Who we are
GMB Power Line Services is a family-owned, West Virginia utility contractor. Our IBEW crews deploy rapidly from regional hubs—spanning the Gulf Coast, Northeast, Midwest, and beyond—to restore and maintain power infrastructure with uncompromising safety and quality. Committed to operational excellence, we’re growing our fleet and workforce while prioritizing a safer, more reliable energy grid. Join our tight-knit, union-proud team and help power progress in every community we serve.
Position summary
The Director of Operations and Emergency Response is responsible for leading and overseeing all GMB field operations and contracted utility day-work services across all operating regions. This role ensures operational excellence, safety, compliance, customer satisfaction, and financial discipline across the full lifecycle of work—from call out and mobilization through execution, demobilization, and closeout.
The Director of Operations partners closely with GMB leadership, Director Storm Operations, field operations, safety, storm resources, and back-office teams to standardize processes, deploy resources efficiently, and deliver high-quality, compliant work in accordance with utility contracts, regulatory requirements, and GMB standards.
Key duties and responsibilities
Operational leadership & execution
- Provide leadership and direction for GMB utility contracted operations, including regional day-work, storm support, and other field operations as assigned.
- Standardize field execution, crew planning, documentation, logistics, mobilization, and demobilization practices across operating regions.
- Ensure work is performed in accordance with utility contracts, customer expectations, safety requirements, IBEW labor obligations, and GMB policies.
- Serve as a senior operational leader during storms, emergency response events, large-scale mobilizations, and high-priority customer needs.
Utility, client & partner relationships
- Serve as a senior operational contact for utility partners, helping ensure responsive communication, reliable execution, and issue resolution.
- Build and maintain strong working relationships with utilities, vendors, suppliers, labor partners, and internal support teams.
- Partner with Business Development, Safety, Fleet, HR, Payroll, and Finance to support contract performance, workforce readiness, and customer satisfaction.
Team leadership, workforce management & development
- Lead, coach, and develop field leadership teams, including Superintendents, General Foremen, Foremen, and assigned operational support roles.
- Support hiring, onboarding, training, promotion readiness, performance management, and succession planning for operations personnel.
- Set clear expectations for leadership presence, crew accountability, professional conduct, documentation, and communication in the field.
- Partner with Safety and HR to address performance concerns, policy violations, training needs, and employee relations matters timely and consistently.
- Train field leadership on timekeeping, per diem, storm documentation, customer reporting, and other contract-driven administrative requirements.
Crew mobilization & field oversight
- Coordinate crew, equipment, vehicle, material, lodging, and travel needs for assigned utility work and emergency response activity.
- Act as the operational liaison with utility field representatives, dispatch teams, internal storm resources, and field leadership.
- Ensure crews are properly briefed, equipped, documented, and aligned with customer scope, work location, and safety expectations upon arrival.
- Monitor field performance, quality, productivity, customer feedback, and crew utilization through active field engagement and follow-up.
- Adjust resources and priorities as needed to support safety, quality, productivity, cost control, and customer commitments.
Safety, compliance & incident management
- Enforce strict adherence to OSHA requirements, utility safety rules, customer site requirements, and GMB safety standards.
- Partner with Safety leadership to complete site observations, corrective actions, incident response, and follow-up communication.
- Ensure safety incidents, near misses, property damage, vehicle incidents, and policy violations are reported, documented, and escalated timely.
- Confirm crews, supervision, vehicles, tools, and equipment are prepared for hazardous work environments, storm conditions, and emergency response assignments.
- Promote a culture of accountability where safety, quality, customer service, and compliance are consistently reinforced by field leadership.
Fleet, equipment & emergency readiness
- Coordinate with Fleet and Equipment to ensure vehicles, trailers, tools, and specialty equipment are available, assigned, inspected, and ready for field deployment.
- Support storm readiness planning, including roster readiness, contingency staffing, equipment availability, lodging/travel coordination, and surge response preparation.
- Ensure timely reporting and follow-up for fleet damage, breakdowns, missing equipment, inspections, maintenance needs, and return-of-asset requirements.
Demobilization, billing & continuous improvement
- Oversee safe and timely crew demobilization, including travel, lodging closeout, equipment return, and customer communication.
- Ensure timely completion, review, and submission of timekeeping, billing, per diem, fleet, equipment, and closeout documentation required by GMB and utility customers.
- Lead post-storm, post-project, and operational after-action reviews to identify lessons learned, process improvements, and leadership follow-up.
- Develop, monitor, and communicate operational KPIs related to safety, productivity, utilization, customer service, documentation compliance, and financial performance.
Other
- Perform other duties as assigned to support departmental and organizational goals, including tasks outside of the primary job function as operational needs evolve.
Experience & qualifications
- 10+ years of utility field operations experience, including leadership of line crews, storm response, and/or contracted utility day-work operations.
- 5+ years of experience in senior field leadership, such as General Foreman, Superintendent, Operations Manager, or equivalent role.
- Journeyman Lineman background strongly preferred, with demonstrated understanding of overhead distribution, transmission, storm restoration, and utility construction practices.
- Strong working knowledge of utility customer expectations, IBEW labor environments, safety regulations, field documentation, timekeeping, and contract compliance.
- Experience coordinating geographically dispersed crews, equipment, vendors, and field leadership under fast-changing operational conditions.
- Proven ability to lead through high-pressure events while maintaining safety, professionalism, communication, and customer confidence.
- Strong judgment, communication, problem-solving, documentation, and decision-making skills.
Technical skills & competencies
- Journeyman Lineman certification or equivalent field experience strongly preferred.
- Valid driver’s license required; CDL preferred depending on operational assignment and travel needs.
- Safety certifications such as First Aid, CPR, OSHA 10/30, or utility/customer-specific training preferred.
- Comfortable using operational systems, spreadsheets, timekeeping tools, customer portals, and reporting processes to support field execution and closeout.
Job type
Full-Time, Part-time, Salary (Exempt)
Benefits
- Paid Time Off
- Paid Holidays
- Health Insurance Options
- Voluntary Benefit Options
- 401(k) Plans
Physical & travel requirements
This role requires up to 40% travel, including overnight travel and occasional short-notice travel during storm or emergency response events. Travel may include visits to project sites, storm locations, utility partners, and corporate offices. A valid driver’s license and ability to travel by vehicle and air are required.
The position is primarily office-based but includes periodic field visits to active construction and utility sites. Candidates must be able to sit for extended periods, work at a computer, communicate effectively, and occasionally stand, walk uneven terrain, climb stairs, and wear required PPE (hard hat, safety glasses, high-visibility vest, composite-toe boots). Ability to lift up to 25 pounds occasionally is required.
Storm duty & operational support requirement
As a company supporting critical infrastructure and emergency response operations, all employees share a responsibility to support storm restoration and emergency response efforts when activated. Storm duty may require extended hours, travel to affected areas, and temporary reassignment of duties to meet operational needs. While on storm duty, employees may be required to assist in functions outside of their regular role or department to support restoration, logistics, safety, or administrative efforts. Flexibility, teamwork, and a willingness to respond where needed are essential components of employment.
Schedule
- Varies Due to Nature of Industry (M-F)
- Weekend Hours as required
Equal opportunity statement
GMB Powerline Services, LLC is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or protected veteran status.
