BP unveils recruitment campaign for future downstream leaders

BP on Tuesday started its 2015 Future Leaders Program (FLP), a recruitment campaign which aims to fast-track early career recruits to be the business leaders of the future.

The FLP is a selective global recruitment and development program, run by BP for candidates around the world to work in its refining and marketing businesses, as well as its safety and operational risk, information technology and services functions.

This year’s program builds on the success of previous campaigns and aims to attract 30 individuals of the highest caliber to benefit from a bespoke global development program that lasts a minimum of three years, BP said in the news release.

Participants will benefit from significant mentoring and access to senior BP executives, combined with a real business role and an overseas placement. As a minimum, applicants must have a postgraduate qualification, at least three years’ professional experience, a global outlook and the ambition and potential for senior leadership.

Last year, over 4,000 individuals from around the world applied. Previously, successful applicants from the program, which started three years ago, have gone on to perform a multitude of diverse development roles, from being a petrochemical engineer in China to a fuel supply coordinator in Germany.

“We want to attract the very best individuals from around the world – the diverse leaders of tomorrow – who will play a key role in maintaining and enhancing BP’s excellence and innovation," said Rita Griffin, BP's marketing officer. "With only 30 places available annually around the world, competition in the past has been intense.

“We’re looking for people with a global perspective and the flexibility to work anywhere in the world, in either the technical or commercial tracks of the programme. We’re encouraging people to apply irrespective of whether they have experience within the oil and gas sector. We want candidates with an open mind, who have the drive and ambition to be the next generation of leaders within BP.”

Applicants are expected to come from a range of backgrounds, having typically studied STEM (science, technology, engineering or mathematics) subjects to PhD or Masters level and/or an MBA. Once accepted on to the FLP, BP will work with the successful candidates to create a bespoke career program, designed to optimize their development opportunities. Candidates will be closely mentored by a senior leader.

In addition, they will become part of the existing global FLP network at BP.

Applicants are welcome from all countries and can learn more about the program and how to apply at www.bp.com/flp. Applications must be submitted between September 2 and October 31.

For those candidates who progress beyond the application phase, this will be followed by an interview and assessment phase. 

Successful applicants will usually be expected to start work with BP between February and October of 2015, with BP able to work around individual needs, according to company officials.