Specialist I/II, Operations Quality Assurance

This position is responsible for assessing in-progress and completed work (including documentation) for compliance with internal and external regulatory policies and procedures. The successful candidate must be able to conduct rigorous enforcement of laws and standards as well as influence the workforce regarding the importance of Quality through their emotional intelligence, operating proficiency, and technical skill sets.

The Engineer/Specialist, Operations Quality Assurance is a focused discipline within a job family. The duties listed below 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

Please note - This position is posted as a job family and can be filled at an Engineer/Spec I, Ops Quality Assurance or Engineer/Spec II, Ops Quality Assurance depending on:

• Experience and/or education

• Demonstrated knowledge, skills, and ability

• Complexity of programs administered, risk and responsibility, and budgetary value of managed work

   

Engineer/Spec I, Ops Quality Assurance

Job Duties & Responsibilities 

• Performs operational assessments, both “live” and “post,” to evaluate work performed by field personnel for compliance with Company policies and procedures (driven by Federal and State regulations as well as industry best practices and Company-mandated requirements) in one to three (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

• Participates in the annual audit of compliance records in advance of public service commission compliance records audits

• Participates in special audits of new/revised procedures recently implemented or of newly certified employees

• Interprets 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

• Participates in event-learning analysis, with oversight (i.e. self-inflicted hit reviews) for Field Operations – Delivery and Construction Operations – Company crews to determining OQ disqualification

• Participates 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

• Collaborates with Safety and FO Support departments to develop and implement programs and processes to minimize workplace hazards

• Teaches principles to others

• Participates in internal gas distribution audits, documenting findings, preparing reports, and communicating findings to management

• Participates in internal process audits and helps develop necessary action plans for corrective measures

   

Qualifications

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

• 2+ years operations experience in a gas utility in three or more field operating departments, or 2+ years within QA

Knowledge

• Good understanding of Company policies, procedures, and O&M manual

• Ability to understand legislation and regulation

• Effective trainer in formal and informal settings

• Knowledge of safe work practices and procedures

• Manages projects and processes, with supervision, delivering on-time results

• Competency to work independently, to be a self-starter, and to take initiative

• Microsoft Office Suite – Basic proficiency

Engineer/Spec II, Ops Quality Assurance

Job Duties & Responsibilities 

• Performs operational assessments, both “live” and “post,” to evaluate work performed by field personnel for compliance with Company policies and procedures (driven by Federal and State regulations as well as industry best practices and Company-mandated requirements) in three to four (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

• Informally oversees/supervises QA staff that conduct the QA assessments

• Assists in on-boarding plans and technical knowledge plans for newly hired QAs at LDC

• Collaborates on and/or co-leads the annual audit of compliance records in advance of public service commission compliance records audits

• Collaborates on and/or co-leads special audits of new/revised procedures recently implemented or of newly certified employees

• Serves as Subject Matter Expert (“SME”) 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 and Construction Operations – Company crews to determining OQ disqualification

• Engages in efforts to interpret and develop responses to proposed regulatory rules changes that could affect Gas Distribution and Southern Company

• Proactively identifies latent conditions and organizational weaknesses and works with management to correct them

• Performs and documents event-learning analysis with minimal oversight (i.e. self-inflicted hit reviews)

• Assists in departmental budget management

• Assists in complex and critical projects across multi-disciplinary and cross-functional departments

• Serves as Subject Matter Expert (“SME”) to departments on matters of occupational safety, Quality Management Systems, and compliance

Qualifications

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

• 4+ years operations experience in a gas utility in three or more field operating departments, or 4+ years within QA

   

Knowledge

• Thorough understanding of Company policies, procedures, and O&M manual

• Ability to understand and analyze legislation and regulation

• Coaches and mentors less-tenured employees

• Effective trainer in formal and informal settings

• Knowledge of safe work practices and procedures

• Manages projects and processes, with some supervision, delivering on-time results

• Competency to work independently, to be a self-starter, and to take initiative

• Microsoft Office Suite – Intermediate proficiency

Specific Skills & Knowledge

• 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

• 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

Business Acumen

• Recommends updates/revisions to policies, procedures, or OPM-based field observations where procedures may not be followed because they are unclear, incorrect, or non-existent

• Communicates leading- and lagging indicators to management

• Supports achieving Quality objectives, goals, and targets

• Determines Quality best practices to support the Company’s goals by consulting with Company representatives (internal peers and other key business units)

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

Rotational On-Call Duties

• Must be able to respond to urgent Quality issues when contacted

• Availability to respond to assist in emergency situations when needed

• Engineer/Spec II: Will be part of departmental on-call rotation for pipeline incident emergency response and liaison with regulatory authorities on a voluntary basis

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.