Natural Gas Project Lead Field Operations

The Staff Pad has partnered with a full-service
excavation and pipeline construction company providing comprehensive solutions
for pipeline and infrastructure projects in Mabank, TX, and we are looking to
hire an experienced and qualified Project Lead to oversee field operations and
lead a team supporting natural gas construction projects.

The Project Lead runs the gas side of the business
in the field and is accountable for the daily production, quality, and safety
of a crew of 8-10 team members installing and tying in natural gas main and
service lines.

In this role, you will bring comprehensive hands-on
knowledge of gas construction operations, including tapping, fusing, tie-ins,
pressure testing, and purging, with the ability to perform and support any crew
task as needed. You will also serve as the primary day-to-day point of contact
for the utility, general contractor, and on-site inspector.

What You’ll Do

Key Responsibilities

• Lead
  and direct a gas crew of 8 to 10operators, fusers, laborers, and equipment
  operators each day
  
• Plan
  daily work from prints and work packets, stage materials and equipment,
  and establish crew production targets
  
• Perform
  and oversee hot and cold taps, line stops, squeeze-offs, and live gas
  tie-ins in accordance with written operating procedures
  
• Perform
  and oversee butt fusion, socket fusion, and electrofusion of polyethylene
  pipe using (McElroy or equivalent) equipment and verify joint quality and
  fusion records
  
• Supervise
  steel installation activities, including welding coordination, coating,
  and cathodic protection details where applicable
  
• Direct
  trenching, potholing, tracer wire installation, backfilling, and
  compaction around live utilities
  
• Oversee
  pressure testing, purging, and placing new facilities into service while
  completing all required documentation
  
• Verify
  utility locates are current and accurate before excavation and enforce
  tolerance zone and hand-digging requirements
  
• Enforce
  the site-specific safety plan, including trenching and shoring, confined
  space, gas detection, traffic control, and PPE requirements
  
• Conduct
  and document daily huddles, job safety briefings, and toolbox talks
  
• Serve
  as the daily point of contact for the utility inspector, general
  contractor, city and county inspectors, and property owners
  
• Complete
  daily reports, production quantities, as-built redlines, material usage,
  and timecards using Raken and T-Sheets
  
• Monitor
  crew performance, coach and train less experienced team members, and
  identify Operator Qualification gaps
  
• Support
  restoration, punch list closeout, and final customer walkthroughs
  

What We Are Looking For

Required Qualifications

• Previous
  experience in natural gas distribution construction, including 2 to 3
  years leading a crew
  
• Proven
  ability to lead a crew of 8 to 10 and meet daily production targets
  
• Working
  knowledge of gas main and service installation, tapping, fusing, tie-ins,
  pressure testing, and purging
  
• Current
  Operator Qualification (OQ) on covered tasks required for this scope, with
  tasks varying by gas company
  
• Ability
  to read and work from construction prints, plan and profile drawings, and
  utility standards
  
• Valid
  driver’s license with no more than 2 violations on the motor vehicle
  record; certain violations are automatic disqualifiers
  
• Ability
  to pass a pre-employment drug screen and background check, including a
  10-panel non-DOT or 5-panel DOT drug screen and 10-year background check
  
• Ability
  to communicate clearly with crew members, inspectors, and the general
  contractor
  

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience
  with specific utility or operator standards and procedures
  
• Specific
  fusion equipment certification and current fusion qualification cards
  
• Class
  A or Class B CDL preferred, not required
  
• Experience
  with vacuum excavation and pipe bursting
  
• Bilingual
  English and Spanish
  
• Experience
  managing subcontractors and rental equipment on a jobsite
  

Certifications & Training

• Plastic
  Pipe Fusion Qualification — Prior fusion experience required;
  qualifications do not transfer, and candidates must complete testing again
  
• Safety
  Training — Competent Person, Confined Space, First Aid, and CPR;
  additional safety training provided
  
• Additional
  Operator or Client-Specific Training — To be determined based on project
  requirements
  

Physical Demands and Work Environment

• Work
  outdoors year-round in all weather conditions
  
• Lift,
  carry, push, or pull up to 50–75 pounds
  
• Stand,
  walk, bend, kneel, and climb in and out of excavations throughout the
  shift
  
• Work
  in and around live natural gas facilities, heavy equipment, and active
  roadways
  
• Wear
  required personal protective equipment, including flame-resistant clothing
  where required
  

What You Can Expect

• Competitive
  Compensation
  
• Overtime
  paid at Time and a half
  
• Life,
  dental, and vision insurance available the first of the month following 60
  days of employment
  
• After
  1 year: 3 paid holidays, 1 week of vacation, and bereavement pay
  
• After 4 years: 2 weeks of
  vacation
  

If
you’re a hands-on natural gas professional who leads with confidence, takes
ownership in the field, and knows what it takes to keep a crew moving safely
and efficiently, we want to hear from you. Join a team where your experience,
leadership, and commitment to quality will make a direct impact on the
successful delivery of critical gas infrastructure projects. Apply today and
bring your expertise to the team!