Vice President of Operations

Position Overview

The Vice President of Operations oversees the safe, reliable, and compliant functioning of interstate and intrastate natural gas and liquids transmission and distribution systems. This role ensures adherence to 49 CFR Part 192 & 195 Pipeline Safety Regulations and FERC mandates, steering strategic leadership for operations, integrity, compliance, technical services, field services, gas control, and regulatory liaison.

Key Duties and Responsibilities

• Maintain strict adherence to regulatory requirements including integrity management, operations, maintenance, control room management, personnel qualification, and incident reporting under 49 CFR Part 192 & 195.
• Lead executive interactions during PHMSA and state regulatory audits and inspections.
• Manage FERC-regulated tasks such as tariff compliance, certificate support, and rate case operations.
• Provide strategic leadership of field operations spanning transmission/distribution systems, compressor stations, measurement and regulation, and gas control / SCADA operations.
• Set and monitor key performance indicators for safety, reliability, throughput, and cost efficiency.
• Direct emergency preparedness and response strategies during pipeline incidents.
• Ensure system reliability during peak demand periods and adverse weather events.
• Supervise pipeline integrity programs including inline inspection, hydrostatic testing, direct assessment, and risk modeling.
• Strategize capital improvements and asset replacements aligned with safety and commercial objectives.
• Manage budgeting for operations and maintenance, emphasizing cost control without compromising compliance or system integrity.
• Collaborate with commercial teams on expansions and capacity enhancements.
• Assist with FERC filings, rate cases, and certification processes through operational insights.
• Foster a culture of safety consistent with organizational and regulatory standards.
• Lead multidisciplinary teams across engineering, compliance, operations, and control functions.
• Develop leadership succession planning and promote continuous operational improvements.

Qualifications and Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in a technical discipline.
• Minimum fifteen years of ascending experience in natural gas pipeline operations.
• Executive-level expertise with compliance under 49 CFR Part 192 & 195.
• Experience managing FERC-regulated interstate pipeline assets.
• Strong leadership background directing technical and cross-functional teams.
• Comprehensive knowledge of integrity management, operations and maintenance protocols, and emergency response systems.

Core Competencies

• Expertise in PHMSA and FERC regulatory compliance.
• Advanced asset management and strategic planning.
• Crisis leadership and emergency management proficiency.
• Operational risk assessment and mitigation.
• Financial oversight including operational and maintenance budget management.
• Effective executive communication and strategic coordination.
• Commitment to safety leadership and culture development.