VP of Acquisitions

Energy Search Associates has been engaged by an upstream minerals and royalties acquirer to find a VP of Acquisitions. This is the senior-most acquisitions and evaluation seat in the company. It reports to the President, who holds these responsibilities today and is handing them over.

This role suits either a finance professional or an engineering professional. Both tracks are genuinely in play. If you are a reservoir, evaluation or A&D engineer who has run acquisition economics and wants a broader commercial seat, you are a fit. If you come from finance, banking or corporate development and have priced upstream assets, you are equally a fit. Support is available on the accounting and reporting side for a candidate coming from the technical track.

LOCATION AND WORK SETUP

Full-time and in-office, five days a week. This is not a remote or hybrid role.

The company is headquartered in a southern state outside the traditional energy corridors. It is not in Texas, Oklahoma, Louisiana, New Mexico, Colorado, or the Northeast. Relocation assistance is provided, and candidates must be willing to relocate. We will share the city on the first call.

WHAT YOU OWN PERSONALLY

Acquisition evaluation and pricing. Build and own the underwriting and valuation models for mineral and royalty interests, set pricing guidelines, and serve as the financial gate on offers. This is the core of the job and it does not get delegated.

The proprietary mineral market valuation database. Value mineral interests off realized sale prices and off offers received on the company's own divested positions. This tells the business what the market actually pays rather than what a model assumes. You own the methodology and keep it current as transactions close.

Budget and profitability modeling. Build the operating budget and profitability models, set and track return targets, and model how acquisition pace and pricing affect returns.

Divestitures and 1031 exchanges. Co-lead the sell side with the deal origination lead, structuring sales and running the 1031 like-kind exchange program with qualified intermediaries and tax counsel.

WHAT YOU OWN THROUGH OTHERS

Technology. Set direction for the full stack: the mineral ownership database, the engineering database, outreach systems, AI and automation, the data room, land and mineral management software, and accounting systems. You work through a Technology Lead and a team of five. You are accountable for whether these systems produce decision-grade information, not for writing the code.

Finance and accounting. Direct the function through the Accounting lead, covering financial statements, cash management, audit, and tax coordination.

BACKGROUND WE ARE LOOKING FOR

Upstream A&D experience is the requirement. It can come from an operator, an investment bank, a minerals or royalties buyer, a non-operated investor, or a private-equity-backed E&P. What matters is that you have personally evaluated and priced upstream assets and are still hands-on in the models today, rather than having sponsored or reviewed someone else's work.

A finance or engineering degree. Either one.

8+ years of progressive experience including deal valuation and underwriting.

Experience with revenue reported by third parties, such as royalties or non-operated interests, where accuracy depends on auditing what counterparties send you.

Has led technical people through a technical leader, as a non-engineer.

Has operated where the function was being built rather than maintained.

Strongly preferred: minerals and royalties experience, high-volume evaluation of small mineral opportunities, familiarity with 1031 mechanics, and a CPA, CFA, or MBA.

THE ENVIRONMENT

A small, fast-moving, owner-funded business scaling from 50 million to 100 million-plus in annual acquisitions. Ownership's goal is to grow the company aggressively and long term. Over time this seat grows into capital formation and investor relations.

Applications and referrals are both welcome. All inquiries are handled confidentially.