Director of Pipeline Safety and Asset Risk

About the role

The Director of Pipeline Safety & Asset Risk provides strategic leadership for pipeline safety, integrity management, asset risk, and regulatory compliance across Summit's multi-state utility operations. Reporting to the Vice President of Operations Support, this role works closely with executive leadership and key business stakeholders to strengthen safety performance, improve system reliability, advance regulatory compliance, and support risk-informed investment decisions.

Responsibilities

• Provide enterprise leadership for pipeline safety, integrity management, and asset-risk strategy.
• Oversee DIMP, TIMP, MAOP compliance, corrosion control, advanced leak detection, damage prevention, and public awareness programs.
• Advance Summit’s Pipeline Safety Management System and related continuous improvement initiatives.
• Strengthen regulatory compliance, audit readiness, and relationships with PHMSA and state regulatory agencies.
• Establish governance, performance measures, and risk-informed practices supporting operational and capital-investment decisions.
• Maintain oversight of emerging regulatory and industry developments and provide executive-level reporting and recommendations.
• Develop and lead high-performing teams responsible for pipeline safety, integrity, governance, and compliance.

Requirements

• Education: Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Risk Management, Safety, Regulatory Compliance, Business Administration, Construction Management, or a related field, or an equivalent combination of education and directly relevant experience.
• Experience: Twelve or more years of progressively responsible experience in natural gas utility operations, pipeline safety, integrity management, asset risk, engineering, regulatory compliance, or a related discipline.
• Leadership: Five or more years of leadership experience managing employees, technical professionals, multidisciplinary teams, or complex programs.
• Technical Expertise: Demonstrated leadership of pipeline integrity, asset-risk, regulatory compliance, audit-readiness, or operational-improvement programs.
• Complex Initiatives: Experience leading complex, cross-functional initiatives within a regulated utility environment.
• Regulatory Experience: Experience working with federal or state pipeline safety regulatory agencies and supporting audits, inspections, investigations, or compliance reviews.
• Leadership Skills: Strong strategic, analytical, communication, and organizational leadership capabilities, including the ability to translate technical and regulatory information into business strategies and investment decisions.

Qualifications

• Education: Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Risk Management, Safety, Regulatory Compliance, Business Administration, Construction Management, or a related field, or an equivalent combination of education and directly relevant experience.
• Experience: Twelve or more years of progressively responsible experience in natural gas utility operations, pipeline safety, integrity management, asset risk, engineering, regulatory compliance, or a related discipline.
• Leadership: Five or more years of leadership experience managing employees, technical professionals, multidisciplinary teams, or complex programs.
• Technical Expertise: Demonstrated leadership of pipeline integrity, asset-risk, regulatory compliance, audit-readiness, or operational-improvement programs.
• Complex Initiatives: Experience leading complex, cross-functional initiatives within a regulated utility environment.
• Regulatory Experience: Experience working with federal or state pipeline safety regulatory agencies and supporting audits, inspections, investigations, or compliance reviews.
• Leadership Skills: Strong strategic, analytical, communication, and organizational leadership capabilities, including the ability to translate technical and regulatory information into business strategies and investment decisions.

Skills

• Strategic Thinking
• Leadership
• Communication
• Organizational Skills
• Technical Expertise
• Regulatory Compliance
• Team Management

Benefits

Summit offers competitive pay and medical/dental/vision and other benefits that provide flexibility, choice, and support to our employees when they need it most. We understand that home and family are essential pieces of your life, and our benefits are designed to support you both at work and at home.

Pay

Competitive compensation package with opportunities for growth and development.

Schedule

This is a hybrid opportunity that may be based in one of Summit Utilities' Arkansas locations: Little Rock, Fort Smith, or Fayetteville.