Director Gas Operations

Job Summary 
The Director Gas Operations drives best-in-class Safety Culture, leads Operational Effectiveness initiatives to improve Operational performance, and drives Simplicity and Customer focus by assuring Operations is Brilliant in the Basics. The Director will develop clear strategic initiatives to improve Operational Performance through optimizing resource allocation, Compliance, Safety First, Customer focus, Employee Development through mentoring and coaching. Ensures that efforts are in accordance with all applicable company and regulatory requirements while ensuring safe, reliable service to customers in an efficient manner. 
 
Essential Functions 

• Leads and sustains a culture of Safety Leadership and Goal Zero, ensuring safety considerations are fundamental to strategic, operational, and financial decision-making. 

• Demonstrates the ability to Make Safety Personal by consistently modeling “We Care” behaviors and reinforcing accountability at all leadership levels. 

• Champions Barrier Thinking by ensuring robust hazard recognition, effective risk mitigation, and prevention of hazards escalating into top events. 

• Establishes an environment of trust and transparency that encourages disclosure, near miss reporting, and learning from experience to strengthen organizational safety performance. 

• Provides leadership oversight of Damage Prevention strategies, promoting best‑in‑class excavation practices and external stakeholder engagement to protect communities and assets. 

• Translates enterprise and business unit strategy into clear operational priorities, annual work plans, and measurable outcomes. 

• Ensure operational performance objectives and OKRs—such as safety, productivity, efficiency, utilization, and reliability—are consistently achieved or exceeded. 

• Leverages performance dashboards and analytics to drive disciplined execution, timely course correction, and continuous improvement. 

• Ensures full compliance with local, state, and federal regulatory requirements, maintaining audit readiness and proactively addressing regulatory risks. 

• Accountable for the effective planning, prioritization, and stewardship of capital and O&M budgets, aligning resources to system risk, asset health, safety priorities, and long-term value. 

• Balances cost discipline with operational integrity, safety, and customer commitments to achieve sustainable performance. 

• Leads gas operations to deliver safe, reliable, and compliant service, supporting top tier customer satisfaction, community trust, and brand reputation. 

• Reviews, develops, and governs policies, procedures, and assurance programs to ensure alignment with organizational objectives, regulatory expectations, and industry best practices. 

• Build strong partnerships across the leadership team to align goals, clarify accountability, and deliver integrated enterprise outcomes. 

• Works collaboratively with cross functional partners to identify, recommend, and implement process improvements, technologies, and systems that enhance safety, efficiency, and resource utilization. 

• Promotes a culture of continuous improvement by encouraging learning, innovation, and the disciplined application of best practices. 

• Develops high performing leadership teams by setting clear expectations, providing coaching, and reinforcing accountability. 

• Proactively builds succession plans and bench strength by identifying and developing direct reports and emerging leaders. 

• Champions NiSource Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging initiatives, leveraging inclusive leadership practices to improve engagement, decision quality, and business results. 

• Performs other duties as required to support safe, reliable, and compliant gas operations. 

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Required Qualifications for Position 

• Bachelor’s degree in a relevant technical, engineering, or business discipline 

• Minimum 5 years of progressive leadership experience, including a minimum of five (5) years leading operational functions, preferably within the utility industry. 

• Demonstrated experience managing and developing leaders, including supervisors and/or managers, within an operational environment. 

• Proven ability to drive strategic direction  

• Possess a comprehensive understanding of methods, techniques and skills in the operations and maintenance of natural gas pipelines  

• Proven ability to plan, organize and effectively manage a large operations organization. Requires continuous availability to manage a 24x7 operation  

• Ability to develop rapport and trust with others and take action to build strategic relationships to achieve business goals  

• Effective analytical, problem-solving, and decision-making skills. 

• Ability to make quick and practical operations decisions in limited time frames without jeopardizing employees and public safety  

• Demonstrated experience working with colleagues in a fast-moving environment, supervise multiple projects and take ownership, mentor, grow and lead a team  

• Strong communication and negotiation skills, and business acumen  

• Understanding of budgeting processes and ability to take decisions to work within budgets  

• Demonstrated knowledge of philosophy and process of Continuous Improvement  

• Possess personal qualities of integrity, credibility, and commitment to Company’s mission  

• Ability to travel approximately 25% to 50%+  

• Valid driver’s license 

Preferred Additional Qualifications for Position   

• A master’s degree is highly preferred in Business Administration, Economics, Engineering, Environmental or related field.  

• Experience in leading a Field Operations or System Operations function or territory  

• Demonstrated ability to provide oversight, leadership and direction in the overall management of Gas Operations  

The preceding description is not designed to be a complete list of all duties and responsibilities required for the position.