developed through a series of four, 6-month rotations in onshore, offshore, production and exploration units. Training specific to each rotation and tailored to the individual is provided through internal and external sources. The graduates also participate as cross-functional teams in a 10-week class taught by Hess specialists to build a common understanding of the oil and gas industry and to develop skills in key technologies, including petroleum systems, stratigraphy, geophysics, operations geology and risk analysis. Soft skills are not overlooked, including training in presentation skills, time management and leadership.

Upon completion of the program, Foundation graduates have a broad skill set and understand Hess’ corporate culture, assets and best practices. They are then matched with a business unit for a 2-3 year initial assignment to continue building the technical and leadership skills needed to fill the gaps which will soon be left by those reaching retirement.

122 geoscientists have participated in the Foundation program. Retention rates are favorable, job satisfaction is high, and many of the graduates are now occupying key technical roles in critical assets while acting as mentors themselves.