Planning Associate-080490

Career Opportunities: Planning Associate

Starting pay: $47.16 - $52.43 hourly

Join SoCalGas today and share our vision of becoming the cleanest natural gas utility in North America. Headquartered in the heart of downtown Los Angeles, we deliver affordable and increasingly renewable energy to 22 million customers across central and southern California.

Job Overview:
SoCalGas is looking for a well-rounded and organized individual who has an aptitude for detail and has Construction/Planning and customer service experience for our Planning Department. With pay starting at $47.16/hr. up to $52.43/hr. over a two-year progression, we are offering the right candidate an opportunity, providing you with training to become a safe and efficient Planning Associate; skills that will prepare you for a career with SoCalGas. Current opening is at our location in Chatsworth. This is a DOT position.

Position Objective:
The Planning Associate performs project planning functions and serves as a technical resource in the areas of gas distribution system design and operations. This position will utilize sound project management skills to effectively coordinate the design and construction process for projects involving natural gas distribution mains, services, regulators, and meter set assemblies for both New Business and Non-New Business driven initiatives.

In addition to extensive coordination with internal departments, this position will also frequently communicate with external stakeholders and agencies such as residential and non-residential customers, consultants, developers, contractors, and governmental bodies, to provide information, explain Company requirements, and to negotiate and resolve project conflicts or issues, in an effort to help with facilitating the safe distribution of gas service while also delivering high levels of customer service and satisfaction. The ideal candidate is accountable, adaptable, collaborative, composed, efficient, organized, proactive, professional, reliable, responsive, and supportive.

This position will require full-time reporting to the assigned work location and will be subject to the Company’s Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA). A hybrid work schedule may be considered after one year of having successfully completed formal training, subject to the terms and conditions of the agreement.

Job Duties and Responsibilities:

• Ensures the completion of projects within the allocated time and budgetary constraints while adhering to Company guidelines, regulatory requirements, and established safety procedures. Provides coaching and on-the-job training to other personnel performing pipeline planning duties and associated functions.
• Responsible for coordinating the planning process for high pressure, non-standard designs, and complex regulation and pipeline projects, including 20% SMYS pipelines. Plans projects in the most economic and practical manner to serve the best interests of the company.
• Responsible for the accuracy, formation, and validity of construction work packages. Ensures all relevant forms, instructions, and sketches are reviewed and properly documented.
• Utilizes effective project management skills to balance workload. Proactively communicates and meets with internal and external personnel to discuss the abandonment, alteration, installation, or replacement of mains, services, regulation facilities, and/or meter set assemblies to help meet project timelines.
• Proactively reviews changes to operational standards and stays informed about enhancements to company systems and best practices. Willingly offers feedback and perspective to supervision and helps to provide guidance to newer associates.
• Performs thorough initial job site surveys and conducts periodic site visits during the life cycle of a project to proficiently perform field and office planning activities
• Accountable and responsible for prioritizing, monitoring, and acting in support of field emergencies discovered during construction. Supports with other emergency-related incidents as needed.
• Responsible for the safe operation and maintenance of Company vehicles

Skills and Abilities:

• Knowledge of pipeline system components such as couplings, meters, regulators, valves, etc.
• Effective oral and written communication skills to develop and present technical information to diverse audiences
• Possess a high degree of interpersonal skills for collaborating, consulting, negotiating, and presenting
• Time management and organizational skills essential for balancing simultaneous projects
• Creative and conceptual skills to develop a practical design in accordance with established company and regulatory standards. Ability to recognize and resolve problems or issues that may arise during the process.
• Excellent analytical, problem-solving, and decision-making skills
• Ability to review, interpret, and correct construction planning documentation for accuracy and compliance with applicable standards
• Proficiency in gathering and analyzing data to develop sound, logical, construction work plans, propose alternative design solutions, and suggest enhancements to existing processes
• Deal effectively with ambiguity, have good business sense, be highly innovative and creative, demonstrate analytical abilities and high standards for performance and improvement
• Self-starter who can work with limited supervision
• Must be able to work independently and in a team environment

Minimum Qualifications

• Must have a valid California driver’s license.
• Must pass a background check and pre-employment drug test.
• All incumbents are subject to participation in the Company’s random drug testing program.
• Must have experience, training, or education in any of the following fields: Architecture, Construction, Drafting, Engineering, Project Management, Surveying, Urban Planning, or GIS/Mapping.
• Must successfully complete formalized training for the classification.
• Must demonstrate clear and effective oral and business writing communication skills, and ability to operate a PC and knowledge of algebra.
• Must successfully demonstrate in structured interview knowledge of: pipeline materials, field practices and procedures, pipeline record keeping, gas operations and construction including corrosion control, substructures, and assessor maps.
• Must pass a pre-qualification test examination: Advanced Mechanical – Mapping/Planning. No Physical Abilities test is required.

Desired Qualifications

• Associate of Arts degree or college level training in engineering or physical science.
• Vocational training or experience in surveying, drafting, electricity or electronics.
• Understanding of Company’s computer reporting systems.
• Ability to produce detailed piping configurations.
• Experience in Automated Utility Design (AUD).

Physical Demands:
Frequent lifting and/or carrying of objects weighing up to 10 pounds with lifting up to approximately 20 pounds as required. Certain functions of this job may require some physical strength and endurance needed to perform effectively and safely.

Environmental Conditions:
Works both indoors and outdoors. Indoor assignments are in a typical office setting with no regular physical discomfort due to temperature, noise, or dust. Outside assignments provide exposure to all of the above including exposure to construction equipment and normal driving hazards.

Equipment:
Operates PC and accesses several programs including the Microsoft Office Suite, SAP, CPD, GIS. Uses land survey instruments and drafting.

Benefits:
SoCalGas offers a comprehensive, flexible benefits program to help support employees both personally and professionally. These benefits include, but are not limited to:

• Competitive wages
• Medical, dental and vision packages
• 401K match
• Pension Plan

We also offer tools and resources through SoCalGas University, our career development center.

Southern California Gas Company is an EEO/AA Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability or protected veteran status. http://www.dol.gov/ofccp/regs/compliance/posters/pdf/eeopost.pdf

Equal Opportunity Employer Minorities/Women/Protected Veterans/Disabled

Salary : $47 - $52