Hiring Service Manager in Houston, Texas

JF Petroleum Group is a Houston-based independent oil and gas field services firm with 18 years of operational experience across the Gulf Coast and Permian Basin, serving more than 35 small to mid-sized exploration and production (E&P) operators with wellhead maintenance, pump jack repair, flow line installation, and industrial fleet management services. Our 120-person team is focused on delivering reliable, compliant, and cost-effective field services, with a 94% client retention rate and a track record of zero lost-time safety incidents across our field operations in 2024. We are hiring a Service Manager to lead our 22-person field service team, overseeing end-to-end operations for our Houston and East Texas service territory. This role replaces our outgoing Service Manager, who is moving to a corporate strategy leadership position after 7 years with the team, and reports directly to the Director of Field Operations. The ideal candidate will have deep experience in oil and gas field services, proven team leadership skills, and a track record of meeting operational, safety, and client satisfaction targets. Key responsibilities for this role include: 1. Oversee daily dispatch, scheduling, and on-site execution of wellhead maintenance, pump jack repair, and flow line installation projects for client well sites across the Houston and East Texas operating areas, targeting 98% on-time service delivery and <2% rework rates per quarter. 2. Manage a $2.1M annual operational budget for the service department, including vendor negotiation for replacement parts and subcontractor services, tracking cost variances within 3% of projected monthly spend, and identifying efficiency gains to reduce per-job costs by 5% year-over-year. 3. Conduct weekly performance reviews for 22 field technicians and 3 service coordinators, providing targeted coaching on safety compliance, technical repair standards, and client communication, with a goal of reducing team turnover by 15% in the first 12 months of tenure. 4. Serve as the primary point of contact for 12 core E&P clients, resolving escalated service issues within 4 business hours, conducting quarterly business reviews to align service offerings with client operational needs, and maintaining a 92%+ client retention rate for all managed accounts. 5. Ensure full compliance with OSHA, API, and EPA regulations for all field operations, leading monthly safety training sessions, conducting weekly site audits, and maintaining zero lost-time incidents across the service team for the 2025 operating year. 6. Implement and optimize the use of our service management software stack (Salesforce Field Service, Jira Service Management, and Fleetio) to track job progress, parts inventory, and technician time, reducing administrative processing time for service tickets by 20% within the first 6 months of the role. 7. Collaborate with the operations and business development teams to scope new service contracts, providing technical input on feasibility, resource allocation, and pricing for upcoming client projects, contributing to a 10% increase in new service contract revenue in 2025. 8. Lead root cause analysis for major service failures or client escalations, developing corrective action plans and updating standard operating procedures to prevent recurrence, with documented implementation of 90% of recommended process improvements within 30 days of incident occurrence. Work environment and team culture: This role operates on a hybrid schedule, with 40% of time spent in our 12,000 sq ft Houston headquarters service yard, 50% split between client well sites across East Texas and occasional travel to Permian Basin client locations (1-2 weeks per quarter), and 10% remote administrative work. Our team operates on a no-blame problem solving framework – we prioritize supporting field teams and addressing systemic bottlenecks over punitive measures when operational issues arise, with weekly open forums where technicians can flag concerns directly to leadership. We offer flexible scheduling for field staff to accommodate personal commitments, and the leadership team hosts monthly team cookouts and quarterly profit-sharing celebrations for all service department staff. All team members have access to our tuition reimbursement program for industry certification costs, and we cover all expenses for required safety training and continuing education. Candidate requirements: - Minimum 5 years of experience in petroleum services, industrial maintenance, or heavy equipment repair, with at least 2 years of experience leading a field service team of 10+ personnel - Valid Texas driver’s license; CDL Class B with hazmat endorsement required (we provide full reimbursement for CDL testing and endorsement fees for qualified candidates) - Proven track record of managing operational budgets of $1M+ and meeting cost, delivery, and safety targets - Strong familiarity with OSHA safety regulations for oil and gas operations, with experience conducting safety audits and leading team training sessions - Excellent client relationship management skills, with experience working with E&P operators and resolving escalated service issues - Proficiency in service management software (Salesforce Field Service, Jira, or similar platforms) and intermediate Microsoft Office Suite skills - Ability to pass a pre-employment drug screening and background check, and willingness to travel to field sites across Texas as needed - Preferred qualifications: API wellhead maintenance certifications, experience with pump jack and flow line repair, or fluency in Spanish (many of our field technicians and client contacts are bilingual) Compensation and benefits: The salary range for this role is $92,000 – $118,000 annually, adjusted based on relevant experience and qualifications, plus a 15% annual performance bonus tied to team delivery metrics, client retention rates, and cost savings targets. Benefits include 100% employer-paid health, dental, and vision insurance for you and your dependents, a 401(k) plan with 6% employer match, 20 days of paid time off plus 10 paid company holidays, and 5 paid sick days per year. We also provide a dedicated company vehicle for field use, a $1,500 annual stipend for professional development and certification costs, and a $200 monthly cell phone and internet stipend for remote work days. All service team members are eligible for our annual profit-sharing program, which distributed an average of $3,200 per employee in 2024. Career growth opportunities: This Service Manager role is a direct path to senior operations leadership positions within JF Petroleum Group: past Service Managers have advanced to roles as Regional Operations Director, Director of Field Services, and Vice President of Operations within 3-5 years of tenure. We prioritize internal promotions, with 70% of our current executive and operations leadership team having been promoted from within the service department. You will also have access to exclusive industry training through the Petroleum Equipment and Services Association (PESA), and we cover all costs for attending the annual PESA conference and relevant technical workshops to build your professional network and technical expertise. Hiring process and next steps: The hiring process for this role includes 3 total interviews: a 30-minute phone screen with our HR Manager to discuss your background and fit for the role, a 1-hour on-site interview with the current Service Manager and Director of Operations to review your past leadership experience and technical knowledge, and a 30-minute final interview with our CFO to discuss budget management and financial acumen. We aim to extend an offer to the selected candidate within 2 weeks of the final interview, with a target start date of October 14, 2024. To apply, submit your resume and a 1-paragraph summary of your experience leading field service teams for industrial or energy clients via email to [email protected], with the subject line Service Manager Application - [Your Full Name]. We review all submissions within 3 business days, and will contact qualified candidates to schedule the initial phone screen.