Asset Protection Manager

Atlanta Gas Light – Insourced Territory (Atlanta, GA)

About the role

The Asset Projection Manager is accountable for the overall operation and budget for internal locating of natural gas facilities. The manager oversees 42 direct reports (Locating Supervisors) and 6,023 indirect reports (internal locators), ensuring timely and accurate locating of buried natural gas facilities while minimizing locator at-fault damages. This position leads training and development of the internal locating team and is responsible for damage prevention programs, right-of-way maintenance, submerged crossings, and aerial patrols. Additionally, the role involves communicating damage prevention policy regionally to all internal and external parties through active involvement in forums and meetings.

Responsibilities

• Evaluates damages in support of the company’s position in disputed cases.
• Evaluates performance of departmental contractors, vendors, and personnel.
• Responds to elevated issues from state regulators, excavators, and/or homeowners on damage prevention topics.
• Demonstrates proficiency with damage prevention regulations, industry standards, and internal policy.
• Works with key stakeholders to adopt policies and ensure procedures and accountabilities meet or exceed regulatory requirements.
• Maintains compliance with Asset Protection duties as required in Federal, State, and/or local laws.
• Acts as a liaison between companies and various outside agencies.
• Initiates technology and process improvements and drives implementation of changes.
• Reviews and provides approval for monthly departmental financials, invoices, accruals, and liabilities.
• Prepares and administers the departmental budget and provides variance explanations.
• Resolves contract or billing disputes and performance non-compliance.
• Participates in trade associations.
• Conducts annual contract reviews and initiates and coordinates changes.
• Provides supervision and leadership to Asset Protection supervisors and staff.
• Oversees staff selection, development, and retention.
• Facilitates meetings with Asset Protection contractors and sets contractor expectations.
• Communicates with other regional departments on damage prevention policies and expectations.
• Utilizes a metrics scorecard to capture and communicate progress on goals and performance for both internal and contract locators.
• Leads all department safety initiatives.
• Monitors, directs, and implements best practices related to aerial pipeline patrols, marking procedures, right-of-way maintenance, encroachments, and submerged crossing inspections.
• Develops and provides monthly departmental statistics on performance and trends.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in business, finance, engineering, or a recognized discipline or equivalent academic education and operations experience.
• 3+ years of engineering and operations experience in a gas utility, pipeline transmission, or other energy/utility-related field.
• 2+ years of experience in various areas of analysis, budgeting, and forecasting.
• 2+ years of supervisory/management experience.

Preferred Qualifications

• Master’s degree in a technical or business field or Project Management Certification.
• Background in Damage Prevention and locating of buried facilities.
• PHMSA regulation and State Damage Prevention Law knowledge and experience.

Skills

• Knowledge of regulatory codes and state/local laws related to utility damage prevention.
• Knowledge of regulatory codes and industry standards.
• Project management.
• Basic proficiency in Geographic Information Systems (GIS).
• Proficiency in MS Office.
• Leadership, analytical, communication, and presentation skills.
• Business writing proficiency.

About Southern Company Gas

Southern Company Gas is a wholly owned subsidiary of Atlanta-based Southern Company (NYSE: SO), America’s premier energy company. Southern Company Gas serves approximately 4.2 million natural gas utility customers through its regulated distribution companies in four states and approximately 600,000 retail customers through its companies that market natural gas. Other nonutility businesses include investments in interstate pipelines and ownership and operation of natural gas storage facilities. Southern Company (NYSE: SO) is a leading energy provider serving 9 million customers across the Southeast and beyond through its family of companies. The company is committed to innovation, resilience, and sustainability, aiming for net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050.

Benefits

Southern Company invests in the well-being of its employees and their families through a comprehensive total rewards strategy, including:

• Competitive base salary.
• Annual incentive awards for eligible employees.
• Health, welfare, and retirement benefits designed to support physical, financial, and emotional/social well-being.
• Eligibility for additional compensation, such as incentive programs.

Additional details about total compensation and benefits will be provided during the hiring process. A summary of benefits can be found here.

Schedule

Full time.