Nigeria’s oil and gas industry continues to be one of the most dynamic and rewarding sectors for administrative professionals seeking to build a career with real impact. Gem Petrol Chemical Ltd, an established player in the energy and utilities space, has announced an opening for an Assistant Office Manager at its Lagos office — a role that promises both stability and growth for the right candidate.
A Role at the Intersection of Administration and Energy
Unlike a typical office administration job, this position sits within the high-stakes world of petroleum and chemical operations, where regulatory compliance, confidentiality, and operational efficiency are not just buzzwords but daily necessities. The Assistant Office Manager will be the backbone of the company’s administrative machinery, ensuring that everything from front desk operations to executive support runs without friction.
The job is full-time, following standard working hours of 8am to 5pm, and is based in the bustling commercial hub of Lagos, Nigeria. Compensation is set between NGN 150,000 and NGN 250,000, a competitive range for an entry-level position that nonetheless carries significant responsibility.
Who Should Apply
Gem Petrol Chemical Ltd is looking for someone with a degree-level education, ideally in Business Administration, Management, Accounting, or a related discipline. While the role is classified as entry-level, candidates are expected to bring at least one to two years of relevant experience in office administration, executive support, or a comparable function. Fluency in English is required, both written and verbal, given the nature of the correspondence and stakeholder engagement involved.
Importantly, prior exposure to the oil and gas, petroleum, or chemical industries is considered an advantage rather than a strict requirement, which opens the door to administrative professionals from other sectors who are eager to transition into energy. A working knowledge of expediting processes is also beneficial, with the company expressing openness to candidates willing to learn on the job.
What the Job Actually Involves
The breadth of responsibilities attached to this role reflects just how central the Assistant Office Manager will be to daily operations. At its core, the job spans five major pillars.
Office operations and administration form the foundation of the role. The successful candidate will oversee everyday functions such as the front desk, mailroom, filing systems, and stationery supplies. Beyond the basics, they’ll also manage relationships with landlords and vendors to ensure facilities like power, air conditioning, cleaning services, and generators are functioning properly, all while maintaining HSE (Health, Safety, and Environment) compliance. Travel and logistics coordination for staff, expatriates, and visiting joint venture partners or regulators will also fall under this umbrella, alongside maintaining office security and visitor management protocols.
Documentation, compliance, and records management is where the role takes on a distinctly industry-specific flavor. The Assistant Office Manager will be responsible for maintaining licenses, permits, and correspondence with regulatory bodies such as the DPR (Department of Petroleum Resources), NUPRC (Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission), and NNPC (Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation). This includes tracking expiring permits, preparing documentation for audits, and ensuring proper document control for technical reports, contracts, and insurance files in line with ISO or internal quality management standards. Given the sensitivity of joint venture agreements and financial data, discretion and confidentiality are non-negotiable traits for this role.
People and team support rounds out the human resources dimension of the job. This includes HR administrative tasks like onboarding and offboarding staff, tracking attendance and leave, and managing payroll documentation. The Assistant Office Manager will also coordinate meetings, including board meetings, town halls, and HSE briefings, preparing agendas and minutes along the way. They’ll serve as the go-to person for staff inquiries about facilities and policies, and will supervise support staff such as cleaners, drivers, and receptionists.
Finance and procurement support brings a numbers-oriented dimension to the role. Processing invoices, local purchase orders, and vendor payments in coordination with the finance team will be a regular task, as will tracking the office budget and flagging any unusual spending variances. The role also involves raising purchase requests for office assets and equipment while staying compliant with procurement policy.
Finally, HSE, risk, and business continuity responsibilities underscore the operational risks inherent to the oil and gas sector. The Assistant Office Manager will help enforce safety standards such as fire drills and emergency protocols, support business continuity planning by ensuring backup power and communication systems are in place, and liaise with security and HSE officers on threat assessments specific to the industry.
There’s also a notable executive support component, with the role requiring management of the Managing Director’s calendar, preparation of briefing materials, and coordination of VIP visits, alongside serving as a liaison with joint venture partners, regulators, and clients.
Skills That Will Set Candidates Apart
Beyond the formal qualifications, Gem Petrol Chemical Ltd has outlined a clear set of competencies they’re seeking. Strong organizational and multitasking abilities top the list, alongside proficiency in the Microsoft Office Suite, including Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook. Excellent communication skills, both written and verbal, are essential given the volume of correspondence and stakeholder interaction the role demands.
Equally important are softer attributes: professional demeanor, interpersonal skills, leadership potential, and a strong sense of integrity and confidentiality. The company also values candidates who demonstrate financial proficiency and problem-solving abilities, recognizing that this role often requires quick thinking under pressure, particularly when dealing with regulatory deadlines or operational disruptions.
Why This Role Matters
For job seekers in Lagos looking to break into a stable, well-regulated industry, this position offers more than just a paycheck. It provides exposure to the inner workings of the oil and gas sector, hands-on experience with regulatory compliance, and the opportunity to work closely with senior leadership and external partners. For someone early in their career, the breadth of exposure across HR, finance, compliance, and operations makes this a strong stepping stone toward more senior management roles in the future.
As Nigeria’s energy sector continues to evolve, companies like Gem Petrol Chemical Ltd are signaling a clear need for administrative professionals who can bridge the gap between operational efficiency and regulatory rigor. For candidates who meet the qualifications and are excited by the prospect of working in a fast-paced, high-stakes environment, this Assistant Office Manager role represents a compelling opportunity to grow a career in one of Nigeria’s most vital industries.