Lead Gas Compliance Specialist - Pipeline Safety & Regulatory Affairs

The Lead Gas Compliance Specialist serves as the organization's subject matter expert on federal and state pipeline safety regulations, providing authoritative interpretation and guidance to operational leadership across the utility's multi-state gas operations. This is a manager-level individual contributor role embedded within the compliance function, acting as an internal consultant to the business on regulatory interpretation, standards development, and compliance risk. The Specialist also engages directly with pipeline safety regulators and supports the organization's response to potential violations and incident investigations.

Regulatory Interpretation & Advisory

• Serve as the primary internal resource for interpreting PHMSA pipeline safety regulations (49 CFR 190-199) and applicable state pipeline safety requirements in the context of day-to-day operations.
• Adviseoperational leadership on the compliance implications of field conditions, proposed practices, and emerging regulatory changes.
• Provide clear, actionable guidance on ambiguous or complex regulatory questions, translating code requirements into operationally practical recommendations.
• Monitor federal and state regulatory developments, rulemaking activity, and enforcement trends, and communicate relevant impacts to the business.

Standards & Procedures Support

• Consult with operations and engineering teams on the development and revision of internal standards, procedures, and operating protocols to ensure alignment with regulatory requirements.
• Recommend precise language and framing for internal standards that accurately reflect regulatory intent and minimize compliance exposure.
• Review proposed changes to operational programs, including DIMP, TIMP, and O&M plans, for regulatory alignment.

Potential Violation &PenaltiesSupport

• Evaluate potential compliance issues and probable violations, providing expert assessment of regulatory applicability, severity, and recommended response.
• Support incident investigations by advising on the regulatory dimensions of operational events, including applicable code provisions and documentation requirements.
• Assistin developing corrective action plans and regulatory responses related toidentifiedcompliance gaps or enforcement actions.

Regulatory Engagement

• Interact directly with federal andstatepipeline safety regulators during audits, inspections, and inquiries.
• Support preparation of regulatory filings, data submissions, responses to notices of probableviolation, and other formal communications.
• Represent the compliance function in industry forums, working groups, or regulatory proceedings asappropriate.

Internal Consulting & Knowledge Building

• Serve as a resource across functions, including operations, engineering, safety, and legal, on matters requiring regulatory complianceexpertise.
• Develop and deliver training or briefings on regulatory topics to operational and compliance personnel.
• Contribute to the organization's compliance knowledgebasebydocumenting interpretive positions, regulatory precedents, and lessons learned.

• Requires a bachelor's degree in engineering,technicaldiscipline, or a related field, or equivalent combination of education and extensive experience in gas utility operations.
• Professional Engineer (PE) license is preferred.

• Requires seven to ten (7-10) years of experience in gas utility operations, pipeline safety compliance, or regulatory affairs, withdemonstrateddepth in PHMSA regulations and state pipeline safety codes.
• Strong working knowledge of 49 CFR 190-199, including distribution and transmission integrity management requirements.
• Demonstrated ability to interpret complex regulatory language and apply it to operational scenarios.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to articulate regulatory positions clearly to both technical and non-technical audiences.
• Experience interacting with pipeline safety regulators at the federal orstatelevel.
• Ability to work independently and exercise sound professional judgment on complex compliance matters.
• Direct experience in gas distribution or transmission operations, construction, or maintenance.
• Experience supporting regulatory audits, enforcement proceedings, orviolationresponse.
• Familiarity with industry standards and guidance from organizations such as AGA, API, or ASME.
• Experience in a multi-state gas utility operating environment with exposure to varying state regulatory requirements.

• Able to communicate either written and verbal communications either in person or through technical equipment such as telephone.
• Able todemonstrateand apply the manual dexterity tooperatea personal computer and common office equipment.
• Able towork ona varied schedule with projects and deadlines requiring the ability to meet changing demands.

• Required toparticipatein CenterPoint Energy'sAll HazardsEmergency Operation Plan (AHOP).
• Able to work in a fast-paced environment.
• Able to work indoors in an office environment and outdoors with occasional exposure to all weather conditions, equipment, and noise when at field installation sites.
• Able to travel occasionally overnight.
• Able to work in an office environment.