Natural Gas Project Lead – Field Operations

thestaffpad; Mabank (TX); On-site; USD 80,000 - 110,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Life, dental, and vision insurance

Overtime pay

Paid holidays and vacation

Bereavement pay

Job summary

The Staff Pad partnered with a full‑service excavation and pipeline construction company in Mabank, TX to hire a Project Lead for field operations on natural gas projects. You will oversee a crew of 8–10, manage daily production, safety, and quality, and coordinate with inspectors and contractors.

The role requires hands‑on leadership in gas main and service installations, fusion operations, and live tie‑ins. You will drive planning, training, and compliance while maintaining records and reports.

Qualifications

• Previous natural gas distribution construction experience required.
• 2–3 years leading a crew.
• Current Operator Qualification (OQ) on tasks for this scope.
• Ability to read construction prints, plan and profile drawings, and utility standards.
• Valid driver’s license with minimal violations on MVR; some violations disqualifying.
• Ability to pass pre-employment drug screen and 10-year background check.

Responsibilities

• Lead and direct a gas crew of 8 to 10 operators, fusers, laborers, and equipment operators.
• Plan daily work from prints and work packets, stage materials and equipment, and set production targets.
• Perform and oversee hot and cold taps, line stops, squeeze-offs, and live gas tie-ins per procedures.
• Supervise fusion and joint quality records; verify records.
• Direct trenching, backfilling, and protection around live utilities.
• Oversee testing, purging, and placing facilities into service; complete documentation.

Skills

Crew Leadership

Safety Compliance

Reading Prints

Communication

Bilingual English/Spanish

Tools

McElroy Fusion Equipment

Pressure Testing Equipment

Raken / T-Sheets Documentation

Job description

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.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead and direct a gas crew of 8 to 10 operators, 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.