COO Jobs in Kansas City, MO

Company Overview

We are committed to understanding the needs of the homes and businesses we serve. That's why we're always looking for driven, collaborative people to join our team. Because we believe that offering our customers the best service means bringing together the best people.

And we find the best by hiring those who share our values of safety, inclusion and integrity, and demonstrate the competencies that bring the Spire vision, mission and culture to life:

• Adaptability: We embrace change, continuously seeking opportunities for improvement while remaining open-minded and flexible in response to evolving conditions and customer, stakeholder and company needs.
• Collaboration: We achieve more together through a foundation of respect, embracing healthy conflict, actively seeking and providing actionable feedback and fostering an environment where everyone’s input is welcomed.
• Ownership: We see things through, demonstrate accountability, honor commitments, take responsibility for outcomes and demonstrate initiative.

By living our values and competencies, we strive to create an environment where employees feel welcome, respected and valued.

Summary

Spire is seeking a Director, Field Operations to manage Missouri operations. This position will be responsible for working with a large field operations team to drive the strategic direction and ensure the efficient operation of our field operations employees in the Kansas City and St. Louis areas. The role will be a part of the Missouri Operations management team to provide leadership and support to ensure the field operations teams are functioning productively, safely, efficiently and in accordance with the Company's policies, procedures, and strategic objectives.

Duties and Responsibilities

• Partner with senior management to manage and lead overall operational and budgetary initiatives to make the field operations teams successful
• Champion and foster a culture where safety is a core value, ensuring compliance with all safety, environmental, and regulatory requirements while promoting incident prevention and continuous improvement.
• Provide leadership and oversight for operational decision-making, ensuring business decisions are financially sound, risk-informed, aligned with strategic objectives, and consistent with company policies and regulatory requirements.
• Direct the development, execution, and monitoring of operational work plans, performance objectives, and workforce strategies to achieve business goals, operational excellence, and system reliability.
• Provide guidance and direction to reports and ensure they work in a cohesive and coordinated manner to attain business objectives, metrics, and system integrity
• Direct and develop leaders across the organization by providing timely feedback, coaching, and guidance, while fostering a culture of accountability, continuous development, employee engagement, and high performance.
• Plan and allocate resources and ensure departments align across regions
• Communicate regularly with the Vice President, as well as other contacts within the organization including the other Field Operations Directors, as needed, to ensure consistency throughout operations, and to set and execute business strategy
• Work with Spire's Collective Bargaining department to manage labor relations matters within field operations
• Foster and maintain strong relationships with community stakeholders, customers, local leaders, and external partners to support operational objectives and enhance organizational reputation.

Essential Characteristics

• Ability to lead by example in support of the Company’s essential characteristics and values: strong ethics and integrity, dedication to a safe work environment, commitment to an inclusive workforce that recognizes and respects every individual’s unique skills and perspectives
• Ability to translate organizational strategy into actionable operational plans and align resources to deliver business results.
• Ability to lead teams through organizational, operational, and cultural change while maintaining employee engagement and business continuity.
• Proven ability to make timely, informed, and risk-based decisions in complex, dynamic, and high-pressure environments.
• Ability to work under pressure and meet tight deadlines
• Ability to adapt in a fast-moving and changing culture
• Strong interpersonal skills with the proven ability to build and establish rapport with a diverse array of people
• Proven ability to drive operational excellence through disciplined planning, execution, performance monitoring, accountability, and a strong sense of urgency in achieving operational and business results.
• Ability to work as part of a team and display a positive attitude for this dynamic environment
• Ability to work independently and manage time effectively to meet individual goals and deadlines

Supervisory Responsibilities

• Manage a large group of field operations employees. This position will be responsible for managing multiple Manager roles.

Required Education (certifications, licenses)

• Bachelor’s degree required

Required knowledge, skill and abilities

• 5 years’ experience leading teams required.
• 10 years of progressive experience in field operations, utility operations, or a related operational environment preferred.
• Demonstrated experience leading safety, compliance, budget performance, and operational excellence programs in a highly regulated environment required.
• Knowledge of federal, state, and local regulations governing natural gas operations, including pipeline safety and occupational safety requirements required.
• Experience leading emergency response and incident management activities required.

Physical demands, environment and schedule

• Normal work environment. Work is normally performed in a shared office environment, but includes outdoor work in all weather conditions
• 25 to 35% travel, including overnight travel, is required

Posting Requirements

• We accept online applications through our career site at jobs.spireenergy.com

Disclaimer: The above statements are intended to describe the general nature of the level of work being performed by people assigned to this classification. They are not intended to be construed as an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties and skills required of personnel so classified. To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each duty and responsibility satisfactorily. The requirements listed above are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Spire Inc., and its subsidiaries are an Affirmative Action and Equal Employment Opportunity employer.