Building High-Impact Teams for a Private Equity-Backed E&P Company
- Kimberly Wilson
- Jul 7
- 2 min read
Updated: Oct 28
Proven Results: Strategic Talent Acquisition During a 10x Growth Period
TL;DR - E&P Company Strategic Hiring Snapshot
In this case study, a private equity–backed E&P company was preparing for a major asset acquisition and needed to scale fast. Over a 5-year partnership, TLR Search helped them hire 30+ engineers and specialists with niche expertise. Our strategic, high-touch approach supported the company’s operational growth, brand visibility, and long-term hiring success.
Challenge: Hiring to Support Acquisition and Rapid Expansion
Challenge Summary: The company needed to scale engineering and operations teams rapidly after an acquisition while maintaining alignment across multiple hiring managers.
When we began working together, the company, an exploration and production (E&P) firm backed by private equity, was finalizing a key acquisition. Leadership needed to scale teams quickly to manage new assets and business demands.
Each role required highly specific qualifications:
Experience with Permian Basin assets
Expertise in CO2 flooding, waterflooding, or other recovery methods for niche engineering roles
Various specialized experiences for operational roles
Comfort working in lean, fast-paced PE-backed environments
Proficiency in industry-specific software
Strong cultural fit for a lean, high-accountability team
Each role had a different hiring manager with distinct timelines and communication styles, which made consistency and candidate engagement a top priority.
Solution: A Strategic, Relationship-Driven Talent Partnership
Solution Summary: TLR Search built a 5-year strategic hiring partnership, mapping niche E&P talent and ensuring consistent candidate engagement across departments.
TLR Search served as a long-term, strategic hiring partner, not just a transactional recruiter. Across the 5-year partnership, we:
Defined success metrics for each role based on growth goals
Conducted market mapping to identify niche technical upstream talent
Educated candidates on the brand, team dynamics, and ownership structure
Shared market intel with HR and hiring managers
Navigated differences in decision styles to keep momentum strong
Used transparent, respectful communication to keep top candidates engaged
Our deep knowledge of the company’s evolving culture and business needs allowed us to deliver consistently aligned candidates across departments.
Result: 30+ Strategic Hires and Long-Term Business Impact
Over 30 engineers and specialists were hired, strengthening operations and brand visibility during a tenfold growth period.
TLR Search helped this private equity-backed E&P company scale its oilfield operations by hiring over 30 engineers, technical leaders, and specialists, driving long-term business value and reducing hiring risk.
Because the company was relatively unknown at the start, we played a critical role in:
Increasing brand visibility with passive candidates
Reducing time-to-fill on hard-to-source roles
Supporting hiring managers with process alignment
Keeping candidate experience consistent across functions
Our partnership helped the company grow confidently through acquisition, while staying aligned with its culture, pace, and long-term strategy.
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Next Step:
→ Explore more executive search case studies
→ Learn how we help energy and E&P companies hire aligned technical leaders at scale
→ Contact TLR Search for a confidential search consultation