Operations Supervisor, Permits

Position Overview

You lead by example by prioritizing safety and demonstrating your immense knowledge of gas infrastructure to mentor and lead a team to delivering transmission and intermediate pressure pipeline permits. You focus on collaboration when conducting your work and supporting other departments and understand that leveraging diverse perspectives are key to driving engagement and innovation. We need someone with your expertise and experience to be our Operations Supervisor, Permits.
 

You'll oversee and supervise staff and contractors responsible for managing all aspects the permitting process. This role will also, support to staff on issues related to pipeline safety, ground disturbance, construction, customer service, and best practices when working around utilities and high-pressure pipelines.

In this role, you will:

• Supervise and provide leadership to a team of staff responsible for preparing permits. 
• Supervise all aspects of the permit process and foster an environment of continuous improvement and collaboration in the interest of pipeline safety. 
• Ensure each stage of the permit process from initial application receipt, review and subject matter expert input, to final delivery and permit closing follows a set of established guidelines and workflows to ensure consistency, accountability and integrity.
• Continuously evaluate guidelines and workflows to ensure the objectives and priorities set out by the company are met. 
• Work closely with Engineering Services, PMO, Operations, Asset Management, Lands and Right of Way (ROW) staff on the execution of the permit process and during investigations into operational or integrity concerns, variance referrals, unauthorized activity or encroachments. Regularly reinforce company polices and standards with respect to pipeline safety.
• Oversee a quality control process to ensure each permit issued by FortisBC, whether it involves minor or significant works, is reviewed or checked prior to being delivered to permit applicants. 
• Escalate permit challenges and work closely with management, subject matter experts and other departments to navigate complex issues. Engage Legal, Community Relations and other support groups in addition to the various stakeholders with Transmission (Engineering, System Integrity, Operations and ROW management) to resolve permit related challenges.  
• Prioritize permits based on a set of defined factors such as complexity, timeliness, etc. that may be redefined from time to time. 
• Seeks information from plans, files and datasets to support the execution of permits that are operationally sound and that support FEI’s Integrity Management Plan.
• Seek opportunities to improve the efficiency of the permit process and streamline permit related tasks while ensuring the permits serve the key function of protecting the integrity of the pipeline system.  
• Seek to understand regulatory requirements and statutory right of way language in relation to the permitting process.  Ensure the appropriate action is taken in regards to managing and enforcing land rights to protect FortisBC’s operating assets.
• Act as a lead on referrals from external agencies and internal stakeholders.
• At all times promote the standards and policies of FortisBC as well as pipeline safety in relation to permitting.   Develops, adjusts and implements departmental strategic objectives and liaise with appropriate parties to meet specific targets. Updates ROW awareness brochures, external facing documents and webpages related to permitting.

You will also:

• Resolve issues related to permitting and land right interests and provide subject matter expertise in the development of standards.
• Travel to work sites to support staff in maintaining compliance with work and industry standards, applicable metrics, and service level agreements.  
• Utilize field/construction/utility experience and technical knowledge to solve work related problems and/or collaborate and refer to others.  
• Have a strong understanding of operations and maintenance policies and procedures and be able to refer to this information when addressing pipeline inspection and encroachments and issues.
• Maintain a safe and healthy workplace for staff in order to meet health, safety and emergency requirements. Maintain adherence to safe work procedures and practices including Site Safe Work Planning; provide safety information and supplies, including the use of personal protective equipment. Participate in incident investigations.  
• Lead by example with respect to safety initiatives and engage with employees by leading safety meetings.
• Provide financial oversight including the management of costs associated to staff, facilities, vehicles, and equipment; review and approve invoices, third party contracts and internal service agreements. Investigate, resolve and report variances.   Develop and provide input into budgets.
• Establish and maintain effective relationships with internal and external stakeholders, customers, contractors, builders, municipal agencies, emergency response and environmental management personnel.  Successfully manage high conflict situations with customers and other stakeholders. 
• Participate in selecting, orientating and training new employees. Provide coaching to support performance, quality of work, and ongoing training and development of staff; manage attendance, identify performance issues and collaborate with others regarding disciplinary matters.

What it takes:

• A bachelor’s degree or diploma of technology in a related discipline from a recognized program 
• Four years of related field experience in a leadership capacity or an equivalent combination of education, training, and experience.
• Strong knowledge of safety approaches and procedures when working around utilities and high-pressure pipelines, including safe excavation and ground disturbance procedures. 
• Exceptional leadership skills to empower staff in improving business processes and work collaboratively in leading projects to success.
• Great organizational and project management skills to balance competing priorities in a high-risk environment. 
• Ability to read and interpret construction drawings and plans.
• Understanding of legislation, bylaws and procedures relating to land rights, development and project management.