OMI Pipeline Safety Inspector (Environmental Prot. Spec. II): DORA/Public Utilities Commission

Salary : $76,860.00 - $92,220.00 Annually
Location : Denver, CO
Job Type: Full Time
Job Number: SGA-5148-10/26
Department: Department of Regulatory Agencies
Division: Public Utilities Commission
Opening Date: 11/02/2026
Closing Date: 11/9/2026 11:59 PM Mountain
FLSA: Determined by Position
Type of Announcement: This position is open only to Colorado state residents.
Primary Physical Work Address: 1560 N Broadway, Suite 250, Denver, CO 80202
Department Contact Information:
Hiring Pay Rate: The salary range posted for this position is $6,405 - $7,685/monthly; although a salary range is listed, hiring salary will be set commensurate with the successful candidate's qualifications and in compliance with the Equal Pay for Equal Work Act.
How To Apply: Please submit an online application for this position at https://www.governmentjobs.com/careers/colorado. Reach out to the Department Contact to apply using a paper application, including any supplemental questions. Failure to submit a complete and timely application may result in the rejection of your application. Applicants are responsible for ensuring that application materials are received by the appropriate Human Resources office before the closing date and time listed.

Hybrid Workplace Arrangement:

Although this position will be designated under the department's hybrid workplace program, it will still be required to report to the department office on a scheduled basis and at the discretion of the supervisor, based on business need.
This announcement may be used to fill multiple vacancies.

Description of Job
The Colorado Public Utilities Commission (PUC) serves the public interest by effectively regulating utilities and facilities so that the people of Colorado receive safe, reliable, and reasonably priced services consistent with the economic, environmental, and social values of our state.
The purpose of the Colorado Public Utilities Commission's (PUC) Pipeline Safety Program (PSP) is to administer a statewide hazardous gas pipeline safety program certified by the U.S. Department of Transportation, Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (U.S. DOT; PHMSA) through the enforcement of federal and state rules and regulations. The program exists to protect the health and safety of Colorado citizens' life, property, and the environment from the risks of hazardous materials transportation via pipeline. The PSP program supports the Colorado Department of Regulatory Agencies' mission of consumer protection and endeavours to ensure the safe operation of all jurisdictional pipelines by verifying that operators are complying with state and federal pipeline safety regulations. The PSP acts as the PUC's expert in developing, recommending, and maintaining appropriate pipeline safety regulations focused on the goal of minimizing the risks to public health, safety, and the environment that may be posed by hazardous materials pipeline operations.
The PSP performs comprehensive and detailed safety audits and investigations of jurisdictional hazardous gas pipeline operators to identify violations of pipeline safety regulations. The primary process for these audits is the risk-based inspection of the programs, procedures, processes, records, and facilities of jurisdictional intrastate hazardous gas pipelines. These include natural gas transmission, distribution, gathering, petroleum gas (LPG), liquefied natural gas (LNG), and master metered pipeline systems. The PSP ensures minimum compliance with state and federal pipeline safety regulations, minimizes the public safety impact of any violation of these regulations, and prevents recurrence of any violation of these regulations through: 1) educating jurisdictional pipeline operators on pipeline safety regulations, standards, and best practices. 2) Interacting with and exchanging information with other safety and environmental agencies in Colorado, e.g., PHMSA Western Region, COGCC, and CDPHE. 3) Issuing appropriate compliance actions against violators, including developing action plans and metrics to remedy the violation and/or recommending that the Commission issue a Civil Penalty against the operator.
Position: SGA 5148
The OMI (Operations, Maintenance, and Inspection) Pipeline Safety Inspector position exists to conduct inspections of pipeline compliance through standard and field inspections, participate in and share lessons learned in damage prevention discussions in areas of higher pipeline damage, participate in regional Damage Prevention Councils, review excavation damage metrics from available Colorado 811 and PUC data, perform public awareness program evaluations, and assist staff in presentations to the affected stakeholders through operator training. In addition, this position has administrative responsibilities involving auditable documentation required by the work unit to determine the compliance or non-compliance of the operators/contractors assigned to this position and work group guidelines.
Duties include, but are not limited to:

• Inspecting pipeline operator facilities (e.g., pipelines, pressure control facilities, compressor stations, etc.) and observing field operations, maintenance, and construction activities to verify compliance with applicable pipeline safety regulations;
• Reviewing operator procedural manuals and operator performance records of tasks listed in the procedures;
• Auditing jurisdictional pipeline operators' procedures, processes, and records to verify compliance with applicable pipeline safety regulations (known in the work unit as a "Standard Inspection");
• Training or facilitating training of pipeline operators on applicable pipeline safety regulations, industry standards, and industry best practices to foster collaborative and consistent approaches to regulatory compliance;
• Identifying areas of non-compliance/deficiency and initiating appropriate course of remedy: Operator training, Request for Information and/or follow-up in-depth inspection, compliance action (Warning, Notice of Probable Violation, Corrective Action Order);
• Reviewing operator procedures for completeness to perform, record, and verify safety compliance activities in accordance with Colorado pipeline safety regulations and/or established industry practices.

Minimum Qualifications, Substitutions, Conditions of Employment & Appeal Rights
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS (MQs):
There are two ways to qualify for this position: 1) Experience OR 2) A Combination of Education and Experience
Option 1: Experience

• Six (6) years of relevant full-time professional* work experience in oil and gas inspection, safety compliance industry, public sector, and/or in a government agency, including experience with auditing, quality control, and/or investigating transit-related work (i.e accidents, incidents, occurrences, and hazards).

Option 2: A Combination of Education AND Experience

• Associate's Degree and Experience: Graduation from an accredited college or university with an associate's degree in applied science, civil engineering, mechanical engineering, environmental engineering, environmental policy, environmental studies, mathematics, or a field of study related to the work assignment; AND
• Four (4) years of relevant full-time professional* work experience in oil and gas inspection, safety compliance industry, public sector, and/or in a government agency, including experience with auditing, quality control, and/or investigating transit-related work (i.e accidents, incidents, occurrences, and hazards).

OR

• Bachelor's Degree and Experience: Graduation from an accredited college or university with a bachelor's degree in applied science, civil engineering, mechanical engineering, environmental engineering, environmental policy, environmental studies, mathematics, or a field of study related to the work assignment; AND
• Two (2) years of relevant full-time professional* work experience in oil and gas inspection, safety compliance industry, public sector, and/or in a government agency, including experience with auditing, quality control, and/or investigating transit-related work (i.e accidents, incidents, occurrences, and hazards).

Document this experience in your application IN DETAIL, as your experience will not be inferred or assumed. Part-time experience will be prorated.
SUBSTITUTIONS:

• Partial credit toward the degree requirement will be given for completed college/university coursework that did not result in a degree.A master's or doctorate degree from an accredited college or university in a field of study related to the work assignment will substitute for the bachelor's degree requirement.

*Professional work involves exercising discretion, analytical skill, judgment, and personal accountability and responsibility for creating, developing, integrating, applying, and sharing an organized body of knowledge that characteristically is: uniquely acquired through an intense education or training regimen at a recognized college or university; equivalent to the curriculum requirements for a bachelor's or higher degree with major study in or pertinent to the specialized field; and continuously studied to explore, extend, and use additional discoveries, interpretations, and applications and to improve data, materials, equipment, applications, and methods.
Preferred Qualifications:

• Demonstrated experience working in a state government position working to support a public safety program by ensuring compliance with program safety standards;
• Demonstrated professional* experience in reading, understanding, interpreting, applying, and explaining laws, rules, policies, and procedures;
• Experience working with and knowledge of the industries and entities regulated by the PUC (i.e., energy and water utilities and facilities, gas pipeline safety, etc.);
• Completion of U.S. DOT Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) training, Qualification (TQ) certification, and/or computer-based training (CBT) through the federal pipeline safety program;
• Demonstrated experience conducting audits of written programs to ensure compliance with regulations;
• Pipeline compliance experience, including completing compliance follow-up as necessary to achieve operator compliance with pipeline safety regulations;
• Demonstrated experience documenting operator and system parameters affecting compliance and risk (e.g., maps, operating pressures, pipeline vintage, operating characteristics, state of compliance programs, etc.);
• Demonstrated experience performing field verification inspections on units based on GPS and section identification of areas of concern/increased risk/emerging issues;
• Master's degree in civil, mechanical, or environmental engineering, environmental science, environmental policy, or public health.

Required Competencies: The following knowledge, skills, abilities, and personal characteristics are required competencies and may be considered during the selection process (including examination and/or interview):

• Demonstrated written communication skills, including the ability to convey information to various stakeholders in a clear, accurate, and concise written manner;
• Demonstrated verbal communication skills, including the ability to effectively convey information to audiences in a concise manner;
• Demonstrated attention to detail;
• Demonstrated critical thinking and analytical skills, including having the ability to evaluate information in order to apply knowledge and to decide on the most appropriate course of action;
• Demonstrated experience conducting research and gathering pertinent information;
• Demonstrated prioritization skills, including planning, organizing tasks, and managing work assignments;
• Interpersonal Skills, including working as part of a team;
• Demonstrated ability to demonstrate technical expertise in front of authorities;
• Demonstrated time management skills, including the ability to multi-task to effectively manage competing and constantly changing priorities in order to meet tight deadlines;
• Demonstrated ability to understand and abide by workplace principles, practices, and behaviors as internally identified and defined by the division and department;
• Demonstrated ab