OMI Pipeline Safety Inspector (Environmental Prot. Spec. II): DORA/Public Utilities Commission

Hybrid Workplace Arrangement

Although this position will be designated under the department’s hybrid workplace program, it will still be required to report to the department office on a scheduled basis and at the discretion of the supervisor, based on business need.

This announcement may be used to fill multiple vacancies.

The Department of Regulatory Agencies (DORA) is dedicated to preserving the integrity of the marketplace and is committed to promoting a fair and competitive business environment in Colorado.

Consumer protection is our mission.

DORA values and promotes diversity, supporting a workplace that is inclusive of people from different backgrounds and experiences; creating an environment that is reflective of our communities; promoting positive relationships; and putting forth unique perspectives to fulfill our mission.

• Employer-sponsored RTD EcoPass, with offices located at Civic Center Plaza, above the RTD Civic Center station and just a few blocks from RTD light rail.
• Extensive work-life programs such as flexible schedules, training and professional development opportunities on a wide variety of subjects, and more!
• Employee wellness programs, including the Colorado State Employee Assistance Program (CSEAP), which provides free, confidential counseling services.
• Bike-to-work programs, including access to storage lockers and bike racks.
• Flexible retirement benefits, including a choice of the PERA Defined Benefit Plan or the PERA Defined Contribution Plan, plus optional 401K and 457 plans.
• Medical and Dental Health Insurance for employees and optional coverage for their dependents.
• Life Insurance for employees, and optional coverage for their dependents.
• Paid Time Off, including 11 paid holidays.
• Short- and long-term disability coverage.
• Tuition assistance program.

Check out our excellent benefits package!

The Colorado Public Utilities Commission (PUC) serves the public interest by effectively regulating utilities and facilities so that the people of Colorado receive safe, reliable, and reasonably priced services consistent with the economic, environmental, and social values of our state.

The purpose of the Colorado Public Utilities Commission’s (PUC) Pipeline Safety Program (PSP) is to administer a statewide hazardous gas pipeline safety program certified by the U.S. Department of Transportation, Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (U.S. DOT; PHMSA) through the enforcement of federal and state rules and regulations.

The program exists to protect the health and safety of Colorado citizens’ life, property, and the environment from the risks of hazardous materials transportation via pipeline.

The PSP program supports the Colorado Department of Regulatory Agencies’ mission of consumer protection and endeavours to ensure the safe operation of all jurisdictional pipelines by verifying that operators are complying with state and federal pipeline safety regulations.

The PSP acts as the PUC’s expert in developing, recommending, and maintaining appropriate pipeline safety regulations focused on the goal of minimizing the risks to public health, safety, and the environment that may be posed by hazardous materials pipeline operations.

The PSP performs comprehensive and detailed safety audits and investigations of jurisdictional hazardous gas pipeline operators to identify violations of pipeline safety regulations. The primary process for these audits is the risk-based inspection of the programs, procedures, processes, records, and facilities of jurisdictional intrastate hazardous gas pipelines.

These include natural gas transmission, distribution, gathering, petroleum gas (LPG), liquefied natural gas (LNG), and master metered pipeline systems.

The PSP ensures minimum compliance with state and federal pipeline safety regulations, minimizes the public safety impact of any violation of these regulations, and prevents recurrence of any violation of these regulations through: 1) educating jurisdictional pipeline operators on pipeline safety regulations, standards, and best practices.

2) Interacting with and exchanging information with other safety and environmental agencies in Colorado, e.g., PHMSA Western Region, COGCC, and CDPHE. 3) Issuing appropriate compliance actions against violators, including developing action plans and metrics to remedy the violation and/or recommending that the Commission issue a Civil Penalty against the operator.

Position: SGA 5148

The OMI (Operations, Maintenance, and Inspection) Pipeline Safety Inspector position exists to conduct inspections of pipeline compliance through standard and field inspections, participate in and share lessons learned in damage prevention discussions in areas of higher pipeline damage, participate in regional Damage Prevention Councils, review excavation damage metrics from available Colorado 811 and PUC data, perform public awareness program evaluations, and assist staff in presentations to the affected stakeholders through operator training.

In addition, this position has administrative responsibilities involving auditable documentation required by the work unit to determine the compliance or non-compliance of the operators/contractors assigned to this position and work group guidelines.

Duties include, but are not limited to

• Inspecting pipeline operator facilities (e.g., pipelines, pressure control facilities, compressor stations, etc.) and observing field operations, maintenance, and construction activities to verify compliance with applicable pipeline safety regulations;
• Reviewing operator procedural manuals and operator performance records of tasks listed in the procedures;
• Auditing jurisdictional pipeline operators’ procedures, processes, and records to verify compliance with applicable pipeline safety regulations (known in the work unit as a “Standard Inspection”);
• Training or facilitating training of pipeline operators on applicable pipeline safety regulations, industry standards, and industry best practices to foster collaborative and consistent approaches to regulatory compliance;
• Identifying areas of non-compliance/deficiency and initiating appropriate course of remedy: Operator training, Request for Information and/or follow-up in-depth inspection, compliance action (Warning, Notice of Probable Violation, Corrective Action Order);
• Reviewing operator procedures for completeness to perform, record, and verify safety compliance activities in accordance with Colorado pipeline safety regulations and/or established industry practices.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS (MQs)

There are two ways to qualify for this position: 1) Experience OR 2) A Combination of Education and Experience

Option 1: Experience

• Six (6) years of relevant full-time professional* work experience in oil and gas inspection, safety compliance industry, public sector, and/or in a government agency, including experience with auditing, quality control, and/or investigating transit-related work (i.e accidents, incidents, occurrences, and hazards).

Option 2: A Combination of Education AND Experience

• Associate’s Degree and Experience: Graduation from an accredited college or university with an associate’s degree in applied science, civil engineering, mechanical engineering, environmental engineering, environmental policy, environmental studies, mathematics, or a field of study related to the work assignment; AND
• Four (4) years of relevant full-time professional* work experience in oil and gas inspection, safety compliance industry, public sector, and/or in a government agency, including experience with auditing, quality control, and/or investigating transit-related work (i.e accidents, incidents, occurrences, and hazards).

OR

• Bachelor’s Degree and Experience: Graduation from an accredited college or university with a bachelor's degree in applied science, civil engineering, mechanical engineering, environmental engineering, environmental policy, environmental studies, mathematics, or a field of study related to the work assignment; AND
• Two (2) years of relevant full-time professional* work experience in oil and gas inspection, safety compliance industry, public sector, and/or in a government agency, including experience with auditing, quality control, and/or investigating transit-related work (i.e accidents, incidents, occurrences, and hazards).

Additional information

Document this experience in your application IN DETAIL, as your experience will not be inferred or assumed. Part-time experience will be prorated.

Substitutions

• Partial credit toward the degree requirement will be given for completed college/university coursework that did not result in a degree. A master's or doctorate degree from an accredited college or university in a field of study related to the work assignment will substitute for the bachelor's degree requirement.

*Professional work involves exercising discretion, analytical skill, judgment, and personal accountability and responsibility for creating, developing, integrating, applying, and sharing an organized body of knowledge that characteristically is: uniquely acquired through an intense education or training regimen at a recognized college or university; equivalent to the curriculum requirements for a bachelor's or higher degree with major study in or pertinent to the specialized field; and continuously studied to explore, extend, and use additional discoveries, interpretations, and applications and to improve data, materials, equipment, applications, and methods.

Preferred Qualifications

• Demonstrated experience working in a state government position working to support a public safety program by ensuring compliance with program safety standards;
• Demonstrated professional* experience in reading, understanding, interpreting, applying, and explaining laws, rules, policies, and procedures;
• Experience working with and knowledge of the industries and entities regulated by the PUC (i.e., energy and water utilities and facilities, gas pipeline safety, etc.);
• Completion of U.S. DOT Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) training, Qualification (TQ) certification, and/or computer-based training (CBT) through the federal pipeline safety program;
• Demonstrated experience conducting audits of written programs to ensure compliance with regulations;
• Pipeline compliance experience, including completing compliance follow-up as necessary to achieve operator compliance with pipeline safety regulations;
• Demonstrated experience documenting operator and system parameters affecting compliance and risk (e.g., maps, operating pressures, pipeline vintage, operating characteristics, state of compliance programs, etc.);
• Demonstrated experience performing field verification inspections on units based on GPS and section identification of areas of concern/increased risk/emerging issues;
• Master’s degree in civil, mechanical, or environmental engineering, environmental science, environmental policy, or public health.

Additional information

Required Competencies: The following knowledge, skills, abilities, and personal characteristics are required competencies and may be considered during the selection process (including examination and/or interview):

• Demonstrated written communication skills, including the ability to convey information to various stakeholders in a clear, accurate, and concise written manner;
• Demonstrated verbal communication skills, including the ability to effectively convey information to audiences in a concise manner;
• Demonstrated attention to detail;
• Demonstrated critical thinking and analytical skills, including having the ability to evaluate information in order to apply knowledge and to decide on the most appropriate course of action;
• Demonstrated experience conducting research and gathering pertinent information;
• Demonstrated prioritization skills, including planning, organizing tasks, and managing work assignments;
• Interpersonal Skills, including working as part of a team;
• Demonstrated ability to demonstrate technical expertise in front of authorities;
• Demonstrated time management skills, including the ability to multi-task to effectively manage competing and constantly changing priorities in order to meet tight deadlines;
• Demonstrated ability to understand and abide by workplace principles, practices, and behaviors as internally identified and defined by the division and department;
• Demonstrated ability to read, understand, interpret, apply, and explain laws, rules, policies, and procedures;
• Sound judgment and the confidence to make decisions on a routine basis;
• Ability to travel independently, including work in-office, as required by business needs and scheduled by the supervisor;
• Integrity and high ethical standards;
• Accountability, reliability, including attendance;
• Ability to maintain confidential, controversial, or sensitive information;
• Self-starter, including the ability to work independently, learn new processes, utilize own knowledge and that of supervisor, and complete work with minimal supervision;
• Demonstrated professional demeanor;
• Knowledge and understanding in the use of PC software applications including Microsoft Office (Access, Word, Excel, etc.), and Google Suite (Docs, Sheets, Slides, etc.).

Conditions of Employment: Candidates who fail to meet the conditions of employment will be removed from consideration.

• The successful passing of a reference check and/or, if required, a background check.
• A reference check may include but is not limited to: contacting previous and current supervisors to verify employment and discuss performance, a review of the personnel file, a review of the performance record, a review of job-related public information, etc.
• The type of background check depends on the job duties of the position, and can include a review of any criminal record, credit report, and/or driving record.
• Ability to travel independently, including work in-office, as required by business need and scheduled by the supervisor.
• This position requires the ability to travel up to 25% of the time, including staying over weekends when required, and the ability to transport equipment, including, but not limited to, laptop computers, printers, manuals, and supplies.

Interested individuals must submit the following online

1. A completed State of Colorado Application (log-in to your current NeoGov account or create a NeoGov account to complete the online application). Note: Incomplete applications, including incomplete work history sections or "see résumé," "see attachment," or "see addendum" statements, will not be accepted in lieu of a completed application form.

2. A current email address on your application, as all communication pertaining to this position will be conducted via email. Please set up your email to accept messages from and ‘@state.co.us’ addresses, and check your email often. Note: The department cannot guarantee the successful delivery of email, including incorrect filtering into junk mail folders.

3. A detailed cover letter, explaining how you meet the required competencies and how your accomplishments, qualifications, skills, areas of expertise, personal characteristics, etc. make you a good fit for this position; you may also attach additional documents that demonstrate this.

Comparative Analysis Process: Structured Application Review

Part of, if not the entire, comparative analysis process for this position will involve a review of the information you submit in your application materials; Therefore, it is paramount that in the experience portion of your application and cover letter, you describe the extent to which you possess the education, experience, and competencies outlined in the job announcement as well as the required and/or preferred qualifications/competencies.

You are also encouraged to attach additional documents to that effect. Failure to include adequate information or follow instructions may affect your score and prevent you from competing in subsequent measures used to arrive at a top group of applicants.

Part of the comparative analysis process and/or the interview process may be conducted through remote video conferencing (i.e., Google Meet, Zoom, etc.)