Jacob Tubul | Quiet Excellence: What Professional and Safety Driven Leadership Looks Like at the Edge

Maintenance management is not measured by headlines or photographs. It is tested in moments when there is no room for error, when a system must keep running, a site is remote, conditions are complex, and the security reality can change at any moment. In those moments, quiet, precise, and responsible work makes the difference between operational continuity and failure.

Jacob Tubul lives these moments every day. As the site manager of the “Hourglass” project at Electra FM, he is responsible for ensuring that critical systems continue to operate safely, continuously, and with full accountability, even in edge environments where improvisation is not an option.

The recognition he recently received certificate of excellence for outstanding safety leadership, did not come by chance. It reflects a professional approach built over many years, grounded in clear values: responsibility, professionalism, and above all, safety first.

Jacob’s journey began long before the current project. A retired IDF and Israeli Air Force serviceman, and an aircraft technician by profession, he brings precision, discipline, and decision-making capabilities to civilian work both in routine operations and under emergency conditions. Since 2015, he has lived in Eilat and served as site manager for the “Hourglass” project, overseeing an exceptionally wide sector from the Jordanian border, through the Egyptian border, and all the way to Kerem Shalom and Zikim in the Gaza region.

The work itself is complex and demands full availability. It includes the maintenance of operational facilities, command centers, and collection sites across electrical systems, HVAC, and construction, providing continuous 24/7 operational support. Often, this involves rough access roads, long distances, and challenging conditions reality that requires meticulous planning, full coordination, and precise execution by field teams.

But for Jacob, responsibility does not end with operations. It begins with safety. In 2025, the project achieved a clear and unequivocal milestone: zero safety incidents. This achievement is based not only on procedures, but on consistent, day-to-day implementation on the ground. A quality assurance audit conducted by management further reinforced recognition of the high professional standards and the way work is carried out on site. “It’s a sense of unit pride,” he says, “but first and foremost it’s about getting home safely. Even when the work is complex and the travel is demanding, safety is the first value.”

For Jacob, safety is not a clause in a document; it is a way of working. It is present in every detail: from vehicle and equipment maintenance, through proper attire and personal protective equipment, to driving behavior and onsite conduct. The main challenge, he notes, is ensuring that procedures are followed even when teams operate remotely. This is where personal example comes into play: safety shoes, order and cleanliness, and daily discipline. “Practice what you preach.”

As part of weekly team meetings, he presents safety incident investigations, analyzes conclusions together with employees, and ensures that lessons learned are translated into action, not as a response to an incident, but to prevent the next one.

Ultimately, the work of the Maintenance Division at Electra FM is reflected in things that are not always visible: operational continuity, high availability, and preventive thinking that enable the organization to operate safely over time. In a complex and operationally sensitive project, success is not individual; it is the result of teamwork.

And when Yaakov is asked to summarize what guides him, he does so simply: “Safety is not an addition to work – it is an integral part of it. Personal responsibility, strict adherence to procedures and reporting risks – are what save lives.”