Operation Manager Jobs in Slidell, LA (NOW HIRING)

Position Summary

The Operations Manager is responsible for managing and overseeing the day-to-day operations of Tempest Utility Consulting (TUC). This position is responsible for ensuring that TUC's ongoing customer programs are staffed, organized, executed, and delivered safely, efficiently, and profitably.

The Operations Manager serves as the operational connection between TUC leadership, customers, project teams, field personnel, Resource Management, HSE, Human Resources, Finance, and Business Development.

Reporting Structure

Reports To: Vice President of Strategic Growth

Works Closely With: Senior Leadership, Resource Management, HSE, Human Resources, Finance, Business Development, Project Managers, Field Supervisors, and Field Personnel

Direct Reports: Project Managers, Field Supervisors, Coordinators, and other operational personnel as assigned.

Primary Responsibilities

1. Field Operations Management

• Manage the day-to-day operations of all assigned TUC blue-sky programs.
• Ensure projects are adequately staffed, scheduled, resourced, and supported.
• Monitor project progress and identify potential issues before they affect customer commitments.
• Establish consistent operational processes across TUC projects.
• Ensure project teams understand scope, customer expectations, schedules, deliverables, and performance requirements.
• Coordinate with internal departments to ensure operational needs are met.
• Maintain regular communication with project leadership and field personnel.
• Provide the VP of Strategic Growth with regular updates regarding project status, staffing, customer satisfaction, risks, and opportunities.

2. Customer Program Execution

• Support the successful transition of newly awarded work from Business Development into operations.
• Develop project-specific operational plans, staffing requirements, schedules, and resource needs.
• Serve as an operational point of contact for assigned utility customers.
• Ensure TUC meets contractual requirements, project schedules, customer expectations, and established performance metrics.
• Monitor customer satisfaction and respond quickly to operational concerns.
• Coordinate with customers regarding staffing, schedules, deliverables, project changes, and operational challenges.

3. Resource Management

• Oversee the deployment and management of TUC field personnel supporting blue-sky utility programs.
• Work closely with the TUC Resource Manager to identify current and projected staffing needs.
• Coordinate the onboarding and deployment of personnel to customer projects.
• Monitor field employee attendance, productivity, utilization, and performance.
• Maintain effective communication with field personnel throughout project assignments.
• Support retention and engagement of TUC's field workforce.

4. Project Management & Resource Coordination

• Monitor project schedules, milestones, deliverables, and staffing levels.
• Coordinate labor, equipment, technology, travel, lodging, and other resources required for project execution.
• Partner with the TUC Resource Manager to ensure staffing levels align with customer requirements.
• Ensure project teams maintain accurate project documentation, timekeeping, expense reporting, and customer deliverables.
• Establish repeatable processes for quickly scaling programs as customer needs change.

5. Operational Financial Management

• Monitor operational performance against approved project budgets and customer agreements.
• Partner with the VP of Strategic Growth and Finance to monitor project profitability.
• Track labor costs, overtime, expenses, utilization, and other operational cost drivers.
• Identify opportunities to improve efficiency and project margins.
• Review project performance and identify potential financial risks.

6. Safety & Quality

• Partner closely with TUC's HSE team to ensure all field operations are conducted safely and in accordance with company and customer requirements.
• Promote a culture of safety, accountability, and quality across all projects.
• Ensure field personnel complete required onboarding, training, and customer-specific safety requirements.
• Monitor project quality and customer deliverables.
• Address recurring quality or safety concerns and coordinate corrective actions.
• Ensure operational teams follow TUC policies, customer requirements, and applicable industry standards.
• Support HSE initiatives and participate in safety meetings, audits, and customer safety activities as required.

7. Business Development Support

• Work directly with the VP of Strategic Growth to support TUC's growth initiatives.
• Provide operational input for proposals, RFPs, customer presentations, and new opportunities.
• Participate in customer meetings when operational expertise is required.
• Support the VP of Strategic Growth in expanding services within existing customer relationships.
• Provide operational insight into customer needs and emerging opportunities.

Required Skills & Abilities

• Strong understanding of the electric utility industry and utility field operations.
• Experience managing utility projects, field teams, or utility consulting programs.
• Strong project and workforce management skills.
• Strong understanding of budgets, project costs, and operational performance.
• Excellent verbal, written, and interpersonal communication skills.
• Strong customer service and relationship-management skills.
• Excellent organizational and time-management skills.
• Strong leadership and team-building skills.
• Ability to develop and implement effective operational processes.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office and project/field management technology.
• Ability and willingness to travel to customer locations and field projects as needed.

Education & Experience

• Bachelor's degree in Business Administration, Operations Management, Engineering, Construction Management, or a related field preferred.
• Minimum of 7–10 years of progressively responsible experience in utility operations, field services, project management, construction, utility consulting, or a related industry.
• Demonstrated experience managing field personnel and customer-facing programs.
• Experience working directly with electric utilities strongly preferred.
• Experience managing multiple projects or programs simultaneously.
• Experience with project budgets, staffing, and operational performance preferred.
• Experience supporting utility RFPs, proposals, or business development initiatives is a plus.