Process Safety Technical Specialist

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Project Overview:

Bechtel is partnering with NextDecade to support their vision to provide the world access to lower carbon intensive energy with their Rio Grande LNG (RGLNG) project in Brownsville, Texas. RGLNG is a natural gas liquefaction and export terminal situated on a 984-acre site on the banks of the Brownsville ship channel. The first phase of the RGLNG project consists of three liquefaction trains, two storage tanks and one marine berth. At full capacity, the five-train facility will have a production capacity of 27 million tonnes per annum (MTPA). 

Brownsville, Texas is a city known for its diverse history, tradition, and rich culture. Located in the southernmost region in the beautiful state of Texas, lays Brownsville a rich, tropical oasis bordering the Rio Grande River and near the shores of the Gulf of Mexico. Brownsville embraces innovation, looks forward to the future and beyond! 

Job Summary:

The Process Safety Technical Specialist ensures the Project meets all relevant federal, state, and local health, safety, and environmental regulations during the Pre-Commissioning, Commissioning, Start-Up (PCSU) and Initial Operations Phase. This is achieved by implementing and assuring HSE and process safety requirements across PCSU work fronts, facilitating hazard identification and risk assessment activities, conducting targeted compliance audits and field verifications, and managing corrective actions to strengthen safety and regulatory performance throughout the CSU phase.

Major Responsibilities:

• Coordinate with the CSU and Operations team to identify activities that have a health, safety, or environmental compliance component, or the potential for a major accident hazard or externally reportable release. Lead implementation and assurance of project HSE and process safety requirements across the PCSU program, ensuring alignment with Bechtel core processes, client specifications, and applicable regulatory requirements.
• Provide specialist process safety support across PCSU activities, applying process engineering principles, process safety methodologies, and operational risk management practices.
• Provide technical input to PCSU safety studies, including HAZOP, HAZID, health risk assessments, and project risk assessments, to identify major hazards and confirm control adequacy prior to energisation and start-up.Facilitate risk assessments and hazard identification activities specific to commissioning and start-up phases, including testing, purging, leak testing, system energisation, and other high-risk PCSU activities.
• Facilitate the Project's Contractor Risk Assessment Workshops (CRAW) and ensure hazards and controls are effectively communicated to work crews prior to execution.
• Verify effective implementation of Permit-to-Work, energy isolation, and Job Hazard Analysis (JHA) systems for PCSU scopes to ensure work is executed within approved controls and safe operating boundaries. Review Simultaneous Operations (SIMOPS) plans and interface risks to mitigate hazards arising from overlapping commissioning, construction, and operational activities.
• Interpret and ensure compliance with all applicable federal, state, and local regulations and operational permits (such as OSHA PSM, EPA RMP, TCEQ, PHMSA, FERC, USCG, 49 CFR 193, etc.).
• Collaborate with field supervision to ensure vendors, technical representatives, and subcontractors follow approved HSE policies and procedures.
• Conduct audits and investigations, including following up on action closure to confirm corrective measures are effectively implemented and sustained.

Key Responsibilities:

• Audits and Inspections
• Support Owner during federal, state, and local regulatory audits and inspections, providing documentation, subject matter expertise, and technical support as required.
• Risk Management
• Corrective Actions
• Incident Investigation
• Safety Culture and Coaching
• HSE Performance Reporting

Education and Experience Requirements:

• Requires a Bachelor’s degree (or international equivalent) related to environmental, safety, health or science-related discipline and 10-13  years of relevant experience or 14-17 years of relevant work experience

Nice to have:

• Minimum of 5 years in a supervisory or management role
• Direct ESH leadership experience on the commissioning and start-up of LNG, petrochemical, refinery, power or other high-hazard process facilities is required, or significant operational experience.

Required Knowledge and Skills:

• Relevant experience in LNG, high-hazard process industry, or major capital project environments, with a strong preference for direct experience in commissioning and start-up (CSU) scopes.
• Demonstrated capability in process safety management, including facilitation of HAZOP, HAZID, and Bowtie analysis; critical control verification; and process hazard study techniques in line with recognised industry standards (IChemE or equivalent).
• Proficiency in Permit-to-Work, energy isolation, and Job Hazard Analysis systems, with demonstrated ability to verify field implementation and compliance.
• Practical experience with Simultaneous Operations (SIMOPS) planning and management during commissioning and start-up phases.
• Incident investigation capability using recognised structured investigation methodologies such as ICAM, TapRooT, or Essential Factors.
• Experience working with third-party organisations, Owner's regulatory personnel, and regulatory bodies at federal, state, and local levels.
• Regulatory compliance interpretation and implementation across applicable permits and regulatory frameworks.
• Strong cross-functional and stakeholder communication skills, with the ability to translate complex technical requirements into practical, field-executable guidance.
• Experience with HSE management systems, risk registers, action tracking platforms, and performance reporting functions.
• Professional certifications preferred: NEBOSH International Certificate in Process Safety Management; CFSP (Certified Functional Safety Professional); Lead Auditor ISO 45001:2018; IChemE Process Safety qualifications (HAZOP, Bowtie, Human Factors).
• Microsoft Office Suite (especially Excel) is required; familiarity with risk management platforms (e.g., Archer) is advantageous.

Total Rewards/Benefits:

For decades, Bechtel has worked to inspire the next generation of employees and beyond! Because our teams face some of the world's toughest challenges, we offer robust benefits to ensure our people thrive.  Whether it is advancing careers, delivering programs to enhance our culture, or providing time to recharge, Bechtel has the benefits to build a legacy of sustainable growth. Learn more at Bechtel Total Rewards

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