26-095.B - Director, Operations Controls

Harvest Midstream•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. This technical and people leadership role sets the Operations Controls organization’s strategic direction, standards, and performance expectations, and owns its results, capabilities, and development. The Director proactively manages operational risk and regulatory compliance, optimizes performance, develops a high-performing team, and builds partnerships across the organization to support business objectives. The role leads 24/7 pipeline control room operations and scheduling across pipeline, rail, marine, and truck for natural gas, crude oil, and NGL. It also guides operations through normal and abnormal conditions, prepares the organization for system expansions and major changes, and drives continuous improvement and innovation across control room and scheduling operations.

Requirements

10+ years of progressive experience in pipeline, midstream, or energy operations, including significant experience with pipeline control room or related operational functions.
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 effectively 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, with demonstrated ability to lead effectively in complex and 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 preferred.

Responsibilities

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.
Champion proactive evaluation and prioritization of operational risks, including alarm management, human factors and fatigue, communications, and abnormal operating conditions; build a clear value proposition for mitigation.
Emphasize leak detection by advocating for priorities and partnering with IT and external service providers to assess pipeline risk against detectable leak performance and prioritize improvements in systems, instrumentation, and procedures.
Lead the organization through normal and abnormal operating conditions, guide day-to-day planning, 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.
Drive operational optimization in areas such as energy and power cost management, DRA strategy, capacity and storage utilization, and schedule efficiency to reduce costs and maximize throughput.
Set the strategic direction and lead the continuous improvement and innovation roadmap for control room and scheduling operations.
Establish the operating philosophy, standards, and procedures consistent with control room management and other regulatory requirements.
Advance processes and technology with IT/OT and Cybersecurity, including 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 drive standardization and shared best practices across the Harvest portfolio.
Establish and manage key performance indicators for 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 applicable 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 the organization for system expansions, commissioning, and major operational changes through readiness planning and management of change.
Demonstrate the company’s core values—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.