Damage Investigator- Rio Grande Valley, Texas

Stake-Center-Locating; McAllen (TX); On-site; USD 52,000 - 72,000; Full time

Job summary

Stake Center Locating, Inc. is seeking a Damage Investigator to promote damage prevention and ensure safe operating practices across field locating teams.

The role involves investigating underground utility damages, identifying contributing factors, and recommending corrective actions to prevent recurrence. You will review tickets, field notes, photos, maps, and interviews to document findings, partner with Operations leadership and clients, and drive continuous improvement in safety,

Qualifications

• Experience in utility locating, damage prevention, or related fields.
• Strong investigative, analytical, and problem-solving abilities.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to manage multiple investigations and meet deadlines.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office and data analysis skills.

Responsibilities

• Perform comprehensive investigations of utility damages to establish incident circumstances, contributing factors, and root causes.
• Review locate tickets, field notes, photographs, maps, work records, and other evidence.
• Conduct interviews with employees, contractors, and involved parties to gather accurate incident details.
• Prepare thorough, timely, and objective investigation reports with findings and recommendations.
• Identify patterns and recurring issues to reduce damages and improve locating accuracy.
• Foster a culture of damage prevention, safety, and accountability across field operations.
• Collaborate with Operations to communicate lessons learned and implement preventive measures.

Skills

Investigative skills

Analytical thinking

Communication skills

Record-keeping

Attention to detail

Team collaboration

Willingness to travel

Tools

Microsoft Office

Job description

Stake Center Locating is a premier provider of utility locating and damage prevention services, operating throughout the 48 contiguous United States. Our teams are dedicated to safeguarding critical underground infrastructure by delivering accurate, timely, and safe locating services for utility, telecommunications, and infrastructure clients. We leverage a national presence combined with a local focus to support our customers, protect the communities we serve, and foster opportunities for our employees’ growth and success.

Position Summary

The Damage Investigator plays a key role in promoting damage prevention, ensuring safe work practices, and maintaining operational accountability within utility locating operations. This position involves investigating damages involving underground utilities, analyzing contributing factors, and identifying opportunities for process improvements. The Damage Investigator collaborates closely with Operations leadership and our clients to ensure accurate investigations, corrective actions, and proactive prevention strategies.

The ideal candidate is committed to safety, detail-oriented, and capable of objectively assessing incidents, communicating findings effectively, and partnering with field teams to minimize repeat damages and enhance overall service quality.

Key Responsibilities

Damage Investigations & Root Cause Analysis

• Perform comprehensive investigations of utility damages to establish incident circumstances, contributing factors, and root causes.
• Review relevant documentation such as locate tickets, field notes, photographs, maps, work records, and other evidence.
• Conduct interviews with employees, contractors, and involved parties to gather accurate incident details.
• Prepare thorough, timely, and objective investigation reports that document findings, evidence, and recommended corrective actions.
• Recognize patterns and recurring issues to identify opportunities for reducing damages and improving locating accuracy.

Damage Prevention & Safety

• Foster a culture committed to damage prevention, safety, and accountability across field operations.
• Identify gaps in safe work practices, locating procedures, documentation, and compliance with applicable standards.
• Collaborate with Operations to communicate lessons learned and implement preventive measures.
• Support safety meetings, toolbox talks, and training sessions focused on damage prevention and industry best practices.
• Emphasize the importance of following established procedures, properly marking underground utilities, and adhering to regulatory and customer requirements.
• Recommend process enhancements aimed at reducing repeated incidents and strengthening field performance.

Operations & Customer Collaboration

• Partner with Operations leadership, Area Managers, and field personnel to investigate damages and address performance issues.
• Work directly with customer representatives to review incidents, share investigation findings, and support ongoing communication.
• Provide timely updates on ongoing investigations, findings, corrective actions, and prevention efforts.
• Ensure investigations are conducted professionally, consistently, and objectively while maintaining strong customer relationships.
• Assist in joint reviews of damage trends, recurring concerns, and opportunities for service improvement and customer satisfaction.
• Support the development and tracking of action plans to mitigate risks and prevent future damages.
• Maintain accurate, organized records of all damage investigations and related documentation.
• Track incident data, investigation outcomes, root causes, and corrective actions.
• Analyze damage data to identify patterns based on market, location, work type, employee, or other relevant factors.
• Prepare reports and summaries for Operations leadership and clients as needed.
• Monitor the implementation of corrective actions and follow up to ensure accountability and continuous improvement.
• Handle sensitive incident information confidentially and professionally.

Qualifications

• Experience in utility locating, underground utility construction, damage prevention, utility operations, safety, or related fields is preferred.
• Knowledge of underground utilities, locating procedures, excavation practices, and damage prevention principles.
• Strong investigative, analytical, and problem-solving abilities.
• Capable of gathering facts, evaluating evidence, and documenting findings objectively.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to effectively engage with field personnel, leadership, and clients.
• Strong organizational skills to manage multiple investigations and deadlines efficiently.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office and skills in record-keeping and data analysis.
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively across teams.
• Valid driver’s license and willingness to travel to field sites as needed.
• Commitment to safety and damage prevention.
• Strong investigative judgment and analytical skills.
• Accountability in following through on investigations and corrective actions.
• Effective communication of findings and recommendations.
• Collaborative approach to working with internal teams and clients.
• Attention to detail to ensure accurate and complete documentation.
• Dedication to continuous improvement based on investigation insights and damage trends.