Vice President - Health and Safety, Capital Projects

Guide overall execution planning and permitting of projects and project management processes to meet company objectives and support company assets. Partners with stakeholders to support major project development efforts from inception to execution and in-service of facilities. Lead, plan, and direct the safety oversight and administration of the company Health and Safety Program (HSP) and contractual safety requirements across key major projects at an Executive level. Guide the prevention and correction of unsafe working conditions at the project level and ensure compliance with all applicable safety and health regulations. Partner with stakeholders to embed a culture of safety from project inception through execution and in-service of facilities. Expected to play a significant company-level Executive leadership role relative to advancing the Company's safety strategy and performance.

Essential duties and responsibilities:

• Demonstrate a culture of safety in project execution across all internal and external resources involved for safe and successful completion of projects. 
• Development permitting and project execution strategy for major project initiatives with project teams, commercial, operations and executive management. 
• Work closely with Commercial development teams to support growth initiatives with appropriate level of design, schedule, and cost indications to allow progress toward decisions of feasibility and economic viability. 
• Provide company leadership and direction as it relates to all areas of safety and training across internal and external project resources.
• Demonstrate and enforce a culture of safety in project execution for the safe and successful completion of projects.
• Assist in the development and implementation of the company Health and Safety Program (HSP) and oversee its administration at the project level.
• Coordinate and conduct regular work area inspections, assessments, surveys, and program evaluations to identify potential hazards and ensure compliance with all applicable safety and health regulations and contract requirements.
• Comply with and assure compliance with all regulations local, State, Federal, tribal, and other on all aspects of the project.
• Regularly review jobsite conditions as they pertain to OSHA, ICRA, and public protection. Conduct follow-up inspections and track risks, hazards, and discrepancies in accordance with the company HSP.
• Keep project leadership abreast of potential areas of risk and identify cost-effective solutions to mitigate them.
• Conduct or facilitate safety training to promote safety awareness with staff and project personnel.
• Assist project teams in the investigation of all incidents (WC/GL/Near Miss/etc.) and document them properly. Assist in implementation of corrective actions related to each incident.
• Participate in the Injury Review Process and coordinate with and support the Corporate Claims department for all injuries and incidents at the project.
• Audit the pre-task safety analysis process for accuracy and depth.
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with employees at all levels and with external entities (e.g., OSHA, EPA, DOT).
• Foster the company culture of compliance and safety through frequent discussions and clear communication of accountability.
• Comply with and ensure compliance with all local, State, Federal, tribal, and other regulations on all aspects of the project.
• Build, develop, and manage a strong, diverse safety team capable of supporting project safety initiatives.
• Provide guidance and mentorship to junior, mid, and senior-level safety personnel and prepare them to assume future leadership roles within the organization.
• Regularly provide feedback to upper management regarding project safety status and personnel performance.
• Report to Executive Management on current safety performance and realistic future projections; bring solution-oriented analysis, alternatives, and recommendations.
• Lead efforts to develop and improve personnel, organizational processes, safety standards, and procedures.
• Continually evaluate and modify safety procedures and best practices to ensure successful implementation.
• Effectively interface with customer representatives, regulators, Tallgrass staff, contractors, and others as required.
• Keep abreast of industry safety activities, technologies, and trends, ensuring Executive Management is informed of developments impacting current and future project safety.
• Demonstrate and enforce the highest professional integrity, ethics, and safety discipline.
• Carry out assigned tasks and projects to completion with minimal supervision; able to work independently and manage multiple tasks.
• Deal with a wide variety of people with tact, courtesy, and professionalism.
• Speak clearly, both in person and by telephone, using a high level of verbal skills, and listen carefully.
• Maintain regular, dependable attendance and a consistently high level of performance.
• Perform all job duties in accordance with Federal, State, and Local Regulations and Tallgrass Policies and Procedures.
• Will work non-traditional hours as needed.
• Other daily, weekly, monthly, or special project duties as identified and defined.
• Other duties as assigned.

Minimum requirements:

Education:

• Bachelor’s and/or Master’s degree from an accredited institution in technical, business, legal, science, engineering, or a related discipline. Bachelor's degree in Occupational Health and Safety, Construction Management, or a related field.

Experience/Specific Knowledge:

• Minimum 15 - 20 years’ direct work experience in engineering or project management of natural gas or hazardous liquid pipeline or facility projects including high-pressure gas and liquid transmission, metering, compression, pump station, storage, truck loading terminals, gathering, treating, and processing. 
• Relevant experience working in the construction industry as a Safety Manager.
• Demonstrated superior leadership outcomes in the areas of leading self, leading others, and leading an organization. 
• Proven ability to drive positive change with continuous improvement. Proven track record of successful, innovative leadership and delivery of performance results in complex operations, maintenance, or engineering activities. 
• Must have large Engineering, Procurement and Construction (EPC) and infrastructure project experience.
• Working knowledge of applicable regulations and agencies such as OSHA, DOT, EPA, and various state counterparts.
• Demonstrated superior leadership outcomes in the areas of leading self, leading others, and leading an organization.
• Proven ability to drive positive change with continuous improvement.
• Strong analytical skills and logical thought processes.
• Exceptional verbal and written communication skills, including the ability to present ideas, proposals, and results to business segment leaders and to internal and external customers.
• Ability to organize and prioritize daily work, including tracking and managing large projects, and see projects to completion while maintaining strict confidentiality (as necessary).
• Intermediate to strong proficiency level in MS Office applications that may include but are not limited to Excel, Word, Access, PowerPoint, and Outlook.

Certifications, Licenses & Registrations:

• Must possess and maintain a valid driver's license and a driving record satisfactory to the company and its insurers (for travel).

Competencies, Skills & Abilities:

• Strong organizational and time management skills.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills.
• Speak clearly, both in person and by telephone, using a high level of verbal skills, and listen carefully.
• Strong analytical skills.
• Proven management and supervisory skills.
• Ability to successfully manage multiple issues under strict deadlines and a willingness to delegate to and mentor employees.
• Ability to deal with a wide variety of people with tact, courtesy, and professionalism.
• Must be a problem-solver with the ability to find resolutions and resolve conflicts effectively.
• Must be goal-oriented, self-motivated, and able to work independently.
• Must be flexible and able to work effectively in a team environment and consistently maintain a professional and respectful demeanor with co-workers, clients, vendors, and regulatory agencies.
• Must be able to work with a team, take direction from management, adhere to required work schedules, focus attention on details, and follow work rules.
• Ability to successfully perform multiple tasks with strict deadlines.
• Ability to organize and prioritize daily work.
• Must be able to perform all essential and marginal functions of the job.
• Job level commensurate with experience and skill sets; position will be filled depending on qualifications, experience, and skill sets of the successful candidate.

Physical Demands:

All of the physical requirements listed below are those that may be necessary for an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• Sitting; standing; walking or moving throughout facility; driving; talking; seeing (specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and ability to adjust focus); hearing; feeling; bending or stooping; squatting or crouching; reaching; kneeling; pushing; pulling; lifting up to 25 lbs.
• Minimal safety hazards; general office working conditions.
• Must be able to sit for prolonged periods of time.
• The employee is regularly required to use hands to type, touch, handle, or feel. The employee is required to talk and hear. The employee is frequently required to stand and reach with hands and arms. The employee is occasionally required to walk and climb or balance. The employee must regularly lift and/or move up to 10 pounds and occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds.
• Field activities may include walking to and amidst work and/or construction sites, climbing in and out of trenches, working around heavy equipment, negotiating rough terrain and areas of loose rock, and working in confined spaces.

Working Conditions:

• Required to carry a cell phone and be available to respond during working and non-working hours.
• The successful candidate will be required to clear a drug screen and a complete background check, including a credit report for certain positions, after an offer has been extended and prior to being employed.

Supervisory Responsibility: 

Yes

Preferred Education, Experience, Certifications, Competencies, Skills & Abilities

Above the minimum requirements; not required but advantageous in this position:

• Construction Health Safety Technician (CHST) or Graduate Safety Practitioner (GSP) preferred.
• Master's degree from an accredited institution in Business, Engineering, or a related discipline.