Mgr - Operations

Join our growing team and discover why Summit Utilities, Inc. continues to earn national and regional recognition as an employer of choice, including Best Places to Work awards in multiple states and Forbes America’s Best Small Employers (2023). Summit is a growing natural gas utility providing safe, reliable, and clean-burning natural gas service to homes and businesses in Arkansas, Colorado, Maine, Missouri, Oklahoma, and Texas.

About the role

Provides support to the Operations Director by managing the operations within the district to ensure delivery of efficient, economical, and safe distribution services in accordance with company policies and government regulations such as Standard Work Practice, Occupational Safety and Health Act, and OPS.

Responsibilities

• Directs all gas operations work in operating area, including determination of priorities, allocation of resources, and completion of periodic surveys.
• Supervises the maintenance of operational pressures on gas distribution systems, commensurate with weather conditions, to ensure safety and compliance with allowable levels, as well as the maintenance of telemeter equipment where applicable. Supervises both bargaining unit and non-bargaining employees.
• Directs the inspection, maintenance, security, and record keeping for Company properties in the district, including buildings, city gates, grounds, key valves, regulator stations, and transportation equipment. Corrects any hazards that may exist.
• Monitors performance against plan and compliance with standard practices, company policy, and government regulations through periodic visits to job sites.
• Ensures a safe environment for the public, customers, and employees through education, compliance with safety practices, regulator audits, and various DOT requirements (e.g., Operator Qualification Training Modules). Participates in safety and tailgate meetings.
• Inspects various jobs to ensure the quantity and quality of work meet expectations and resolves difficult service problems.
• Ensures proper odorization in the system, maintains current reports, and conducts room odorization tests periodically when required due to fire or explosion.
• Supervises the preparation and ensures the completion, correctness, and accurate submission of reports such as cathodic protection program, employee injuries, general public liability, leakage survey, mileage, odorization, property damage, repairs, time, and vehicular incidents.
• Discusses service charges and difficult service problems with customers to ensure good service and relations.
• Assists Area Managers and Operations Supervisors in resolving problem situations to the satisfaction of local officials, ensuring proper work procedures and record keeping.
• Assists in the preparation of Construction and O&M budgets and manages budgets for compliance.
• Counsels with city officials, project engineers, and other personnel concerning the relocation of gas lines in connection with public improvements and the resolution of any problems.
• Supports all regulatory agency audits.
• Develops budgets and makes decisions that support the company’s overall financial and strategic objectives. Actively promotes positive safety attitudes and ensures safe working conditions.
• Oversees damage prevention efforts for the district.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college in business administration, marketing, engineering, or a related field. In lieu of education, a minimum of eight (8) years of equivalent experience with gas operations or engineering is required if non-degreed.
• Minimum of five (5) years of experience in gas and/or electric operations, accounting, engineering, or a related field, including at least three (3) years of supervisory or managerial experience.

Skills

• Strong interpersonal skills and listening capability to communicate effectively with co-workers, customers, the community, and regulators.
• Effective oral and written communication skills.
• Ability to cultivate relationships and partner with business and community contacts to achieve business results.
• Aptitude to understand and satisfy customer expectations when making business decisions.
• Skill in identifying solutions to problems with creativity and innovative thinking.
• Judgment to make sound business decisions.
• Readiness to anticipate new situations and/or changing demands and respond proactively to enhance the Company’s performance.
• Ability to use initiative, good judgment, and tact to complete assigned tasks.
• Competence in analyzing and building business cases using various financial and business analysis methods.
• Effectiveness in collaborating across functional boundaries to improve business processes.
• Proficiency in utilizing mainframe systems (SAP), electronic mail, and personal computer software (MS Windows, Excel, Word).
• Facility to understand technical issues with relative ease.
• Strong organizational skills to prioritize and schedule tasks, manage several projects simultaneously, and pay attention to detail.
• Flexibility to work successfully in a team environment or individually.
• Knowledge to understand, explain, teach, design, and implement processes, policies, and procedures.

Benefits

Summit offers competitive pay and medical, dental, and vision benefits that provide flexibility, choice, and support to employees when they need it most. We understand that home and family are essential pieces of your life, and our benefits are designed to support you both at work and at home.