Director, Operations - Corpus

Buckeye is the premier infrastructure and logistics provider for the world's energy needs, both today and tomorrow. Since 1886, we have successfully navigated transitions in the way energy has been distributed to continually meet the needs of an evolving market and industry environment. Our people are a critical element to the success and longevity of our operational history and our future as we seek to thrive through the energy transition.

We own and operate a diversified global network of integrated assets providing midstream logistic solutions, primarily consisting of the transportation, storage, processing, and marketing of liquid petroleum products. We are committed to safely and responsibly providing world-class service to meet the continually evolving energy needs of our customers and the communities we serve. As part of this commitment to our customers, we are continually diversifying our platform and service offerings to enable less carbon intensive energy solutions and undertaking decarbonization efforts on our operations.

Buckeye Partners is currently seeking a Director, Operations - Corpus with 10+ years of refining, petrochemical, gas plant, terminal or marine experience in the Oil & Gas Industry to join our team!

Role Summary:
The Director, Operations - Corpus provides strategic and operational leadership for plant processing operations, driving efficiency, reliability, and regulatory compliance across all systems and processes. This role is accountable for ensuring the safe and efficient operation of complex equipment such as LPG refrigeration units, distillation units, and other critical systems, while championing continuous improvement and innovation. The Operations Director partners with cross-functional teams to manage and minimize operational risks, enhance environmental performance, improved reliability, product quality, reduce costs, and advance long-term operational excellence through strategic planning, technology adoption, and talent development.

Key Responsibilities:

• Strategic Operations Management
• Provide overarching leadership for all processing operations, setting the strategic direction to maximize production efficiency, equipment reliability, and product quality.
• Monitor and interpret key performance indicators, including process variables, lab data, and operational metrics, to identify opportunities for optimization and resolve complex challenges.
• Lead the development and implementation of best practices for operating and maintaining critical equipment, including compressors, pumps, distillation columns, vapor recovery units, and heat exchangers.
• Establish and refine operator training programs, in collaboration with the training department, to ensure personnel possess the technical expertise required for safe and efficient equipment operation.
• Regulatory Compliance and Safety Leadership
• Oversee compliance with all applicable environmental, health, and safety regulations, ensuring strict adherence to OSHA, EPA, USCG, and other local, state, and federal standards.
• Oversee operations safety initiatives, including audits, incident investigations, and the development of corrective action plans.
• Act as the facility's Deputy Incident Commander and/or Operations Section Chief during emergencies, assist in coordinating response activities and ensuring timely communication with regulatory bodies and stakeholders.
• Promote a culture of safety by implementing and reinforcing comprehensive training programs, hazard identification processes, and risk mitigation strategies.
• Provide leadership for process safety performance with a strong understanding of OSHA PSM
• Provide leadership for environmental performance per permit and regulatory requirements
• Operational Excellence and Continuous Improvement
• Drive continuous improvement initiatives to enhance operational efficiency, reduce energy consumption, and optimize resource utilization across the plant.
• Partner with engineering and technical teams to evaluate and implement advanced technologies, automation solutions, and process improvements to strengthen overall performance.
• Work with support teams to benchmark operations against industry standards to identify opportunities for adopting innovative practices and achieving world-class performance.
• Inventory and Product Management
• Work with quality teams in support of robust quality control measures to maintain product integrity and ensure alignment with customer specifications.
• Lead Operations team in understanding and enacting process adjustments to optimize product streams based on product quality data.
• Provide leadership for the Operations team to develop product quality correction plans in the event production tanks are off-spec.
• Financial Management and Capital Planning
• Support the development of and management of the annual operating budget.
• Identify capital investment opportunities, and work with supporting resources to develop scope and cost estimates. Partner with engineering, maintenance, and project management teams as needed.
• Provide stakeholder input regarding project performance to ensure timely and cost-effective delivery, meeting operational targets.
• Leadership and Talent Development
• Lead and mentor a team of operations managers, assistant operations managers, and hourly staff, fostering a high-performance culture and ensuring alignment with safety, operational, and organizational goals.
• Drive succession planning and employee development programs, focusing on building technical skills, leadership capabilities, and emergency response readiness.
• Manage workforce planning, scheduling, and staffing requirements to ensure seamless 24/7 operations.
• Work with General Manager and other stakeholders to build an organization with critical thinking skills to effectively analyze problems and develop potential solutions.

Qualifications:

• Education: Bachelor's degree in a technical field, operations management, or a related field is preferred; equivalent experience will be considered.
• Experience: 10+ years in plant processing operations, with progressive leadership roles; a background in refinery, gas processing, or chemical processing is required.
• Technical Expertise: In-depth knowledge of processing equipment, including compressors, distillation units, heat exchangers, and process control systems.
• Regulatory Knowledge: Strong understanding of environmental, health, and safety regulations relevant to processing facilities, including OSHA PSM.
• Leadership: Proven track record of leading teams, managing complex projects, and driving cultural and operational transformation.

Certificates & Licenses:

• Valid driver's license

Other Skills, Attributes and Abilities:

• Intimate knowledge of crude oil processing and some experience in the following areas: product movement (pipeline, truck, marine), LPG refrigeration, product quality, and regulatory compliance (PHMSA, OSHA PSM, etc)
• A thorough knowledge maintenance, operations, safety, environmental, and emergency policies and practices for multiple transportation modes (pipeline, marine, railcar, truck) is a must.
• Response to on-site and regional events put the incumbent in potentially hazardous situations and requires that person to be OSHA qualified medically to respond to hazardous materials emergencies.
• The incumbent is on-call 24 hours a day, 365 days a year and works extended hours to deal with routine and emergency conditions.
• The position requires excellent written and verbal communication skills. There is a significant amount of interpersonal activity and diplomatic skills are a necessity.
• There is also a significant amount of both operational and economic analysis skills required to solve problems and plan work, and this must often be done under time pressure after many hours and multiple distractions.
• This position also requires exceptional leadership skills, decision-making, and team participation and team development skills.

Essential Functions:

• This position requires the ability to safely and successfully perform essential job functions consistent with ADA, FMLA and other federal, state and local standards, including meeting qualitative and or/quantitative productivity standards.
• This role requires the ability to maintain regular, punctual attendance consistent with the ADA, FMLA and other federal, state and local standards.
• This position requires compliance with all personnel policies.

Physical & Safety Requirements:

• The incumbent must meet medical criteria established by OSHA for emergency response.
• This position may require exposure to hazardous environments and require the wearing of a respirator.
• While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to stand, walk, use hands to handle, or feel, reach with hands and arms, climb or balance and stoop, kneel, crouch or crawl.
• The employee is frequently required to effectively communicate with others.
• This position requires the ability to work comfortably and safely in the proximity to open water.
• This position is subject to DOT drug and alcohol regulations

About You

To be successful in the Buckeye culture, our employees must possess a demonstrated commitment to environmental responsibility and regulatory compliance. Excellent communication, both written and verbal, as well as strong organizational skills are paramount. You must work independently and be able to exercise tact, discretion, and professionalism when dealing with internal and external customers, and when handling sensitive and confidential information. Buckeye wants to create and reward an organizational focus that stimulates the creative and entrepreneurial actions of its employees that result in innovative ways of reducing costs, generating revenues, improving productivity, or improving processes.

Our People First Culture

From managing over 5,000 miles of pipeline to commercializing clean energy projects, our people collaborate to provide world-class service and meet the changing energy needs of our customers. Our employee-first culture means that we invest in our employees and equip them to be fully contributing members of high performing teams. We are focused on collaboration, inclusion, empowerment, accountability, and professional development. We want the best in you to bring out the best in us.Join us as we work together to build a business that is responsive to the needs of the future while continuing to serve the energy needs of communities today.