Natural Gas Project Lead – Field Operations

The Staff Pad has partnered with a full-service excavation and pipeline construction company providing comprehensive solutions for pipeline and infrastructure projects in Mabank, TX, and we are looking to hire an experienced and qualified Project Lead to oversee field operations and lead a team supporting natural gas construction projects.

The Project Lead runs the gas side of the business in the field and is accountable for the daily production, quality, and safety of a crew of 8-10 team members installing and tying in natural gas main and service lines.

In this role, you will bring comprehensive hands-on knowledge of gas construction operations, including tapping, fusing, tie-ins, pressure testing, and purging, with the ability to perform and support any crew task as needed. You will also serve as the primary day-to-day point of contact for the utility, general contractor, and on-site inspector.

What You’ll Do

Key Responsibilities

• Lead

• and direct a gas crew of 8 to 10operators, fusers, laborers, and equipment

• operators each day

• Plan

• daily work from prints and work packets, stage materials and equipment,

• and establish crew production targets

• Perform

• and oversee hot and cold taps, line stops, squeeze-offs, and live gas

• tie-ins in accordance with written operating procedures

• Perform

• and oversee butt fusion, socket fusion, and electrofusion of polyethylene

• pipe using (McElroy or equivalent) equipment and verify joint quality and

• fusion records

• Supervise

• steel installation activities, including welding coordination, coating,

• and cathodic protection details where applicable

• Direct

• trenching, potholing, tracer wire installation, backfilling, and

• compaction around live utilities

• Oversee

• pressure testing, purging, and placing new facilities into service while

• completing all required documentation

• Verify

• utility locates are current and accurate before excavation and enforce

• tolerance zone and hand-digging requirements

• Enforce

• the site-specific safety plan, including trenching and shoring, confined

• space, gas detection, traffic control, and PPE requirements

• Conduct

• and document daily huddles, job safety briefings, and toolbox talks

• Serve

• as the daily point of contact for the utility inspector, general

• contractor, city and county inspectors, and property owners

• Complete

• daily reports, production quantities, as-built redlines, material usage,

• and timecards using Raken and T-Sheets

• Monitor

• crew performance, coach and train less experienced team members, and

• identify Operator Qualification gaps

• Support

• restoration, punch list closeout, and final customer walkthroughs

• What We Are Looking For

• Required Qualifications

• Previous

• experience in natural gas distribution construction, including 2 to 3

• years leading a crew

• Proven

• ability to lead a crew of 8 to 10 and meet daily production targets

• Working

• knowledge of gas main and service installation, tapping, fusing, tie-ins,

• pressure testing, and purging

• Current

• Operator Qualification (OQ) on covered tasks required for this scope, with

• tasks varying by gas company

• Ability

• to read and work from construction prints, plan and profile drawings, and

• utility standards

• Valid

• driver’s license with no more than 2 violations on the motor vehicle

• record; certain violations are automatic disqualifiers

• Ability

• to pass a pre-employment drug screen and background check, including a

• 10-panel non-DOT or 5-panel DOT drug screen and 10-year background check

• Ability

• to communicate clearly with crew members, inspectors, and the general

• contractor

• Preferred Qualifications

• Experience

• with specific utility or operator standards and procedures

• Specific

• fusion equipment certification and current fusion qualification cards

• Class

• A or Class B CDL preferred, not required

• Experience

• with vacuum excavation and pipe bursting

• Bilingual

• English and Spanish

• Experience

• managing subcontractors and rental equipment on a jobsite

• Certifications & Training

• Plastic

• Pipe Fusion Qualification — Prior fusion experience required;

• qualifications do not transfer, and candidates must complete testing again

• Safety

• Training — Competent Person, Confined Space, First Aid, and CPR;

• additional safety training provided

• Additional

• Operator or Client-Specific Training — To be determined based on project

requirements

• Physical Demands and Work Environment

• Work

• outdoors year-round in all weather conditions

• Lift,

• carry, push, or pull up to 50–75 pounds

• Stand,

• walk, bend, kneel, and climb in and out of excavations throughout the

• shift

• Work

• in and around live natural gas facilities, heavy equipment, and active

• roadways

• Wear

• required personal protective equipment, including flame-resistant clothing

• where required

• What You Can Expect

• Competitive

Compensation

• Overtime paid at Time and a half

• Life, dental, and vision insurance available the first of the month following 60 days of employment

• After 1 year: 3 paid holidays, 1 week of vacation, and bereavement pay

• After 4 years: 2 weeks of vacation

If you’re a hands-on natural gas professional who leads with confidence, takes ownership in the field, and knows what it takes to keep a crew moving safely and efficiently, we want to hear from you. Join a team where your experience, leadership, and commitment to quality will make a direct impact on the successful delivery of critical gas infrastructure projects. Apply today and bring your expertise to the team!