Field Operations Manager

Field Operations ManagerLocation: Minneapolis, MN, US, 55401Lake Superior Consulting is seeking a Field Operations Manager to join our team. The primary purpose of the Field Operations Manager is to create, sustain, and champion an environment where every Locator has the opportunity, support, and accountability to become the best Locator they can be - demonstrating mastery of their craft, the humility to continually learn, and the judgment to recognize when ambiguity requires escalation. The Field Operations Manager fulfills this responsibility by creating an environment where: The right people are doing the right work at the right time. Work is assigned based on customer priorities, Locator capability, and available capacity. Supervisors spend the majority of their time coaching and developing people. Continuous improvement is embedded in daily operations.The effectiveness of this role will be measured by the following priorities (in order): At fault Damages On time Locates Locator productivity (Locates per Hour Paid)Your Overarching Leadership Principle Every decision should increase the amount of time Locators spend performing damage-free, on-time locates and Supervisors spend developing people and balancing work across the team.Your Primary PrioritiesBuild CapabilityDevelop exceptional Supervisors by removing operational distractions so they can focus on coaching, mentoring, and developing their teams.Build CapacityContinuously evaluate workforce capability and capacity, anticipating future resource needs before they become operational constraints.Optimize ExecutionCreate consistently high-performing field operations by balancing workload, workforce capability, and available capacity across the region. Ensure standardized operating processes are consistently followed across all Supervisor teams, reducing variation while continuously improving execution.Strengthen PartnershipsEnsure customer commitments are achieved through proactive communication, effective prioritization, and continuous operational improvement.You Will Accomplish This By Ensuring the effective daily assignment and prioritization of work across multiple Supervisor teams based on customer commitments, Locator capability and capacity, as well as customer and operational priorities. Directing Project Coordinator priorities to understand upcoming project work, coordinate resources, ensure proactive and effective communication with contractors and locate requestors, and proactively balance project and routine locating activities. Collaborating daily with Supervisors to review workload, staffing, production, quality, safety, and performance while helping remove obstacles that impact execution. Using daily operational metrics to identify trends, remove barriers, and improve execution, including damage investigation, audit results, on-time completion, ticket aging, backlog, and production, taking corrective action when needed. Ensuring Supervisors have the resources, information, and operational support to successfully develop and optimize their teams. Working with the Quality, Training, and Audit Team to identify trends, reinforce standardized processes, and improve field performance. Coordinating with the District Operations Manager regarding customer priorities, major project activity, resource needs, and emerging operational risks. Participating as needed in recruiting, workforce planning, and succession planning to ensure the organization has the capability and capacity needed for current and future demand. Championing a culture where safety, quality, customer service, mastery, humility, and sound judgment guide every operational decision.Skills, Experience, and Qualifications That Will Help You Be Successful Demonstrated mastery of utility locating methods, client specifications, applicable regulations, and safety practices. A passion for developing others, with a track record of leading through humility, accountability, and sound judgment, and proven ability to coach, mentor, and develop people, as well as success with coaching and building high-performing teams. The ability to anticipate operational challenges and make timely, balanced decisions with strong analytical and problem-solving skills with the ability to make sound operational decisions under changing conditions. Strong communication skills and the ability to build trust with employees, customers, and business partners. Proficiency with Microsoft Office and operational reporting tools.Be Part of Something Bigger – Join the Team at Lake Superior Consulting! At LSC, you'll have the opportunity to collaborate with top-tier talent and take on meaningful projects in industries including Liquids and Natural Gas, Power, Mining, Water and Wastewater, Renewables, and Manufacturing. If you're driven, curious, and ready to grow your career while making a difference, we want to hear from you. Lake Superior Consulting offers a competitive compensation package. The actual starting salary will be determined based on a variety of factors, including your skills, experience, and office/market location. The anticipated range for this position is $110,000 - $125,000. Our benefits include:Medical, Dental, Vision InsuranceFlexible work options401K (6% company match)Company paid life, AD&D, and short/long term disabilityPaid time off (PTO)Paid holidays (twelve per year)Tuition reimbursementBias-Free Hiring Practices: Lake Superior Consulting is proud to be an Equal Employment employer. We celebrate diversity and do not discriminate based on race, religion, color, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, age, veteran status, disability status, or any other applicable characteristics protected by law.