Asset Protection Specialist

Southern Company • Newport News, VA

7d • Onsite

About The Position

The Asset Protection Specialist protects company assets from damage, encumbrances, and encroachments affecting distribution and transmission pipelines, associated abutments, land rights-of-way, and easement rights. This operational role ensures compliance with state, federal, and corporate pipeline safety regulations and standards for AGL Resources and its subsidiaries.

The position serves as a liaison among the company, excavators, municipalities, builders, developers, landowners, logging operators, contractors, and other stakeholders. It conducts field inspections, audits, damage investigations, education, and compliance follow-up; coordinates work near company facilities; and responds to incidents and emergencies. The role spends 95% of its time in the field and may be called after hours to respond to damages or high-profile emergencies.

Requirements

• High school diploma or GED.
• State driver's license.
• At least 3 years of utility field operations experience or related work experience.
• Knowledge of quality assurance concepts.
• Basic computer literacy.
• Well-developed interpersonal skills, including influencing and/or negotiation skills.
• Operator Qualified in accordance with the Company Plan, with the ability to obtain qualification within the required timeline.
• Ability to meet the physical and field-work requirements, including frequent bending, stooping, kneeling, reaching, climbing in and out of manholes, extensive digging, carrying equipment up to 30 pounds, and walking long distances, up to 5 miles per day.
• Ability to work outdoors in rain, sun, heat, and cold.
• Availability for after-hours callouts to respond to damages or high-profile emergencies.

Nice To Haves

• Associate, bachelor's, or equivalent academic education and field operations experience.
• Real Estate Appraisal License.
• Two years of experience locating natural gas.
• Knowledge of easement rights, engineering, locating, and surveying principles.
• Knowledge and experience with the AGL pipeline system.
• Knowledge of real estate terminology and terms used by developers.
• Bilingual skills.

Responsibilities

• Serve as the company’s Asset Protection liaison to excavators, municipalities, builders, developers, landowners, logging operators, contractors, and their agents, responding to issues and concerns.
• Audit locate and right-of-way contractors for quality and compliance, and update the required electronic system.
• Investigate second- and third-party damages, prepare accurate reports for submission to the Virginia State Corporation Commission, determine root causes, address issues with contractors or excavators, and provide training as needed.
• Resolve difficult-to-locate issues with the excavating community, internal stakeholders, and locators to ensure proper locates and avoid downtime claims.
• Conduct education sessions for locate contractors, excavators, landowners, and homeowners on asset protection.
• Monitor and coordinate compliance and safety issues involving locating, right-of-way maintenance, and submerged crossings; stand by during work near high-profile facilities.
• Inspect rights-of-way under Federal Code 192 requirements, install pipeline markers as needed, document issues electronically, and follow up until resolution.
• Coordinate submerged-crossing inspections and blasting and excavation activities on and off company rights-of-way.
• Respond to high-profile facility issues, incidents, and emergencies on and off company rights-of-way.
• Monitor monthly compliance reports and ensure items such as aerial-patrol findings are resolved.
• Locate gas mains on rights-of-way for company contractors in accordance with construction policy.
• Meet with excavators to resolve field conflicts.
• Follow company right-of-way procedures, use required forms, and maintain records such as encroachment agreements, patrol records, and maps.
• Monitor locate-contractor performance and work with the contractor to correct deficiencies.
• Attend pre-construction meetings for large projects and monitor progress to protect company assets.
• Monitor and follow up on daily ticket loads to prevent future damages.
• Assist with damage investigations at the time of damage or during subsequent research.
• Research easement and encroachment issues.
• Represent the company at local damage-prevention meetings and support trade shows, industry committees, and One Call events related to asset protection.
• Oversee and inspect right-of-way maintenance, remediation, mowing, and side trimming in the assigned area to ensure work meets company specifications.
• Ensure compliance with requirements for contracts, patrols, inspections, and audits.
• Keep required Asset Protection documentation current in compliance-tracking systems, SharePoint sites, or other electronic systems.
• Review quality issues with management and implement improvements to protect assets.

Benefits

• Competitive base salary.
• Annual incentive awards for eligible employees.
• Health, welfare, and retirement benefits designed to support physical, financial, and emotional/social well-being.
• Potential eligibility for additional compensation, such as an incentive program, subject to the applicable plan terms and conditions.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level
• Education Level: High school or GED