Project Director - CCS

Provide leadership, technical oversight, and project governance for Tallgrass's Carbon Capture and Sequestration (CCS) well and subsurface execution organization. The Project Director is responsible for the full lifecycle management of the CCS well delivery team and projects, from concept development and business case formation through engineering, execution, and transition to operations. This role requires leading a team of well delivery professionals and demonstrating influential leadership of well delivery and subsurface execution work with accountability for project performance across safety, schedule, budget, quality, and regulatory compliance.

Essential duties and responsibilities:

Well Delivery Team Leadership:  Manage a group of well delivery professionals and create a work environment and culture that emphasizes teamwork, collaboration, and accountability

Project Leadership & Governance

• Execute the strategic vision, roadmap, and execution framework for the CCS subsurface project, aligning with Tallgrass's broader corporate and commercial objectives.
• Establish and maintain project governance structures, including stage-gate review processes, risk management frameworks, and performance reporting to executive leadership.
• Drive continuous improvement initiatives across project processes, tools, and methodologies to improve efficiency, safety, and project outcomes.

Project Execution & Technical Oversight

• Providing on-site representation and expert judgment regarding CCS projects and oil and gas well implementation.
• Provide technical oversight and expert judgment across all phases of CCS well delivery, including geological evaluation, drilling engineering, completion design, surface equipment, and commissioning.
• Accountable for performance against safety, schedule, budget, quality, and regulatory compliance metrics; develop and execute corrective action plans as required.
• Direct the development of CCS scopes of work, integrated master schedules, cost estimates, and execution plans for the CCS well delivery portfolio.
• Oversee contractor and vendor selection processes, ensuring competitive, technically sound, and commercially favorable procurement outcomes.
• Review and approve major bid packages, contract terms, and change orders in coordination with Supply Chain and Legal.
• Direct real-time monitoring of drilling operations, drilling optimization initiatives, and data-driven decision-making across the project.

Stakeholder Engagement & External Relations

• Serve as the Tallgrass representative in engagements with customers, regulatory agencies (EPA, DOT, OSHA, state counterparts), government bodies, and the public on matters related to the CCS project.
• Develop and deliver presentations communicating project strategy, status, risks, and recommendations to Tallgrass senior leadership, boards, and external stakeholders.
• Build and maintain strategic relationships with key industry partners, regulators, and customers to support project growth and regulatory advancement.
• Lead or direct stakeholder engagement efforts associated with permitting, public comment, and agency coordination for EPA UIC Class VI wells and associated infrastructure.

Financial Management

• Own the CCS project budget, including capital expenditure planning, cost control, variance analysis, and cash flow forecasting.
• Organize and manage projects within the Company's financial control system; review and approve expenditures, commitments, and monthly cost control reports at the project level.

Compliance & Risk Management

• Ensure all project activities are executed in full compliance with applicable Federal, State, and Local regulations, including PHMSA 1170/1171, EPA UIC Class VI, EPA Subpart RR, and all relevant Tallgrass policies and procedures.
• Maintain a comprehensive understanding of the evolving CCS regulatory landscape and proactively integrate regulatory changes into project planning and execution strategies.
• Direct the preparation and maintenance of all required project and project documentation to assure compliance with Corporate, Federal, State, and other governing body requirements.
• Promote and model the highest standards of personal and team safety; ensure that environmental and human impacts are identified, assessed, and mitigated across all project activities.

Additional Responsibilities

• Deal with a wide variety of people with tact, courtesy, and professionalism.
• Maintain regular, dependable attendance and a consistently high level of performance.
• Will work non-traditional hours as needed.
• Maintain a high regard for personal safety, for the safety of company assets and employees, and the general public.
• Other daily, weekly, monthly, or special project duties as identified and defined.
• Other duties as assigned.

Minimum requirements:

Education:

Bachelor's degree from an accredited institution in Engineering, Project Management, or Construction Management is required, along with 10 years of progressive experience in capital project and project management in the midstream or upstream energy sector. 

Experience/Specific Knowledge:

• Demonstrated experience leading and managing multi-disciplinary engineering and project management teams.
• Extensive background in process and petroleum engineering with direct CCS/CCUS project experience.
• Exposure in geological and petrophysical analysis related to CCUS, including evaluation of sequestration formations and reservoir characterization.
• Drilling engineering expertise encompassing casing design, downhole equipment, surface equipment, and formation-specific considerations related to UGS and CCUS.
• In-depth knowledge of PHMSA 1170/1171, EPA UIC Class VI disposal wells, EPA Subpart RR – Geologic Sequestration of Carbon Dioxide, and demonstrated ability to lead compliance projects in alignment with current and emerging CO2 regulatory frameworks.
• Proven track record of managing large, complex capital projects encompassing multiple concurrent projects across broad geographic regions.
• Advanced knowledge of project and project management methodologies, including work breakdown structures, integrated master scheduling, cost and schedule control, earned value management, risk management, design and construction management, resource planning, procurement, and permitting.
• Experience leading drilling optimization projects and overseeing real-time monitoring of drilling operations at scale.
• Understanding of corporate financial systems, capital budgeting processes, and economic analysis as applied to project and project investment justification.
• Demonstrated ability to build and maintain strategic relationships with regulators, customers, contractors, and executive stakeholders.
• Working knowledge of applicable regulations and agencies including DOT, OSHA, EPA, and various state counterparts.
• Familiarity with DOT, NEC, ASME, API, ASTM, and other specifications, standards, and recommended practices typical in the natural gas or hazardous liquid transportation industry.
• Proficient in MS Office applications including Excel, Word, Access, PowerPoint, Project, and Outlook.
• Must possess and maintain a valid driver's license and a driving record satisfactory to the company and its insurers (for travel).

Certifications, Licenses & Registrations:

 Competencies, Skills & Abilities:

• Visionary leadership with the ability to set strategic direction and inspire a high-performing team.

• Strong executive presence and ability to communicate complex technical and business information clearly to diverse audiences, including C-suite, regulators, and customers.

• Exceptional organizational, analytical, and critical thinking skills with the ability to manage competing priorities across a complex project portfolio.

• Strong financial acumen with the ability to manage large capital budgets and develop compelling business cases.

• Expert problem-solving and decision-making skills, with the ability to operate effectively in ambiguous or rapidly evolving environments.

• Highly collaborative with strong interpersonal skills; able to lead through influence across organizational boundaries.

• Goal-oriented, self-motivated, and able to operate independently at a senior level while maintaining effective upward and lateral communication.

• Demonstrated commitment to safety, environmental stewardship, and regulatory compliance.

• Must be flexible and able to work effectively in a dynamic, fast-paced team environment while consistently maintaining a professional and respectful demeanor with co-workers, clients, vendors, and regulatory agencies.

• Must be able to perform all essential and marginal functions of the job.

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 50 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 50 pounds.
• Must be able to stand and walk for extended periods of time.
• Must be able to reach, climb, stoop, kneel, crouch, and crawl.
• Must be able to work in confined spaces.
• 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, areas of loose rock, and working in confined spaces.
• Overtime may be required and is anticipated.

Working Conditions:

• Travel is required and anticipated as 10-20% across a broad geographic region.
• The majority of the typical workday is spent in an office environment, though this may change, depending upon the location assignment.  For work performed out of doors, weather conditions vary and can be extreme, depending upon location assignment, and may include severe seasonal changes which are primarily influenced by geographic location.
• Must be able to work in all weather conditions.
• Compensation 220-240k
• Overtime may be required and extended work hours in cases of emergencies.
• 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:

Technical work direction and oversight of staff and contractors. 
 

PREFERRED EDUCATION, EXPERIENCE, CERTIFICATIONS, COMPETENCIES, SKILLS, & ABILITIES:

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

• Ten (10) years of specific experience leading drilling and completion programs in conjunction with subsurface and regulatory teams.

• Project Management Professional (PMP) certification or equivalent project management credential.

• Knowledge of natural gas and oil pipeline, plant, and pump station operations.

• Demonstrated experience leading organizational change and building new project capabilities in a growth environment.

• Experience with carbon markets, carbon accounting, or CO2 transportation and injection infrastructure development.