26-095.B - Director, Operations Controls

Harvest Midstream Company•Houston, TX

About The Position

The Director, Operations Controls is accountable for the safe, reliable, and efficient operation of Harvest’s liquids and natural gas pipeline control room and scheduling functions. The Director sets strategic direction, standards, and performance expectations for the Operations Controls organization and is accountable for its results, capability, and development. This technical and people leadership role focuses on proactively managing operational risk and compliance, optimizing performance, developing a high-performing team, and building partnerships across the organization to support business objectives. The role oversees 24/7 pipeline control room operations and scheduling across pipeline, rail, marine, and truck for natural gas, crude oil, and NGL. It leads the organization through normal and abnormal operating conditions, drives operational and energy optimization, and advances continuous improvement, technology, standardization, and readiness for expansions and major changes. The Director champions safety and regulatory compliance, establishes and monitors key performance indicators, develops organizational and technical capability, and collaborates with field operations, Engineering, Integrity, Commercial, Supply and Trading, IT/OT, Cybersecurity, the Alaska control room, customers, shippers, connecting parties, and external service providers.

Requirements

At least 10 years of progressive experience in pipeline, midstream, or energy operations, including significant experience in a pipeline control room or related operational functions.
At least 5 years of leadership experience with responsibility for operating, technical, or 24/7 teams.
Strong knowledge of natural gas and/or liquids pipeline operations, pipeline system behavior, hydraulics, alarm management, leak detection, energy optimization, DRA management, and abnormal and emergency operating conditions.
Working knowledge of applicable DOT/PHMSA regulations, including Control Room Management requirements under 49 CFR Parts 192 and/or 195.
Demonstrated experience managing operational risk, regulatory compliance, operating procedures, incident response, management of change, and continuous improvement.
Proven ability to lead cross-functional initiatives and collaborate with Operations, Engineering, Integrity, Commercial, IT/OT, and other business functions, integrating commercial and operational considerations into business decisions.
Strong analytical, problem-solving, decision-making, communication, and organizational skills, and ability to lead effectively in complex, time-sensitive operating environments.
Demonstrated ability to lead change, evaluate and adopt new technologies, and drive process improvements that enhance operational performance.
Experience developing leaders and technical capability, establishing performance expectations, supporting succession planning, and building a culture of accountability and continuous improvement.

Nice To Haves

Bachelor’s degree in engineering is preferred.

Responsibilities

Be accountable for safe, reliable, and efficient 24/7 pipeline control room operations and scheduling across pipeline, rail, marine, and truck for natural gas, crude oil, and NGL.
Promote proactive evaluation and prioritization of operational risks, including alarm management, human factors and fatigue, communications, and abnormal operating conditions; develop a value proposition for mitigation.
Prioritize leak-detection improvements by partnering with IT and external providers to assess pipeline risk against detectable leak performance and improve systems, instrumentation, and procedures.
Lead the organization through normal and abnormal operating conditions; plan daily activities, develop alternatives for unplanned events, and communicate promptly with customers, shippers, and connecting parties to minimize throughput loss and customer impact.
Build partnerships with field operations, Engineering, Integrity, Commercial, Supply and Trading, and IT/OT to align priorities, integrate commercial and operational plans, and resolve issues collaboratively.
Optimize energy use and power costs, DRA strategy, capacity and storage utilization, and schedule efficiency to reduce costs and maximize throughput.
Set strategic direction and lead continuous improvement and innovation for control room and scheduling operations; establish operating philosophy, standards, and procedures consistent with control room management and regulatory requirements.
Advance processes and technology with IT/OT and Cybersecurity across SCADA, leak detection, hydraulic modeling, and scheduling platforms.
Build technical capacity in pipeline hydraulics, system behavior, leak detection, nominations and commercial constraints, and abnormal and emergency operations.
Partner with the Alaska control room to standardize practices and share best practices across the Harvest portfolio.
Establish and hold the organization accountable for KPIs covering safety, reliability, operating discipline, leak-detection performance, scheduling accuracy, customer service, and energy and DRA efficiency.
Champion a safety-first culture and ensure compliance with regulations, company policies, and industry standards, including oversight of risk assessments, incident investigations, emergency exercises, audits, and corrective actions.
Build organizational capability through staffing, qualification, succession planning, and leader development, fostering ownership, collaboration, continuous improvement, and innovation.
Prepare for system expansions, commissioning, and major operational changes through readiness planning and management of change.
Demonstrate the company core values of Integrity, Ownership, Urgency, Alignment, and Innovation in daily responsibilities and interactions.
Support and contribute to the company’s mission and vision through reliable, high-quality work.