Manager - Operations Optimization

Kinder Morgan’s Northeast Region is seeking a Manager for its Operations Optimization workgroup. The Operations Optimization workgroup’s responsibilities include being the point of contact/liason between the Terminal Support Group (TSG), Operational support Group (OSG) and the Northeast Operations and Commercial teams. This position will manage a workgroup focused on providing cost reduction efforts, revenue maximization opportunities, asset utilization efforts, manpower realignment opportunities, suggesting alternative operating methods, inventory controls and verifying effectiveness of projects and enhancements.

KINDER MORGAN Kinder Morgan is one of the largest energy infrastructure companies in North America. We are a market leader in each of our businesses – Natural Gas Pipelines, Products Pipelines, CO2, and Terminals. We have an unparalleled, large footprint of diversified and strategically located assets that are core to North American energy infrastructure and help deliver needed energy products to high-demand markets.

Kinder Morgan offers a robust benefits package that begins on your first day, including medical, dental, vision, life insurance, two retirement plans, paid holidays, and paid time off.

BUSINESS UNIT: TERMINALS Kinder Morgan is the largest independent terminal operator in North America, providing a strong, reliable network of 144 terminals serving our customers’ storage, distribution, blending and logistical needs. Our terminals store and handle renewable fuels, petroleum products, chemicals, vegetable oils and other products. We have a combined liquids storage capacity of approximately 151 million barrels and handle about 59 million tons of dry bulk materials annually.

Essential duties and responsibilities:

- Develop and mentor a team of managers, supervisors, and frontline employees promoting continuous improvement, inventory, training and operational excellence.

- Manage inbound/outbound movements through customer service team and quality improvements.

- Ensure consistent product quality in alignment with customer expectations.

- Track vessel, barge, and ship movements for accurate KPIs and scheduling/billing as required.

- Stays abreast of changes in working conditions or new technology that could increase the safety and efficiency of the operations employees.

- Initiates and supports improvement plans for employees to succeed in their efforts to achieve the goals of the department.

- Confers as focal point with other supervisors in organization to coordinate activities of individual departments.

- Studies production schedules and worker hour requirements to look for efficiencies and cost savings.

- Interprets specifications, blueprints, and job orders to workers, and assigns duties.

- Recommends measures to improve commodity movement efficiency, equipment performance, and quality of product handling.

- Suggests changes in working conditions and use of equipment to increase efficiency of department and/or work crew.

- Analyzes and resolves work problems or assists workers in solving work issues/problems.

- Initiates or suggests plans to motivate workers to achieve work goals.

- Takes lead in assuring tracking and verifying improvement projects are on target and goals are achieved.

- Prepare/oversee capital projects throughout the year and ensure on-time completion within budget.

- Identify, improve, and put systems in place to compile dock, scale, rail, truck, and other KPIs

- Maintains inspection, time and production records.

- Review spare parts inventory and identify cost saving and/or critical inventory.

- Inspect, direct and maintain the properties either owned or leased by Kinder Morgan.

- Develop tools and calculation methods to efficiently track and analyze lost revenue opportunities or potential new revenue opportunities.

- Track costs of third-party trainings that are incurred in the Northeast terminals and evaluate synergism for reducing costs.

- Prepares cost of service studies and supporting documentation as needed. May also be called upon to provide market research on alternative solutions to current practices.

- Standardize inventory processes across the region with a focus on leveraging best practices for efficiency and cost reduction.

- Evaluate the third-party trainings that are being performed in the Northeast Region to ensure that we are in compliance and we are consistent among Northeast terminals. Make recommendations for possible improvements to these processes.

- Lead performance improvement initiatives for inventory, teamwork, and communications through mentoring and coaching teammates.

- Support and help maintain SOX compliance

- Work with facility personnel to identify OPM projects and/or make overall process improvement.

- Works closely with operations support and quality control manager on product quality, product measurement, and emerging issues.

- Participate and lead inventory and quality investigations for all incidents / near miss reports in this discipline.

- Continuously assess inventory and quality processes and provide strategy and direction to make improvements.

- Ensure audit readiness for any external or internal audits of our inventory, quality, and other processes and procedures as assigned.

- Identify, put together justification, manage, and run special projects or assignments as directed.

- Be present in the terminals, this role is expected to be in the field 25% of the time visiting the terminals, working with the leadership teams to find optimization opportunities.

- Develops short- and long-range plans, goals and objectives for the impacting groups and individuals.

Position Requirements

Education:

- Bachelor’s Degree

- May consider 10 years relevant experience in lieu of Bachelor’s Degree.

Experience / Specific Knowledge:

- 5 years of diverse and progressively responsibility in oil/gas, terminals, bulk storage, or logistics. Strong technical and financial background preferred.

- Requires excellent understanding of the company’s assets, needs and requirements, strategic planning and ability to develop satisfactory solutions where divergent/competing needs are at issue.

- Intermediate to Advanced proficiency level with Microsoft applications, including but not limited to Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Access, for purpose of word processing, spreadsheets, analysis, presentations and information retrieval. Must be able to develop and manipulate complex Excel spread sheets.

Competencies, Skills and Abilities:

- As a manager, leadership skills are essential. Must be able to utilize appropriate interpersonal styles and methods in guiding individuals/workgroup (subordinates, peers, superiors) or groups toward task accomplishment. Must consistently adhere to Kinder Morgan’s policies and procedures and be a positive example for others by demonstrating the Company’s core values of honesty, integrity and respect for people.

- Well-balanced interpersonal skills. Must be able to establish and maintain effective working relationships with all levels of management, employees, customers, vendors, and outside regulatory agencies at the local, state and federal level; must be able to clearly and effectively communicate both orally and in writing, using good grammatical form, both in general correspondence, as well as on technical issues.

- Must be analytical and a problem solver with the ability to identify problems and/or cause-effect relationships; identify key issues; secure relevant information from all appropriate sources; identify possible root causes of problems and develop and implement corrective actions for resolution of problems.

- Strong organizational skills and the ability to prioritize tasks are essential. Must be able to establish a course of action for self and others/department to accomplish specific goals; must plan and prioritize proper assignments of personnel and/or appropriate allocation of resources.

- As the manager, must consistently maintain a professional and respectful demeanor/attitude and set an example for the department; work effectively with team/work group, as well as with other departments and/or outside contractors/agencies/clients/vendors to accomplish organizational goals; take action that respect the needs and contributions of others; take responsibility for actively participating and contributing to team efforts; support a team consensus or decision; acts as team facilitator when appropriate.

- Must be self-motivated and capable of working with minimal supervision and/or direction. Actively attempts to influence events to achieve goals; does not wait to be told, but is a self-starter who takes action to achieve goals beyond what is required.

- Consistently utilizes sound judgment by making decisions and/or taking action based on logical assumptions derived from factual information gathered.

- Ability to influence a diverse workforce without direct supervisory authority.

- Must be accountable and take direction from management; keep required work schedules, which include regular and predictable job attendance; focus attention on details; follow work rules.

Physical Demands:

- Employee must be physically capable of completing and satisfying all training requirements as stipulated by local, state or federal agencies and/or Company Policy.

Working Conditions/Considerations:

- Must carry a cell phone and be able and willing to respond at any hour of the day or night to all after hours and/or weekend issues, including emergency situations.

- Must be willing and able to travel up to 25% of the time – including overnight stays to perform job duties.

- Overtime and extended work hours may be required including, but not limited to, emergencies.

- Majority of the work will be conducted from an office environment. Extended periods of sitting required for computer work and administrative activities.

- The successful candidate will be required to pass a pre-employment drug screen and a complete background check, including credit report, after an offer has been extended and prior to being employed. A satisfactory driving record as determined by the Company and a current, valid State driver's license are required.

- If the employee is subject to license or certification requirements or training as stipulated by local, state or federal agencies or the Company, now or in the future, compliance is required under this job description.

EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER STATEMENT: We are an Equal Opportunity Employer and do not discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment because of race, color, sex, age, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, status as a veteran, and basis of disability or any other federal, state or local protected class.