Summary:

The Director of Technical Operations reports to the Division Vice President. Divisions are geographical areas of pipeline operations and facilities that are further divided into several operating areas. Through subordinate positions, the incumbent provides engineering, technical, and operating support to Division, Areas, and Department in the following areas: Station Maintenance, Pipeline Maintenance, Controls and Instrumentation, Electrical Maintenance, Welding and Environmental compliance. Manages portion of capital maintenance budget, including stations, pipelines, and facilities.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

Supervises and coordinates the activities of the Division Technical Staff. This includes working with the department staff and Engineering and coordinating all technical activities within the Division. Provides daily technical assistance and guidance to Area personnel necessary to ensure technical competence, operation reliability, and integrity of pipeline and facilities. This is normally accomplished by prioritizing and assigning problems and questions to the Division Technical staff. Monitors existing and assist in developing new policies and programs to assure safe, compliant, and reliable facility operation. Provide analysis and recommendation of failure incidents. Directs and monitors outage schedule, identifies any potential problems that may impact throughput and advises Area management as to the needs and locations of priority maintenance requirements. Ensures compliance with Federal, State and Local governmental regulations, Company, and departmental policies through participation in periodic audits of Areas, review of Division and Area generated reports. Governing bodies include DOT, OSHA, FERC, EPA, USCG, and state agencies. Through interface with subordinates, Area Directors and Division Administrative staff, the incumbent oversees and approves the completion and submittal of the Division Capital and O&M Budgets; ensuring that projects are justified based on safety, regulatory, reliability and economics or need. Through interface with Area Director and subordinates, the incumbent ensures approved capital management and O&M projects are completed in a timely, cost-effective manner and in compliance with applicable codes, regulations, and company policy. In conjunction with subordinates, establish goals and long-range plans for technical staff in support of Division and departmental goals to improve operations, cost control, safety, and training. The incumbent ensures that Areas place emphasis on long-range planning including modernization/upgrade of equipment to maintain pace with industry’s technological advancements. Provides Emergency Response coordination, communication, and support. Ensures necessary measures are taken to mitigate emergency events, coordinate initial response, and insure timely investigation and repairs. Develops manpower forecasts. Direct development of new training programs and material for technical personnel at Division and Area level.  The incumbent reviews training needs of hourly employees, prioritizes and initiates steps to ensure training programs are provided relating to equipment inspections, preventative maintenance procedures and repairs. The incumbent is the primary interface between the Division, Houston Technical Services, and Engineering Department relating to the system capacities, designs, system outages, upgrades, and construction. Business Development department relative to Transportation and Exchange issues; production pressures and capabilities; Regulatory Affairs Department, relative to facility abandonments or sales; Legal Department, relative to contractual issues. Develops studies and recommendations for additions, deletions and improvements to plant and pipeline facilities to conform with required and/or anticipated capacities and operating conditions or improve operation efficiently. This includes modernization programs related activities. Assists in interviewing and selection of personnel for technical positions in the Area offices. Maintain contact with personnel from various customer and vendor companies, regulatory bodies, and other pipeline companies. In the absence of the Division Vice President, handles technical and non-technical problems relating to operation and maintenance which would normally be referred to the V.P.

Essential Requirements: Experience, Educational & Special Training Required

 

Bachelor’s degree in Engineering or related field 12+ years of technical and supervisory experience in the industry.