Sr. Specialist, Operations Quality Assurance

This position requires a strong field presence striving to minimize work-related incidents by working with all employees in implementing Quality Assurance and Quality Management Systems. This position will assess internal and external regulatory compliance, policies, regulations, and procedures.
To achieve success in this position, you are likely to have the ability to influence others on the importance of quality through your passion, skills, and knowledge. Our environment is governed by 49 CFR 192, so similar experience will be beneficial.

This position will check the effective and consistent implementation of field operations policy and procedure, conduct incident investigation and cause analysis, and support field operations continuous improvement and change management.

The Engineer/Specialist, Operations Quality Assurance is a focused discipline within a job family. The duties listed are activities associated with the various levels of the Engineer/Specialist progression. This progression covers the following general titles:

- Engineer/Spec I, Ops Quality Assurance
- Engineer/Spec II, Ops Quality Assurance
- Engineer/Spec Sr, Ops Quality Assurance

Specific position level will be based on years of experience and/or education; demonstrated knowledge, skills and ability; complexity of programs administered, risk and responsibility, and budgetary value managed.
This position provides support and conducts operational assessments of records and field activities conducted by both company and contractor crews to ensure safety and compliance with Federal and State regulations as well as with company operating and maintenance procedures. Findings from operational assessments are used to drive change in training, policies, and procedures.

Functional Expertise

- Performs operational assessments, both “live” and “post,” to evaluate field personnel compliance with company policies and procedures which are driven by Federal and State regulations as well as industry best practices and company-mandated requirements in five or more of the following areas: Asset Protection [This position will primarily focus on assessing work performed by Asset Protection locators - Company and/or Contractor]
- Construction Operations – Company
- Construction Operations – Contractor
- Corrosion
- Field Operations – Distribution
- Field Operations – Service
- Leak Survey
- Storage & Peaking
- System Operations
- Technical Training
- Transmission
- Welding

- Oversees/supervises QA staff that conduct the QA assessments
- Assists in on-boarding plans and technical knowledge plans for newly hired QAs at LDC
- Leads in the annual audit of compliance records in advance of public service commission compliance records audits
- Leads special audits of new/revised procedures recently implemented or of newly certified employees
- Serves as subject matter expert in interpreting company policies, procedures and O&M manual
- Serves as company liaison during State field inspections
- Performs multiple out-of-state QA audits (record and field) at other Southern Company Gas companies to evaluate company and contractor personnel compliance with company policies and procedures which are driven by Federal and State regulations as well as industry best practices and company-mandated requirements
- Performs main hit reviews for Field Operations – Delivery to determining OQ disqualification
- Engaged in efforts to interpret and develop responses to proposed regulatory rules changes that could affect Gas Distribution and Southern Company
- Actively represents Gas Distribution and Southern Company within industry groups
- Collaborate with Safety and FO Support departments to develop and implement programs and processes to minimize workplace hazards
- Proactively identifies latent conditions and organizational weaknesses and works with management to correct them
- Teaches principles to others
- Performs and documents event learning analysis with no oversight (i.e. self-inflicted hit reviews)
- Leads internal gas distribution audits, documenting findings, preparing reports, and communicating findings to management
- Participates in Southern Company system audits acting as a subject matter expert and liaison to Shared Service business units
- Initiates internal process audits and develops necessary action plans for corrective measures
- Assists in departmental budget management
- Leads complex and critical projects across multi-disciplinary and cross-functional departments
- Evaluates timeliness and implementation schedules (i.e. NOE action plans)
- Anticipates issues and proposes action plans for correction
- Clearly and frequently communicate project (i.e. targeted or focused audits) progress and details to affected parties
- Delivers frequent feedback and expectations to team members
- Champion, coach, and promote Nicor Gas Safety- and Quality Management Systems
- Ability to learn and interpret 49 CFR 192 regulations
- Serve as Subject Matter Expert (SME) to departments on matters of occupational safety, Quality Management Systems, and compliance
- Ability to understand and recognize hazards
- Ability to lead and direct Quality expectations with employees
- Support implementation of Nicor Gas Quality Management Systems
- Conduct inspections (facility, worksite, etc.) to ensure compliance
- Train, coach, and deliver presentations to educate employees on Quality Management principles
- Provide emergency response support
- Promote the Nicor Gas Safety Culture and Safety Value
- Promote required Personal Protective Equipment

Business Acumen

- Recommends updates/revisions to policies, procedures or O&M manual-based field observations where procedures may not be followed because they are not clear, incorrect, or non-existent
- Execute on Nicor Gas Quality Management Systems
- Communicate leading and lagging indicators to management
- Support achieving Quality objectives, goals, and targets
- Determine Quality best practices to support the Company’s goals by consulting with Company representatives (internal peers and other key business units) and external sources such as AGA and peer companies

Engagement

- Lead role in onboarding of new QA staff
- Provides guidance and coaching to other QAs, supervisors, field personnel and training personnel on how to interpret policies, procedures, and O&M manual
- Represents QA department at supervisor roundtables and presents assessment findings for area of assessment responsibility
- Coaches supervisors on the content of the assessment form and on how to conduct effective assessments
- Desire to create strong field presence daily
- Demonstrate good communication and interpersonal skills at all levels within the Company necessary to guide business units and individuals with respect to Quality and Safety issues
- Develop and conduct presentations for business and safety meetings, committee meetings, safety summits, supervisor, manager and director roundtable meetings, and other presentation on quality-related standards and policies
- Support and encourage development of a Quality culture

Driving Results

- Promotes safe work practices by shutting down job if unsafe situation is encountered during an assessment or if activity affecting the integrity of the pipeline does not meet company standards
- Prepares assessment report and communicates assessment findings to crews, supervisors, and managers
- Recommends additional training, if deemed necessary, for field personnel based on findings of field assessments
- Analyzes individual and departmental assessment findings and follows up on poor performance observed in previous assessments
- Evaluates employee performance for safety and quality workmanship
- Conduct quality compliance assessments. Drive the business units to correct deficiencies by conducting follow-up assessments and audits with the business leaders
- Direct and oversee investigations of process quality incidents such as self-inflicted main and service investigations
- Monitor implementation of corrective and preventive actions to prevent further incidents
- Implement and support quality programs critical to changing behaviors

JOB REQUIREMENTS: (Education, Experience, Knowledge, Skills)

Education

- BS in any engineering discipline or other analytical/technical discipline; or
- Equivalent academic education and experience in any/all of the following: Asset Protection, Construction Operations – Company, Construction Operations – Contractor, Corrosion, Field Operations – Distribution, Field Operations – Service, Leak Survey, Storage & Peaking, System Operations, Technical Training, Transmission, Welding

Experience

- 7+ years operations experience in a gas utility in five or more field operating departments, or 7+ years within QA

Knowledge

- Thorough understanding of company policies, procedures, and O&M manual
- Ability to understand and analyze legislation and regulation
- Leads by example, building strong, trusting relationships with internal and industry contacts
- Demonstrated ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with supervisors and managers
- Ability to effectively communicate assessment findings
- Oral and written communications are clear, concise, and timely
- Coaches and mentors less-tenured employees; seen as a leader in the company
- Effective trainer in formal and informal settings
- Knowledge of safe work practices and procedures
- Manages projects and processes with minimum oversight, delivering on-time results
- Competency to work independently, to be a self-starter, and to take initiative
- Microsoft Office Suite – Intermediate proficiency
- Ability to learn program databases, software applications, and other technology tools quickly
- Strong leadership skills
- Strong organizational and time-management skills
- Strong presentation and team facilitation skills
- Strong project management skills
- Strong verbal and written communication skills
- ASQ Certification, as required

Working Conditions / Physical Requirements

- Occasional traveler (5-20% travel). The incumbent will be required to travel on occasion. Trips may require air travel and/or overnight stay away from home for one or more nights
- Must be able to work in the field under a variety of weather conditions
- This position requires constant standing or walking
- This position occasionally requires the incumbent to bend, kneel, crouch, or crawl
- This position requires the ability to lift up to 10 pounds.
- The incumbent works in an office environment
- The incumbent may/will work near or with moving mechanical parts
- The incumbent may/will be exposed to fumes, airborne particles, or chemicals
- The incumbent may/will be exposed to varying outdoor weather conditions
- The incumbent may/will be exposed to excessive noise

On-Call Duties

- Must be able to respond to urgent Quality issues when contacted
- Availability to respond to assist in emergency situations when needed
- Will be part of departmental on-call rotation for pipeline incident emergency response and liaison with regulatory authorities

Disclaimer: This information describes the general nature and level of work performed by employees in this job. The description is not designed to be a comprehensive inventory of duties, responsibilities and qualifications required in the job; responsibilities may be changed or added without advance notice. Reasonable accommodations may be made to qualified disabled individuals for performance of essential duties and responsibilities.