Senior Gas System Inspector

Posting number: J093 07-26 MD

Department: Utilities

Job classification: Senior Gas System Inspector

Posting type: Open

Categories: Public Works, Trades, Utilities, Construction Trades

Summary

Conducts inspections of natural gas projects and lines to ensure safety and quality assurance in accordance with federal, state, and local regulations. Serves as the lead technical resource for gas system inspection activities.

Position functions sixty (60) percent indoors with no notable hazards or adverse environment factors and forty (40) percent outdoors subject to all traffic and weather conditions, mechanical and electrical hazards, explosives, burns, fumes, odors and gases.  Safety clothing and devices include safety helmet with face mask, fire retardant coveralls, protective eyewear, steel toe boots, and vest.

Position involves the ability to lift and carry items weighing up to one-hundred (100) pounds; verbal, visual and auditory abilities to perform essential job functions; balancing, bending, stooping, climbing, crouching, kneeling and reaching above shoulder height; ability to ambulate on uneven surfaces and work in confined spaces; frequent computer use.

Position involves competing demands, performing multiple tasks, working to deadlines, and responding to customer issues.  It may also involve responding to emergency situations, work on holidays, weekends, nights, overtime, call-back and standby status.  Regular attendance is an essential function of this job to ensure continuity of services.  Position is subject to drug testing in accordance with applicable State and Federal regulations and City of Las Cruces policy. 

Examples of duties

• Performs and coordinates advanced inspections of natural gas construction, maintenance, repair, pressure testing, tie-ins, and purging activities to ensure compliance with applicable local, state, and federal regulations and industry standards; serves as the lead inspector on complex or high-risk projects.
• Coordinates various complex gas system projects and prepares and reviews system procedures for installation and repair to ensure standard processes are in place; ensures appropriate GPS data is developed and updated.
• Leads investigations involving gas line hits, damage claims, service interruptions, compliance concerns, and other operational incidents; prepares findings, recommendations, reports, and supporting documentation to ensure accurate and timely resolution; monitors, manages, and maintains as-built drawings, test records, inspection reports, and hit reports to provide accurate and timely information.
• Provides lead technical assistance to City staff regarding natural gas issues; reviews and updates material specifications to ensure records are current; researches and evaluates equipment and materials to recommend purchases; conducts the procurement of materials, equipment, and tools.
• Assists with administration of the Operator Qualification Program, including compliance monitoring, evaluations, recordkeeping, audits, training support, and implementation of regulatory requirements; conducts steel, arc, oxyacetylene, and poly-fusion welding; tests vendor gas products and equipment for compliance with federal standards.
• Reviews construction plans, engineering drawings, specifications, and design documents for compliance with applicable codes, standards, regulations, and gas utility requirements.
• Conducts compliance audits and reviews of gas system operations, inspection records, pressure testing documentation, operator qualification records, and regulatory filings to ensure compliance with federal pipeline safety requirements.
• Researches and interprets changes to federal pipeline safety regulations and industry standards and recommends procedural updates to maintain compliance.
• Provides technical mentoring, field instruction, and knowledge transfer to Gas System Inspectors and gas operations personnel regarding inspection practices, regulatory requirements, and industry standards.
• Serves as the acting Training and Safety Coordinator as needed.      
• Provides perf