Director, Gas Operations

Purpose

This role leads the Operations department and provides leadership of staff delivering all aspects of end-to-end construction, maintenance, and service to meet our commitments to customers and ensure a safe, reliable, cost-effective and compliant gas utility service to the communities we serve. Asset scope can include gas mains, services and more. The incumbent will drive the vision, design, strategy, and implementation of the function in order to support the business and collaborate with other business departments to promote the best organizational practices and processes. Leads staff in the following areas: Construction, Maintenance, Customer Field Service & Daytime Dispatch, System Protection & Reliability, and Measurement, Instrumentation & Control. People Development responsibilities include leading culture, role modeling change leadership, success planning, and incorporating diversity, equity and inclusion. Must ensure that state resources are in compliance and certified to do their job. This role is accountable for ensuring staff have all OQs and certifications.

Scope of responsibilities may include overseeing the following: overseeing the safe and compliant construction and maintenance of meters, regulators, relief valves, and service lines; delivery of major capital projects through internal staff or external vendors including projects such as main extensions and replacements; partners with the engineering and resource planning teams to deliver and effectively closeout projects; ensures effective coordination and governance of 3rd party construction and maintenance contractors; drives a culture of customer-centric service, safe & compliance operations, and accountability for the timely and accurate documentation of all asset and service records; performance and manages other areas of responsibility as appropriate.

Accountabilities

• Directs and supports direct reports responsible for the safe, compliant, timely and on-budget execution of field services, construction, and maintenance; includes effective project tracking, and issue & risk management in collaboration with the Engineering department
• Responsible for overseeing the definition and implementation of operations & maintenance manual and associated procedures, ensuring that team members understand and consistently apply Liberty processes and standards to deliver safe and compliance operations services
• Develops the long-term operations department strategy, using inputs from Engineering and Resource Planning to drive improvements in safety, reliability, customer satisfaction, and operational excellence
• Oversee and manage Dispatching (day-time), provide guidance to those who direct and execute all work activities related to operations incl.: emergency and event response, distribution construction, maintenance, and field operations.
• Act as incident commander to enable effective preparation, response, and identification of lessons learned throughout an emergency or event
• Support and manage the department’s staffing, resources, and mentoring to maintain a best-in-class operations department, with support and guidance from Resource Planning
• Leads the embedding of enterprise processes within their department - engaging staff within and across departments to continuously improve upon process implementation and design
• Work with the other areas of Liberty Utilities’ to drive consistency and sharing of best practice in the operations and design of the gas distribution systems
• Incorporate and emphasize diversity, equity and inclusion in all aspects of role
• Lead team to achieve departmental goals by providing technical guidance and direction, as well as hands-on resource and project management
• Provides industry leadership within the utility for gas operations and leads the embedding and enforcement of Liberty policy for field staff; Provide technical expertise to various parts of the organization as requested including testimony to regulatory bodies and due diligence activities
• Supports operations in the development of 1-5 year plans for system expansions and reinforcements in accordance with established strategies, good operations practice, and jurisdictional requirements
• Drives team accountability within Operations for the timely and accurate closure of projects to support effective project and budget management
• Ensures Operations teams partner effectively with Engineering and Resource Planning to effectively deliver projects - including timely dialogue regarding risks, issues, opportunities, constraints, vendor management, etc.

Education and Experience

• Education requirement can be met through either formal education or equivalent experience
• 10-15 years of experience in utilities or a related industry (e.g., oil & gas, construction, etc.)
• 5 years of people and team leadership experience driving team performance, engagement, and accountability
• Thorough knowledge of diverse business functions and principles, as well as local legal rules and guidelines