Lead Gas Compliance Specialist - Pipeline Safety & Regulatory Affairs

CenterPoint Energy • Houston, TX

16d • Hybrid

About The Position

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. The role's essential functions include regulatory interpretation and advisory, supporting standards and procedures development, engaging with regulators, and providing internal consulting and knowledge building.

Requirements

• Requires a bachelor’s degree in engineering, technical discipline, or a related field, or equivalent combination of education and extensive experience in gas utility operations.
• Requires seven to ten (7–10) years of experience in gas utility operations, pipeline safety compliance, or regulatory affairs, with demonstrated depth 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 or state level.
• Ability to work independently and exercise sound professional judgment on complex compliance matters.

Nice To Haves

• Professional Engineer (PE) license is preferred.
• Direct experience in gas distribution or transmission operations, construction, or maintenance.
• Experience supporting regulatory audits, enforcement proceedings, or violation response.
• 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.

Responsibilities

• 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.
• Advise operational 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.
• 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.
• 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.
• Assist in developing corrective action plans and regulatory responses related to identified compliance gaps or enforcement actions.
• Interact directly with federal and state pipeline safety regulators during audits, inspections, and inquiries.
• Support preparation of regulatory filings, data submissions, responses to notices of probable violation, and other formal communications.
• Represent the compliance function in industry forums, working groups, or regulatory proceedings as appropriate.
• Serve as a resource across functions, including operations, engineering, safety, and legal, on matters requiring regulatory compliance expertise.
• Develop and deliver training or briefings on regulatory topics to operational and compliance personnel.
• Contribute to the organization’s compliance knowledge base by documenting interpretive positions, regulatory precedents, and lessons learned.

Benefits

• Competitive pay
• Paid training
• Benefits eligibility begins on your first day
• Transit subsidies
• Flexible work schedule, paid holidays and paid time off
• Access to discounts at fitness clubs and an on-site wellness center at our headquarters in Houston
• Professional growth and development programs including tuition reimbursement
• 401(k) Savings Plan featuring a company match dollar-for-dollar up to 6% and a company contribution of 3% regardless of your contribution

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior
• Number of Employees: 1,001-5,000 employees