Pipeline Safety Analyst (Utility and Energy Analyst 3)

Full job description

Initial Posting Date:

04/22/2024

Application Deadline:

05/06/2024

Agency:

Public Utility Commission

Salary Range:

6,318.00 – 9,737.00

Position Type:

Employee

Position Title:

Pipeline Safety Analyst (Utility and Energy Analyst 3)

Job Description:

Has your background in natural gas pipeline infrastructure and operations prepared you to provide technical and analytical safety expertise?

Have you completed the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration’s (PHMSA) Training and Qualification course work?

Do you have a passion for facility inspections, record review and incident investigations?

If so, the Oregon Public Utility Commission (PUC) wants to hear from you!

Follow this passion and become a member of the Oregon Public Utility Commission’s (PUC) Pipeline Safety Program. The objective of this program is to determine compliance with Safety Standards aimed at preventing natural gas pipeline incidents and failures through safety inspections, enforcement, and education programs.

Please Note: New employees to PUC who are Public Employee Retirement System (PERS) participating members (those meeting eligibility requirements at time of hire) are paid within the PERS-eligible/AP salary range for this position as follows:

Utility and Energy Analyst 3 / PERS-AP Salary Range: $6,757 – $10,416 monthly (for active PERS members reflecting a monthly 6.95% contribution/increase):

Employees who are not yet a PERS participating member, will receive the 6.95% increase (6% employee contribution) upon meeting PERS eligibility, generally, after completion of six-months of qualifying State of Oregon employment.

About the Oregon Public Utility Commission (PUC):

Celebrating more than 150 years of history, the PUC impacts nearly every household throughout the state. The agency’s mission is to ensure Oregonians have access to safe, reliable, and fairly-priced utility services that advance state policy and promote the public interest. More information about our vision and values can be found at:

PUC Strategic Plan

Our office is located in downtown Salem, in close proximity to the State Capitol, and we maintain a Portland satellite office. The PUC receives no state general funds and is funded through an assessment of the regulated natural gas, electric, telecommunication, and water utilities.

We pride ourselves on being a great place to work, learn, and grow professionally. As a State of Oregon agency, we offer a generous overall compensation package that includes:

• Benefit plans that pay up to 99 percent of the premium for health-related coverage of employees and dependents.

• Membership in the Oregon Public Employee Retirement System retirement plan.

• Eleven (11) paid holidays per year; 24 hours of personal leave per year; vacation leave that begins at 8 hours per month for employees; and sick leave earned at a rate of 8 hours per month.

More information about the PUC can be found online at:

www.oregon.gov/PUC

Hybrid-Remote Work:

Hybrid-Remote work promotes the health and safety of Oregonians, decreases the agency’s impact on the environment and supports flexibility and work-life balance for PUC staff. The duties of this position may be performed remotely, and at our central office in Salem, and at the PUC’s Portland satellite office. The ability to report to Salem and Portland is required when business or operational needs are necessary for onsite activities. Hybrid-Remote work may be provided to PUC staff in accordance with the Department of Administrative Services (DAS), “Working Remotely” statewide policy. Currently, employees who live in the State of Oregon may request approval for hybrid-remote work (generally from the employee’s personal residence). Requests for remote work, are evaluated based on the agency’s business needs.

What’s in it for you:

Working at the PUC, you will be at the right place at the right time. You will be a member of a nationally recognized and respected Pipeline Safety Program. The work is extremely important in keeping neighborhoods safe from natural gas pipeline incidents and failures. You will also have the opportunity to work with an incredible group of professionals in the Utility Safety, Security, and Reliability Division.

You also get to work in Oregon, which is a beautiful, large, and amazing state! In Oregon, there are approximately 825 miles of transmission pipeline and 26,853 miles of distribution main pipeline under PUC jurisdiction. You will get to see and work in a state with great geographic diversity.

What you will do as a Pipeline Safety Analyst:

You will enforce natural gas pipeline safety programs per ORS 757.039, OAR 860-024, OAR 860-028, OAR 860-031, OAR 952-000, and related US Department of Transportation (USDOT) Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) Code of Federal Regulations parts 190, 191, 192 and 193 regulations. Specifically, you will provide engineering or analytical expertise, relative to your level of PHMSA certification and training, to the agency’s pipeline safety program, with emphasis on inspecting and documenting natural gas operators’ compliance with requirements set by statute, rule, and federal code.

This program is partially funded through a federal grant and is audited annually by the US Department of Transportation for compliance with federal code. The PUC has statutory authority to levy civil penalties against operators who fail to comply with safety regulations.

Major duties include:

Facility Inspection, Records Review & Incident Investigation:

• The person in this position conducts official audits of intrastate natural gas pipeline operators, related storage, facilities, and infrastructure. Audit activity includes inspection of operator processes, procedures, and records to ensure compliance with standards set forth in ORS 757.039, Unites States Department of Transportation (USDOT) Pipeline Hazardous Materials and Safety Administration (PHMSA), and the Oregon PUC’s rules, orders and stipulated agreements governing pipeline safety. These activities include but are not limited to:

• Examines operator’s procedures, training programs, methods, and records that verify the operator’s general code compliance.

• Performs field inspections of operator’s facilities and operator’s work practices. Operator facilities may be along roadways, in residential areas or remote areas of the state. Typical areas of inspection may include operations and maintenance of pressure control and regulating stations, relief devices, exposed main and service pipelines, liquefied natural gas, and other storage facilities, odorizers, corrosion protection systems, compressors, system valves, residential metering, commercial and industrial meters.

• Examines operator as-built information, construction methods, and records. Facility inspection may include maintenance records, materials testing, review of x-rays of welds, and if construction and maintenance methods are in compliance with standards and best practices.

• Conducts training to educate operators regarding state and federal regulations.

• Monitors and responds to reports of natural gas pipeline accidents and incidents as reported by pipeline operators in compliance with OAR 860-024-0050.

• Conducts investigations of incidents, which may include contact with facility operators and members of the public, to determine possible violations of PUC and/or PHMSA regulations.

• Interacts, in a coordinated manner, with public officials from the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), PHMSA personnel, Oregon – OSHA, State Fire Marshal, State Police, and local first responders, during an inspection or investigation of an incident.

Analysis, Documentation and Report Writing:

• Collect information about inspection findings using Esri ArcGIS Survey123 software.

• Prepare formal written reports that include recommendations on how to correct identified probable violations. These recommendations may be based on standard recommendations from the code or may be based on incumbent’s technical analysis.

• Ensures all records, documents, and reports are based on observed facts specifically related to Oregon Revised Statutes, Administrative Rules, and Federal codes.

• Ensures all records, documents, and reports comply with professional writing standards.

• Following an incident investigation, determines preventive measures to eliminate or reduce possible recurrence of similar incidents.

General Duties:

• Investigates incidents and complaints related to Oregon Utility Notification Center (OUNC) Rules that govern prevention of damages to underground facilities.

• Conducts training and performs other miscellaneous duties in support of the OUNC to build the awareness of Oregon’s “Call Before You Dig” laws and rules. These activities target Oregon utility operators, contractors, and members of the public.

• Provide information and technical assistance to PUC staff/management external to the Safety Division, other state and local agencies, and outside parties regarding state and federal regulations governing pipeline safety.

• Represents Pipeline Safety Program on committees, and at conferences, company safety meetings, workshops, etc. to promote utility safety.

• Develop and deliver safety presentations to utility companies, associations, and members of the public.

• Investigates complaints received by the Commission concerning gas utility safety, operation and maintenance, and other technical issues. This may require speaking with the public, discussion with facility operators, field inspections of facilities, review of records, etc.

• Advises Consumer Services Staff on complex technical questions related to matters of gas safety and operations.

• Attends PHMSA training activities to maintain expertise and technical competence needed to effectively enforce regulations.

• Maintains competence in utility operating best practices, and utility industry standards through independent study, directed coursework, peer and industry interaction.

• Provides subject matter expertise to other PUC Utility Analysts’ regarding safety, engineering, operation, and maintenance matters pertaining to natural gas utilities and jurisdictional operators.

• As directed by the Division Administrator, supports the agency in emergency response activities.

Working conditions:

Employee works a professional workweek, which may entail work during evening or irregular hours to respond to emergencies affecting natural gas facilities, operations, and operators in the state.

Requires field work throughout the state of Oregon up to sixty percent of the time. Frequent statewide travel of one or more days per week is required, which includes driving in hazardous traffic and weather conditions, and in areas of rough terrain. Possible exposure to contentious situations with the public in remote areas.

Work may include ascending/descending platforms and using stairs/ladders to access facilities and work sites to complete inspections. Requires considerable walking in rough terrain when inspecting new construction and existing facilities. May lift or move up to 50 lbs. for several hundred yards. Must be proficient with Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, Outlook, and PowerPoint). Work is completed under strict timelines and changing priorities.

Work may require use of appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE). Basic PPE required for field inspections includes fire resistant clothing, safety vests, hard hats & steel toed boots. Incident investigations may require use of respirators, gloves, and protective clothing to limit exposure to hazardous materials (typically asbestos); must be able to meet and maintain the physical requirements required for use of a respirator in the workplace.

What we are looking for:

A skilled professional with a Bachelor’s Degree in business administration, engineering, earth sciences, or other closely related degree and four years of professional-level experience within pipeline industry focused on inspection, regulatory compliance, operations, or safety.

OR

Seven years of work experience within pipeline industry focused on inspection, regulatory compliance, operations, or safety; four of which must be at the professional level.

A Master’s degree in business administration, engineering, earth sciences, or other closely related degree will substitute for one year of the professional level work experience.

A Doctorate in business administration, engineering, earth sciences, or other closely related degree will substitute for two years of the professional level work experience.

The most competitive candidates will demonstrate all, or a combination of, the following requested skills:

• Recent completion of Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) Training and Qualification (TQ) course work.

• Professional-level work experience assessing natural gas pipeline infrastructure and storage safety systems.

• Work experience managing pipeline integrity, safety system programs, operations or maintenance activities.

• Work experience with Oregon Revised Statutes (ORS), Oregon Administrative Rules (OAR), and related US Department of Transportation (USDOT) Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Administration (PHMSA) regulations.

• Work experience conducting field audits, inspections, exit briefings or operator training.

• Work experience gathering, interpreting and applying USDOT, ORS and OAR pipeline safety regulations.

• Work experience, or PHMSA TQ and workshops that have provided opportunity to present and advance pipeline safety initiatives to individuals or groups who may not have a strong operation and technical background.

• Work experience interacting with different levels of utility management in a diplomatic and respectful manner to resolve technical issues.

• Work experience where the position required working with a variety of stakeholders including other public officials, natural gas pipeline personnel and members of the public.

• Work experience where tasks involve remote locations and highly populated cities.

• Professional-level work experience leading or managing technical projects.

• Work experience utilizing tools such as Federal Inspection Assistant (IA), Esri ArcGIS and other Microsoft office software.

How to Apply:

To submit a complete application, you must utilize the State of Oregon “Workday” recruitment system. Utilizing the Workday system:

1) Create a Workday account OR Login to your Workday account.

2) Complete and submit your electronic application; and

3) As an attachment to your Workday application, upload your current resume; and

4) Upload a cover letter to your Workday application of not more than two (2) pages, addressing your training and work experience as they relate to the “Requested Skills” listed above in the “What are we looking for:” section.

**If you are a current employee of the State of Oregon, you MUST apply through your internal State of Oregon employee Workday account and attach the required material.**

For more information about applying for positions with the State of Oregon via Workday, you may visit the Oregon job opportunities website at:

www.oregon.gov/jobs

If you need an accommodation to participate in the application process, contact Jessica Leedham 503-580-5740 or

Jessica.leedham@puc.oregon.gov

Veterans:

Eligible Veterans who meet the qualifications will be given Veterans’ preference. For further information, please see the following website:

Veterans Resources

, or call Oregon Department of Veterans’ Affairs at: 1-800-692-9666.

NOTE: If claiming Veterans’ preference please be sure to check your Workday account for pending tasks or actions under your “My Applications” section.

How to Get Noticed:

• Candidates whose training and/or experience most closely match the requirements and needs of the position, and who attach the requested resume and cover letter may be eligible for an interview.

• Submissions will be screened for consistency of information and communication skills at the professional level (clarity, conciseness, attention to detail, spelling, grammar, etc.).

• Additional Information about Employment with PUC:

• If you are hired, you may be required to provide facts about past employment and present financial interests if they could be connected with the businesses regulated by the PUC.

• The PUC does not offer VISA sponsorships. Within three-days of hire, you will be required to complete the US Department of Homeland Security’s I-9 form confirming authorization to work in the United States.

• The salary listed is the non-Oregon Public Employment Retirement System (PERS) qualifying salary range. If the successful candidate is PERS qualifying, the salary range will reflect the additional 6.95%.

• This recruitment will be used to establish a list of qualified candidates; this list will be used to fill the current opening and may be used to fill other openings as they occur.

• The pay and benefits on all announcements may change without notice.

• Remote work information – Demonstrate suitability for remote work including access to a broadband internet connection that meets or exceeds the minimum acceptable requirements.

• If you have federal student loan debt or are thinking of going back to school, then you might benefit from the Student Loan Forgiveness Program. If you make 120 qualifying payments on your student loan while working full-time for a qualifying employer, your student loan debt may be forgiven.

Enjoy Oregon’s quality of life. Learn more about Oregon, and Salem, the state’s Capitol:

https://www.travelsalem.com/

https://traveloregon.com

The PUC is an Equal Opportunity, Affirmative Action Employer Committed to Workforce Diversity.