As a Project Manager at National Oilwell Varco, your day-to-day responsibilities will center on driving execution excellence. You will own the project from contract award to final delivery and customer acceptance.

Your primary responsibility is to serve as the single point of contact for your assigned projects. You will lead cross-functional project teams consisting of representatives from engineering, procurement, quality, manufacturing, and logistics. You will be responsible for creating, maintaining, and executing detailed project plans, schedules, and budgets, ensuring that all deliverables meet both customer specifications and NOV’s internal quality standards.

On any given day, you might find yourself:

• Leading a project kickoff meeting with a global oil and gas client to align on deliverables and milestones.
• Walking the manufacturing plant floor to check on the assembly progress of a major rig component and discussing resource bottlenecks with the shop foreman.
• Analyzing budget variances and updating forecast models to present to regional leadership.
• Reviewing engineering change orders (ECOs) to determine their impact on the project schedule and cost.
• Negotiating delivery schedules with international logistics coordinators to ensure heavy equipment arrives at the port on time.

Collaboration is at the heart of this role. You will work closely with engineering to ensure designs are released on schedule, with procurement to secure materials, and with quality assurance to ensure all factory acceptance testing (FAT) is completed and documented. Your success is measured by your ability to deliver projects on time, within budget, and with zero safety incidents.

To be competitive for a Project Manager position at NOV, you must demonstrate a strong blend of industrial experience, project management discipline, and interpersonal skills.

Must-Have Qualifications

• Industrial Experience – A minimum of 3–5 years of project management experience in heavy manufacturing, engineering, oilfield services, or a related industrial sector.
• Project Management Fundamentals – Proven experience managing project budgets, schedules (using MS Project or Primavera), and resource allocation.
• Technical Literacy – The ability to read engineering drawings, understand manufacturing workflows, and discuss technical specifications with engineers.
• Communication Skills – Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with a track record of successfully managing external client relationships.

Nice-to-Have Qualifications

• Professional Certifications – A Project Management Professional (PMP) certification is highly regarded.
• Educational Background – A bachelor’s degree in engineering, supply chain, or a business-related field.
• NOV Product Knowledge – Prior experience working with NOV equipment, systems, or sister companies.
• Shop Floor Exposure – Experience working directly within a manufacturing plant or shipyard environment.

Q: How technical do I need to be to work as a PM at NOV? A: While you do not need to be a licensed design engineer, you must be highly technically literate. You need to understand manufacturing processes, read engineering documentation, and be comfortable discussing technical challenges with your team and the client.

Q: What is the typical interview prep timeline? A: Most successful candidates spend 1 to 2 weeks preparing. Focus your time on structuring your past experiences using the STAR method, researching NOV's product lines, and preparing to discuss how you manage typical manufacturing challenges like supply chain delays and scope creep.

Q: How structured is the project management methodology at NOV? A: NOV utilizes structured project management frameworks, but the application can vary by division. Some divisions are highly process-driven with dedicated PMOs, while others require a more entrepreneurial, hands-on approach where you will have more autonomy to drive execution.

Q: What is the work environment like? A: The environment is professional, collaborative, and deeply rooted in industrial execution. You will split your time between a professional office setting and the manufacturing plant floor. It is a hands-on culture where getting your boots dirty is respected and often necessary to get the job done.

To maximize your chances of success during the NOV interview process, keep these practical tips in mind:

• Understand the Division: NOV is a massive company with diverse business segments (e.g., Rig Technologies, Wellbore Technologies, Completion & Production Solutions). Before your interview, research the specific division you are interviewing with so you can tailor your answers to their products and market dynamics.

• Speak the Language of Manufacturing: Use industrial terminology naturally in your interviews. Discussing factory acceptance testing (FAT), material test reports (MTRs), engineering change orders (ECOs), and procurement lead times will immediately signal that you understand their operational world.

• Prepare for the Plant Tour: If you are interviewing in person, dress professionally but wear practical footwear. You may be invited to tour the facility, and showing enthusiasm for the physical manufacturing process is a major plus.

• Master the STAR Method: When answering scenario-based questions, structure your responses clearly: Situation, Task, Action, and Result. Ensure your "Actions" focus on what you did as the project manager to coordinate, analyze, and resolve the issue.

• Secure Written Documentation: If you receive a verbal offer, remain in close contact with HR and request the formal written offer letter before making any career transitions. Due to the cyclical nature of the energy industry, business needs can shift quickly.

A Project Manager career at National Oilwell Varco offers an exceptional opportunity to lead high-impact, technically complex projects that shape the global energy landscape. The role demands a unique combination of disciplined project management, technical curiosity, and resilient leadership. By demonstrating your ability to navigate the complexities of heavy manufacturing and maintain strong stakeholder relationships, you can position yourself as a standout candidate.

As you prepare for your interviews, focus on refining your scenario-based examples, aligning your experience with NOV's industrial scale, and practicing structured communication. For more detailed insights, salary benchmarks, and community-reported interview experiences, be sure to explore the resources available on Dataford.

The compensation data above reflects the typical salary range for Project Managers in this sector. When interpreting this data, consider that your final offer will be influenced by your geographic location, the specific NOV division you join, and your depth of experience in heavy manufacturing or energy-related project execution. Use these insights to guide your career planning and compensation conversations confidently.