2026CAH - Lead Geoscientist - Oil Sands Stratigraphy and Reservoir Characterization
Edmonton, AB, CA, T6B 2T4
At Imperial, we work every day to responsibly develop Canada’s energy resources – applying technology and innovation to supply affordable, accessible and reliable energy while reducing emissions. Imperial recognizes the important role we can play by advancing climate solutions within our operations and by providing lower life-cycle emission products to our customers. This effort is powered by a unique and diverse workforce fueled by a pride in what we do and what we stand for.
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Come be part of the Kearl Technical Department at Imperial
Imperial has more than 140 years of history in Canada and a workforce of 5,000+ total employees. Our offices are located in Calgary, Alberta.
The technical team supports the Kearl mine site which has been in operation since 2012, and is located roughly 70 km north of Fort McMurray, Alberta. Oil sand ore is mined using electric and hydraulic shovels, hauled, crushed and mixed with water prior to sending the slurry through hydrotransport lines for processing to our plants. Kearl is a fly in fly out operation with transportation hubs located in Edmonton and Calgary.
Kearl is one of Canada’s highest quality oil sands deposits and represents the next generation of oil sands mining. Innovative technology is at the heart of Kearl. We’ve developed innovative approaches that enhance performance and reduce cost. The site is currently operating fully autonomous 797 haul trucks using Caterpillar’s minestar system, making it one of the largest autonomous fleets in the world.
What role you will play in our team
Lead Geoscientist – Oils Sands Stratigraphy and Reservoir Characterization
Drive mine performance by unlocking the geologic complexity of the McMurray Formation through expert stratigraphic interpretation.
We are seeking a highly skilled Oil Sands Geoscientist with deep stratigraphic expertise to join our subsurface team. This is a high-impact role at the core of our asset development strategy, where you will shape our understanding of complex oil sands reservoirs and directly influence how they are developed and optimized.
As a key contributor, you will lead advanced reservoir characterization efforts, building and applying robust stratigraphic frameworks to unlock value within the McMurray Formation. You will integrate geological, geophysical, and engineering datasets to deliver insight-driven interpretations that underpin geological models, guide drilling programs, improve reservoir and orebody understanding, and optimize development plans.
This role combines technical excellence with strategic influence. You will translate complex subsurface data into clear, actionable recommendations, ensuring high-quality geological interpretations underpin critical business decisions. Beyond technical delivery, you will act as a trusted subject matter expert, providing technical assurance, mentoring geoscience peers, and helping shape workflows, standards, and long-term development strategies.
The ideal candidate brings a passion for stratigraphy and depositional systems, thrives in solving complex subsurface challenges, and is motivated by the opportunity to make a measurable impact on a large-scale oil sands operations.
Primary job functions
Technical Leadership & Stakeholder Engagement
Serve as a senior geological resource and technical leader, providing mentorship, guidance, and quality control to geoscientists and junior staff. Champion rigorous stratigraphic interpretation standards and ensure consistency in geological models and subsurface frameworks across the asset. Engage with internal stakeholders—including reservoir engineering, mine planning, and operations teams—to communicate subsurface uncertainty and provide actionable recommendations that influence development
Stratigraphic Interpretation & Depositional Framework Development
Lead detailed stratigraphic interpretation and regional-to-local scale correlation within oil sands deposits. Develop robust sequence stratigraphic frameworks that integrate core, well log, seismic, and outcrop analog data into coherent depositional models. Interpret sedimentological features, facies architecture, and stacking patterns to define reservoir geometry, continuity, and heterogeneity. Ensure interpretations are geologically sound, scalable, and aligned with development and mining strategies
Geological Modeling & Reservoir Characterization
Develop, maintain, and continuously refine high-resolution 3D geological models to support reservoir development, mine planning, and in situ operations. Translate geological interpretations into geomodels that accurately represent facies distributions, net-to-gross variability, and reservoir quality trends. Identify and quantify reservoir heterogeneity, including baffles, barriers, and connectivity impacts, ensuring models effectively support simulation, resource estimation, and operational planning.
Integration of Subsurface Data
Drive multi-disciplinary data integration by combining core descriptions, wireline logs, seismic interpretations, and analog datasets into unified geological frameworks. Ensure consistency between datasets and resolve discrepancies to build defensible subsurface interpretations. Leverage data integration to enhance confidence in reservoir characterization and reduce uncertainty in development planning.
Resource Evaluation & Reserves Support
Provide geological input into resource assessments and reserves estimations, ensuring compliance with industry reporting standards. Support volumetric calculations, classification of resources, and evaluation of recoverability. Assess geological uncertainty and communicate its impact on resource potential, development scenarios, and economic outcomes.
Drilling Support & Subsurface Execution
Support drilling programs through well planning, placement recommendations, and real-time geological interpretation. Integrate LWD/MWD and wireline data during drilling operations to refine stratigraphic understanding and optimize well trajectories. Provide timely, operationally relevant geological guidance to maximize reservoir contact and minimize execution risk.
Production Optimization & Reservoir Performance
Collaborate with mining engineers and operations teams to support production optimization initiatives. Use geological insights to explain reservoir performance trends. Contribute to identifying opportunities for improved recovery and operational adjustments.
Monitoring, Uncertainty Management & Continuous Improvement
Continuously evaluate geological models against new data and operational performance, updating interpretations as needed. Identify key uncertainties and risks, and develop strategies to mitigate their impact on development and production. Lead initiatives to improve geological workflows, interpretation methodologies, and data quality, incorporating new technologies and digital tools where appropriate.
About you
Skills and Qualification
- Minimum Bachelor’s degree in Geology or Geoscience (Master’s or PhD preferred, with focus on stratigraphy).
- 10+ years of oil sands experience, with demonstrated expertise in stratigraphic analysis.
- Professional Geoscience designation or eligibility preferred.
- Advanced working knowledge of McMurray Formation stratigraphy, depositional environments, and reservoir architecture.
- Strong understanding of overburden geology, including Quaternary hydrostratigraphy.
- Proven experience with core description, facies analysis, and sequence stratigraphic frameworks.
- Proven capabilities in geological modeling, subsurface data integration, and reservoir characterization workflows
- Proficiency in industry-standard software (e.g., Petrel).
- Strong communication skills with the ability to present complex geological concepts clearly to technical and non-technical stakeholders.
Preferred Skills and Qualifications
- Advanced stratigraphic correlation and interpretation skills
- Strong sedimentological and depositional systems knowledge
- Critical thinking and problem-solving ability
- Attention to detail and data-driven decision making
- Ability to work both independently and within cross-functional teams
- Experience with mining operations
- Experience mentoring junior geoscientists
Your benefits
An Imperial career is one designed to last. Our commitment to you runs deep: our employees grow personally and professionally, with benefits built on our core categories of health, security, finance, and life. Imperial Oil has been recognized as one of Canada’s and Alberta’s top employers (2024) as recognized by Mediacorp Canada Inc.’s 24th annual competition.
We offer you:
- Competitive salary
- Training and mentorship
- Relocation assistance as required
- Flexible work hours
- Gym facility, café and marketplace located on campus
- Employee resource groups (ERG’s) – opportunity to participate in volunteer groups that support furthering the company’s inclusion objectives
Please note benefits may be changed, suspended or terminated from time to time without notice, subject to applicable law.
Functional Skills
Alternate Location:
Imperial is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Imperial is committed to providing equitable treatment and equal opportunity to all individuals and encourages all eligible applicants to apply.
Imperial conducts business in a manner that respects the land, environment, rights and cultures of Indigenous communities. In the areas where we explore, develop and operate, Imperial engages Indigenous communities in open and forthright consultation and strives to establish meaningful relationships built on mutual trust and respect. Please see here for more information on Imperial’s Indigenous Relations Guiding Principles and Guidelines.
Imperial is committed to supporting persons with disabilities throughout the recruitment process. We will work with qualified applicants to provide reasonable accommodation upon request at Recruit.Services.CA@exxonmobil.com.
Eligibility to work in Canada: All applicants who receive an offer of employment must be eligible to work in Canada on a regular full-time basis without restrictions on their start date. Proof of eligibility shall be in the form of a Canadian birth certificate, Canadian passport, Canadian citizenship certificate, Canadian certificate of permanent residence, Canadian open work permit or receipt from Immigration Canada of an application for a post-graduate work permit.
Proof of eligibility must be current and valid (not expired, cancelled or voided). Proof of eligibility will be required if an offer of employment is made. Failure to provide proof of eligibility at least six (6) weeks prior to the start date may result in the offer of employment being rescinded.
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