The Area Manager of Operations is responsible for leading and managing a team of field supervisors and overseeing all field-based operations related to the distribution, transmission, and maintenance of natural gas systems. This position plays a critical role in ensuring regulatory compliance, optimizing operational performance, and maintaining the highest standards of safety and environmental stewardship.
Key Responsibilities:
- Provide the Operations team with clear direction on daily responsibilities while ensuring adherence to all applicable state, local, and company health, safety, and environmental (HSE) practices.
- Lead the team’s safety training initiatives, ensuring all required certifications and mandated training programs are completed and maintained in compliance with regulatory standards.
- Manage day-to-day field operations, including construction, maintenance, inspection, and emergency response.
- Continuously monitor system performance metrics to assess the reliability, efficiency, and integrity of our natural gas operations.
- Identify trends, potential issues, and areas for improvement, and implement proactive solutions to enhance system reliability and minimize unplanned outages or service disruptions.
- Enforce adherence to all local, state, and federal safety regulations (e.g., DOT, OSHA, PHMSA).
- Conduct safety meetings, audits, and incident investigations.
- Promote a strong safety culture across field teams.
- Lead, train, and manage field technicians, foremen, and subcontractors.
- Recruit and onboard new field staff as needed.
- Conduct regular performance evaluations to provide constructive feedback, recognize achievements, and support employee development.
- Collaborate with the management team and Human Resources to manage employee performance while ensuring employee concerns and grievances are handled professionally, fairly, and in a timely manner.
- Coordinate with engineering, procurement, and contractors to support capital and maintenance projects.
- Ensure projects are completed on time, within scope, and budget.
- Collaborate with Engineering team to develop purging and commissioning plans/procedures.
- Maintain accurate records of field activities and progress.
- Liaise with regulatory bodies, landowners, emergency responders, and other stakeholders.
- Report on field activities, issues, and KPIs to senior management.
- Identify and implement reliability improvements and communicate across assets to ensure everyone is following best practice.
- Oversee inspection and maintenance of pipelines, compressor stations, metering equipment, and other infrastructure.
- Manage field inventories, tools, and mobile equipment.
- Assist with cash flow planning and expense monitoring to ensure operational spending remains within budgetary guidelines while identifying cost-saving opportunities and supporting overall financial efficiency.
- Communicate regularly with Gas Schedulers and Gas Control Center.
Qualifications:
- Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Industrial Technology, or a related field (or equivalent experience).
- 7+ years of progressive experience in natural gas operations, including at least 3 years in a leadership role.
- Strong knowledge of pipeline systems, regulatory compliance, and field procedures.
- Proven ability to lead and develop teams in a dynamic field environment.
- Excellent problem-solving, organizational, and communication skills.
- Proficiency in operational software, GIS, and Microsoft Office Suite.
- Valid driver’s license; willingness to travel regularly to field sites.
Working Conditions:
- May work in low-lit areas
- Must be able to withstand extreme weather conditions, occasionally
- Must be able to occasionally enter confined spaces, climb to and work from elevated platforms, ladders, walkways, etc.
- Travel, including occasional overnight stays of several days, may be required to support field operations, training, or company initiatives.
Benefits:This position is Full-Time located in Midland, TX or Sealy, TX. Selected candidate is eligible for employer matched 401(k), medical, dental, vision, basic life and AD&D insurances and other benefit offerings.