The posting
Job Description
PRIMARY PURPOSE
The Pipeline Safety Management System Specialist supports the implementation, administration, assurance, and continuous improvement of TOPSafe, Tallgrass’ enterprise Pipeline Safety Management System. Working under the direction of the PSMS Director, this position manages assigned management system components, programs, and improvement initiatives and integrates TOPSafe expectations into business processes and field execution.
This position combines management system knowledge, program administration, stakeholder engagement, training, assurance, and performance analysis. Assigned responsibilities may include employee recognition programs, safety culture and employee feedback surveys, audits and assessments, corrective action management, documentation, communications, training, and performance reporting.
The Specialist applies working knowledge of API RP 1173 Pipeline Safety Management Systems to strengthen TOPSafe implementation and support Tallgrass’ PSMS requirements. The role partners with employees, leaders, and functional teams across pipeline, power generation, operations, projects, and support functions to translate management system expectations into practical processes, tools, and behaviors.
Responsibilities
TOPSafe Implementation and Program Administration
- Support the TOPSafe Director in administering and continuously improving TOPSafe across Tallgrass.
- Manage the day-to-day execution of assigned TOPSafe components and programs, including planning, stakeholder coordination, documentation, implementation, monitoring, and improvement.
- Support governance meetings, working groups, and management reviews by preparing materials, presenting findings, documenting decisions, and tracking commitments.
- Evaluate assigned programs and recommend improvements that strengthen effectiveness, usability, and adoption.
API RP 1173 and Management System Integration
- Apply working knowledge of API RP 1173 and Tallgrass’ PSMS requirements to support TOPSafe development, implementation, assessment, and continuous improvement.
- Partner with Operations, Projects, Engineering, Field Safety, Pipeline Safety, Integrity Management, Control Room, Training, Contractor Management, and other functions to integrate TOPSafe into established processes.
- Evaluate existing practices against TOPSafe expectations and develop practical plans to strengthen alignment.
- Develop and maintain procedures, guidance documents, templates, workflow diagrams, job aids, and implementation resources.
- Support document control, periodic reviews, recordkeeping, and access to current TOPSafe materials.
Employee Engagement, Recognition, and Feedback
- Administer assigned employee recognition programs that reinforce hazard identification, effective risk controls, reporting, learning, and other desired safety behaviors.
- Coordinate recognition criteria, nominations, reviews, communications, and program records in accordance with approved expectations.
- Coordinate safety culture, employee engagement, and other TOPSafe surveys, including planning, communications, deployment, analysis, and follow-up.
- Translate survey findings and employee feedback into recommendations and support action planning with responsible leaders.
- Track resulting commitments and communicate progress and outcomes to employees and stakeholders.
- Gather input from field employees and functional teams to improve TOPSafe tools, processes, and implementation approaches.
Audits, Assessments, and Assurance
- Coordinate and perform assigned TOPSafe audits, maturity assessments, gap assessments, field verifications, and assurance activities consistent with established protocols and individual qualifications.
- Support assessments of PSMS implementation and alignment with API RP 1173 and applicable Tallgrass requirements.
- Review records, interview stakeholders, and observe work practices to evaluate implementation and effectiveness.
- Document objective findings, strengths, improvement opportunities, and recommended actions.
- Analyze recurring findings and systemic issues to identify opportunities for broader improvement.
- Prepare assessment summaries and communicate results to process owners, the TOPSafe Director, and other stakeholders.
Communication, Training, and Change Adoption
- Communicate TOPSafe’s purpose, expectations, processes, and individual responsibilities to audiences with varied technical backgrounds.
- Develop and deliver presentations, training, workshops, job aids, leadership resources, and field communications.
- Help employees and leaders incorporate TOPSafe expectations into daily work, decision-making, and established workflows.
- Maintain field engagement through site visits, employee discussions, and participation in implementation and assurance activities.
Performance Measurement and Data Analysis
- Collect, validate, analyze, and interpret data from TOPSafe programs, incidents, risk assessments, audits, surveys, training, contractor activities, corrective actions, and operational processes.
- Work with program owners to define meaningful leading and lagging indicators, consistent data definitions, and reporting expectations.
- Develop and maintain dashboards, scorecards, reports, and visualizations that support management review and program decisions.
- Identify trends, emerging risks, recurring issues, and opportunities for improvement.
- Translate findings into clear conclusions, recommended actions, and follow-up activities.
- Maintain reliable datasets and support appropriate automation, validation, and quality controls.
- Evaluate measures for their ability to demonstrate implementation quality, program effectiveness, and safety performance.
- Present performance information alongside field observations, employee feedback, and operational context to support informed decisions.
Professional and Organizational Responsibilities
- Build effective relationships with employees, field leaders, contractors, functional teams, and management.
- Exercise initiative and sound judgment within assigned responsibilities and seek technical expertise or leadership direction as appropriate.
- Maintain confidentiality and handle sensitive employee feedback, incident, audit, contractor, and business information appropriately.
- Demonstrate ethical conduct, professionalism, accuracy, and accountability.
- Maintain regular, dependable attendance and a consistently high level of performance.
- Maintain a high regard for personal safety and the safety of employees, contractors, company assets, and the public.
- Work varied schedules and support special projects as business needs require.
Qualifications
MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS
Education
- Bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution in Safety Management, Engineering, Business, Organizational Development, Data Analytics, or a related field; or an equivalent combination of education and directly relevant experience.
Experience / Specific Knowledge
- A minimum of three years of relevant experience in safety management systems, pipeline safety, safety program administration, operational improvement, assurance, risk management, or a related discipline.
- Working knowledge of API RP 1173 Pipeline Safety Management Systems and the ability to apply its concepts to implementation, documentation, assessment, and continuous improvement.
- Demonstrated ability to manage assigned program activities from planning through implementation, follow-up, and improvement.
- Experience developing or maintaining procedures, guidance documents, workflows, training materials, or implementation tools.
- Experience communicating requirements, facilitating discussions, or providing training to employees and stakeholders.
- Working knowledge of audit and assessment practices, corrective action management, and continuous improvement methods.
- Ability to gather and evaluate information from records, interviews, employee feedback, field observations, and performance data.
- Ability to analyze data and communicate findings through clear reports, presentations, and practical recommendations.
- Experience coordinating work across departments, influencing stakeholders, and following through on commitments.
- Intermediate proficiency in Microsoft Office and collaboration applications, including Excel, Word, PowerPoint, Outlook, SharePoint, and Teams.
- Familiarity with reporting and visualization tools such as Power BI.
Certifications, Licenses, and Registrations
- Must possess and maintain a valid driver’s license and a driving record satisfactory to the company and its insurers.
COMPETENCIES, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES
- Program ownership: Take responsibility for assigned processes and outcomes, anticipate needs, address issues, and follow work through to completion.
- Practical application: Translate requirements into usable processes and tools suited to field and business conditions.
- Communication and training: Explain requirements clearly, listen effectively, facilitate discussions, and present confidently to varied audiences.
- Collaboration and influence: Build trust and gain cooperation across functions, locations, and organizational levels.
- Judgment and problem-solving: Evaluate information objectively, distinguish individual concerns from systemic issues, and recommend practical solutions.
- Organization and execution: Manage multiple assignments, competing deadlines, stakeholder commitments, and detailed records.
- Continuous improvement: Seek feedback, evaluate effectiveness, and adjust processes to strengthen outcomes.
- Data literacy: Use data, field observations, employee experience, and operational context to inform decisions.
- Confidentiality and integrity: Handle sensitive information appropriately and maintain objective, accurate records and reporting.
- Ability to work independently under general direction and contribute effectively to cross-functional teams.
- Willingness to learn new systems, technologies, and operating processes.
- Ability to take direction, follow company policies, and adapt to changing priorities.
- Ability to demonstrate initiative, accountability, and consistent follow-through.
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS
The following qualifications provide additional value in this position:
- Direct experience implementing, administering, or assessing an API RP 1173-aligned PSMS.
- Experience in midstream pipeline, power generation, oil and gas, utilities, construction, or another high-hazard operating environment.
- Familiarity with PHMSA requirements under 49 CFR Parts 192 and 195 and applicable OSHA requirements.
- Experience conducting employee surveys, management system audits, maturity assessments, field verifications, or corrective action effectiveness reviews.
- Experience developing and delivering training or supporting organizational change and process adoption.
- Experience with workflow development, process mapping, project coordination, and business process improvement.
- Advanced proficiency in Excel, Power BI, SharePoint, or related reporting and collaboration tools.
- Relevant professional certification or training in safety, management system auditing, project management, or continuous improvement.
PHYSICAL DEMANDS
- The physical requirements below reflect activities that may be necessary to perform the essential functions of this position. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
- Sitting, standing, walking or moving throughout facilities, and driving.
- Using hands to type, handle documents, and operate office equipment.
- Communicating with employees and stakeholders in office, virtual, training, and field settings.
- Sitting for prolonged periods while performing office-based work.
- Reaching, bending, stooping, and occasional climbing or balancing during field visits, as required by the location and assigned activities.
- Regularly lifting or moving up to 10 pounds and occasionally lifting or moving up to 25 pounds.
- Visiting operating facilities, construction sites, rights-of-way, and other locations requiring compliance with site-specific safety requirements and personal protective equipment.
WORKING CONDITIONS
- Work is performed in office environments and at field locations, operating facilities, construction sites, and project locations as needed.
- Travel, including occasional overnight travel, is required to support implementation, employee engagement, training, assessments, and field verification.
- Field work may involve outdoor weather, noise, vehicle traffic, uneven walking surfaces, and active operations or construction environments.
- Work outside standard business hours may be required to support operational schedules, training, field activities, or business needs.
- May be required to carry a cell phone and respond outside standard business hours as business needs require.
- The successful candidate will be required to clear a drug screen and complete a background check, including a credit report for certain positions, following an offer and before employment begins.
SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITY
- No-This position serves as an individual contributor and provides functional coordination for cross-functional workgroups, assigned program activities, and implementation tasks.
- OTHER RESPONSIBILITIES
- The above statements describe the general nature and level of work performed. Additional responsibilities may be assigned based on business needs.
Compensation
The range for this role is $80,000-$110,000/year.
About Us
Tallgrass was named one of the Top Workplaces USA and highlighted in Colorado's Top Workplaces for the past seven consecutive years. Tallgrass is a leading energy infrastructure company focused on safely, reliably, and sustainably delivering the energy and services that power our nation and enable our quality of life.
At Tallgrass, we value our teams and strive to create an environment where employees feel respected, and their contributions are valued. We aim to support employees' physical, mental, and financial well-being through a comprehensive Total Rewards Program.
- Industry competitive pay
- Health insurance package options that include Flexible Spending & Health Savings Accounts
- Infertility Coverage
- Parental Leave
- 401(k) with up to a 6% match that vests immediately plus an employer discretionary contribution of up to 4%
- Wellness Programs and Mental Health Resources
- Employer-paid life insurance, short-term disability, and long-term disability coverage
- Critical Illness & Accident Insurance
- Vacation, sick days, paid caregiver leave, volunteer and bereavement paid time off
- Identity theft protection
- Annual discretionary bonus
- Generous Tuition Reimbursement Program
- Company-paid holidays and floating holidays
- Company vehicle (if applicable)
- Employee discounts; vehicles, tires, cellular plans, and more
- Networking and employee engagement events
- Personal development to grow your career with us based on your strengths and interests
Application Deadline: Recruiting timelines vary by position; however, all Tallgrass positions accept applications for at least five business days from the posting date. This position is open and still accepting applications.
Compensation: Compensation ranges are provided in good faith based on what we anticipate when researching wages for this position at the state and national levels. We may ultimately pay more or less than the posted range. This salary range may also be modified in the future.
Notice to External Search Firms: Tallgrass does not accept unsolicited resumes from search firms or employment agencies. Unsolicited referrals and resumes are considered Tallgrass property; therefore, Tallgrass will not pay a fee for any placement resulting from the receipt of an unsolicited referral. Approved vendors may be invited to refer talent for specific positions at Tallgrass's request only. A fully executed agreement with Tallgrass must be in place and current in these cases.
EEO Statement: Tallgrass complies with all Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) affirmative action laws and regulations. Tallgrass does not discriminate on the basis of age, race, religion, color, sex, national origin, marital status, genetic information, sexual orientation, gender Identity and expression, disability, veteran status, pregnancy status, or other status protected by law.
