Job Description: HSE Specialist
Position Overview
The HSE Specialist is responsible for ensuring full compliance with environmental, safety, and regulatory requirements related to the transportation of oil and natural gas liquids via pipeline and rail within the state of California. This role provides critical support for regulatory engagement, process safety, and field safety operations and plays a key part in maintaining operational integrity across highly regulated regions.
The HSE Specialist will work under the Regional HSE Manager and partner closely with field operations, regulatory bodies, and internal stakeholders. This is a field heavy position requiring regular travel between operational sites.
Key Responsibilities
Regulatory Compliance & Agency Engagement
- Ensure adherence to all environmental and safety laws governing pipeline and rail operations in California.
- Serve as a primary point of contact for regulatory agencies, including:
- PHMSA
- California state regulatory programs
- Local fire departments
- CUPA
- Additional oversight authorities
- Prepare for and support regulatory audits, inspections, and data requests.
- Participate in 8+ weeks of scheduled audits annually.
Field Safety & Operational Support
- Conduct field audits, environmental checks, and process safety evaluations.
- Support incident investigations, corrective actions, and safety reporting.
- Be present for anomaly digs, tool runs, and key operational activities.
- Travel regularly between two primary operating locations.
Documentation & Reporting
- Maintain accurate compliance records, safety documentation, and audit materials.
- Support regulatory filings, incident reports, and ongoing compliance submissions.
- Contribute to internal safety communication and training as needed.
Required Qualifications (Must Haves)
- Industry experience within pipelines, midstream operations, or oil & gas.
- Proven HSE background with strong regulatory engagement experience (PHMSA and California regulatory entities strongly preferred).
- Experience supporting audits, inspections, and data-driven compliance work.
- Willingness and ability to spend significant time in the field and travel regularly between operational sites.
- Excellent communication, documentation, and stakeholder engagement skills.
Preferred Qualifications (Nice to Haves)
- Experience with Process Safety Management (PSM) frameworks.
- Prior work supporting multiple geographically distributed assets.
About Korn Ferry
Korn Ferry unleashes potential in people, teams, and organizations. We work with our clients to design optimal organization structures, roles, and responsibilities. We help them hire the right people and advise them on how to reward and motivate their workforce while developing professionals as they navigate and advance their careers. To learn more, please visit Korn Ferry at www.Kornferry.com
