Supervisor, Technical Training & QM

Position Purpose

This position designs, develops, coordinates and conducts effective safety, regulatory and technical training programs for gas operations. Implements these programs to ensure full compliance with the Company safety policies, programs, and existing and future government regulation. Implements a comprehensive Quality Management Program that encompasses all construction, operation, maintenance, service, and emergency response activities for the Gas Division and ensures compliance with all federal, state, and local regulations as well as applicable industry codes, practices, and standards. Provides technical support requiring extensive knowledge of gas pipeline construction, operation and maintenance; transmission practices; liquefied natural gas, and liquefied propane production facilities; operator qualification and recordkeeping and reporting requirements.

Principal Accountabilities

35% Technical Training: Develops, coordinates and conducts training programs to inculcate proper methods and procedures, and to promote an institutional culture favorable to compliance. Ensures these programs, record keeping, and reporting comply with all applicable codes, regulations and industry standards.

• Develops, delivers, coordinates and conducts technical, safety and regulatory training programs and curriculum to provide gas operations personnel with the knowledge skills and abilities necessary to perform their jobs in a safe and qualified manner.
• Works with local mangement and supervisory staff on the development, delivery and evaluation of employee progression (i.e., apprentice through First Class). Develops and coordinates progression training curriculum to ensure that employees in progression are provided the knowledge skills and abilities required for the appropriate skill level.
• Evaluate, modify and update existing training programs, materials to ensure continuous improvement and drive a performance-based culture that fosters a safe working environment.
• Ensures accurate and reliable documentation and records for the Company’s training activities.
• Audits internal compliance; verifies that procedures, work practices, record keeping, and reporting are followed, and meet regulatory requirements.

30% Operating Procedures: Identifies, develops, and implements practices, processes, policies, and procedures to ensure proper and consistent adherence to codes, regulations, and industry standards.

• Participates and assists in the development and revision of procedural manuals for gas workers covering operations, maintenance, emergency response, and gas service procedures.
• Evaluates and recommends changes to existing procedures and work methods to ensure compliance, worker safety and instill a culture of continuous improvement.
• Ensures that changes to operating procedures, policy’s and work practices are communicated to employees and contractors including a documented review and training as necessary.
• Assists in the development and delivery of the annual Contractor Orientation program to ensure that the approximately one-hundred fifty contractor personnel working on our system are trained and knowledgeable of Unitil’s Operation and Maintenance procedures.
• Assist with the development and implementation of a comprehensive program for O&M procedure reviews for all employees.

20% Operator Qualification: Assist with the administration of the Unitil Operator Qualification program in full compliance with 49 CFR §192, Subpart N.

• Monitor and maintain Operator Qualification (OQ) training and qualification records ensuring all employees that perform covered tasks are trained, qualified and re-qualified within the established regulatory guidelines.
• Assists in the evaluation and implementation for changes in operating procedures to ensure that the relationship between procedures and their corresponding OQ covered tasks are appropriate and up to date.
• Assists with the evaluation of new procedures and work methods for operator qualification requirements and develops new procedures, training and OQ evaluations as needed.
• Assists with the administration of the Unitil Welder Qualification program.

15% Quality Management: Assists with the development and implementation of a comprehensive quality management program that ensures proper and consistent adherence to codes, regulations and Company standards. To partner with the operations managers and supervisors to in its implementation to promote an institutional culture favorable to compliance.

• Conducts field audits for all construction and maintenance activities performed by both contractors and internal employees. These audits will include direct observation as well as post-construction audits via a re-dig program or other activities.
• Collect and analyze QA/QC audits performed by Unitil supervisory staff and construction inspectors to identify trends and potential gaps in operating procedures and training.
• Oversees the process to correct and document instances of non-compliance identified during QA/QC activities.
• Conducts audit on mapping, paperwork, and other documentation to ensure that the necessary data is collected as required for proper asset management and regulatory compliance.
• Assist with the investigation and root-cause analysis for failure investigations as required by O&M procedure1-E.

Challenges

The incumbent is challenged to evaluate, prioritize and address deficiencies in processes, procedures, training practices and record systems that pose risks to the corporation. The incumbent is further challenged to build relationships and interact with all levels of the organization and to institute new procedures and training that elevate the performance and effectiveness of gas operations personnel.

Decision Making Authority

• Make decisions involving the planning and execution of training programs and changes to systems, methods, procedures, plans, and programs involving significant expenditures.
• Determine and recommend changes to business practices and operating criteria.
• Determine and recommend appropriate courses of action to resolve allegations of non-compliance.

Qualifications

• Associates degree in engineering, business administration or curriculum compatible with the requirements of the position or equivalent work experience.
• Seven years progressively responsible experience in gas operations and construction, engineering, meter and service, LNG and LPGA production facilities or directly related experience with emphasis on industry work practices and regulatory requirements.
• Demonstrated experience in working and communicating across functional boundaries, interacting with bargaining unit workforce and leadership.
• Background in code compliance with an understanding of all applicable codes, i.e. 49 CFR 192, 49 CFR 193, CMR 220, NH PUC 500, NH PUC 800, ME PUC 420, NFPA 58/59 and NFPA 59A.
• Ability to use desktop applications (e.g., Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint)
• Must possess Operator Qualification (O.Q.) certification based upon the requirements set forth in D.O.T. 49 CFR 192, Subpart N

Last updated: 1-26-22