Title: Technical Director (Engineer)
Reports To: Executive Director
Salary Range: $85,000 - $115,000 DOE
Location: Bellingham, WA or Remote
The Pipeline Safety Trust (PST) seeks a Technical Director to join our team dedicated to protecting people and the environment from pipeline failures. The Technical Director will draft technical safety recommendations, provide expertise on relevant engineering issues surrounding pipelines, and build collaborative relationships with decision makers and subject matter experts to further PST’s policy goals. An engineering degree is strongly preferred, but not required, for this position. We do not expect candidates to currently have an extensive knowledge of pipeline engineering, and we have resources to build expertise.
WHO WE ARE
The Pipeline Safety Trust (PST), based in Bellingham, WA, is a national non-profit watchdog organization on the pipeline industry and its regulators. Founded in response to the fatal 1999 Olympic Pipeline explosion, PST has since been a tremendously successful public safety advocate – fighting for basic and common-sense safety regulations, testifying before Congress, educating and engaging the public about pipeline safety, and helping state, local, and tribal governments make sense of regulations, responsibilities, and levers of power. PST is the only national pipeline safety advocacy organization.
Our mission is to promote pipeline safety through education and advocacy, increased access to information, and partnerships with residents, safety advocates, government, and industry, resulting in safer communities and a healthier environment.
WHAT WE VALUE
The Board and staff of the Pipeline Safety Trust value:
Public safety and public interest
Trust and credibility
Fearless independence
Inclusiveness and accessibility
Proactive strategies
ABOUT THE ROLE
The Pipeline Safety Trust is seeking a conscientious and resilient advocate with a commitment to keeping communities and the environment safe from the risks of pipelines.
The Technical Director, in this newly created position, will work in collaboration with the rest of the PST team to advance key pipeline safety priorities, educate the public and elected officials, and respond to requests for information. The Technical Director will be essential to advancing Pipeline Safety Trust’s safety priorities before state and federal executive agencies, state and federal lawmakers, and the pipeline industry.
The ideal candidate will also have an active interest in investigating how pipelines impact communities, including impacts to overburdened and disadvantaged communities.
This position requires out-of-state travel, up to 10% of the time.
Core Responsibilities:
Identify long-term organizational technical priorities focused on safety advancements in the pipeline industry
Provide comments to regulatory processes
Identify knowledge gaps within the pipeline industry
Review, analyze, and critique pipeline accident investigations and their recommendations for prevention
Create and maintain strong working relationships with the Engineering and Research team at the federal regulatory agency, PHMSA
Represent public interest perspective on engineering safety priorities to state and federal regulators, pipeline industry engineers, and standards development organizations
Write white papers on various pipeline safety issues that identify knowledge gaps, safety risks, and regulatory shortfalls
Contribute to PHMSA’s biennial R&D Forum
Contribute to the PST’s annual Pipeline Safety Conference traditionally held in New Orleans, LA
Skills and Qualifications:
We encourage anyone drawn to and inspired by this work to apply so long as some of the desired educational or working experience is met. We don’t expect everyone to meet all the listed skills and qualifications.
The ideal candidate will have:
Experience conducting and evaluating comprehensive literature reviews
Working knowledge of important pipeline engineering subjects such as fluid dynamics, corrosion, and gas transportation
At least an Engineering or a Physical Science BS degree
Experience working productively within diverse and inclusive coalitions
Excellent analytical, written, and oral communication skills
Location
The Pipeline Safety Trust office is located in Bellingham, WA. We prefer our Technical Director to live in or near the Bellingham community in order to draw inspiration from the place, community, and pipeline tragedy that formed the organization, but are open to a remote position for the right candidate.
See full job description on our website for links to further information
Further Information
PST-commissioned white paper on CO2 pipeline safety
PHMSA's most recent R&D Forum materials
PHMSA R&D topic examples
HOW TO APPLY
Email resume and cover letter to jobs@pstrust.org
Applications are due by March 3, 2025.
PST is committed to equal employment opportunities and encourages applications from individuals of any race, age, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, belief, national origin, or ability.