Regulatory Director

Job Summary

The Director, Regulatory provides senior-level leadership over a high-performing, multi-function team responsible for pipeline safety, regulatory compliance, and the company’s Operations Management System (OMS). This role is accountable for maturing the department to meet the demands of a growing, fast-paced organization — elevating team leadership capacity, driving proactive performance improvement, and ensuring the company remains ahead of an increasingly complex regulatory landscape.

The role requires a strategic mindset and strong business acumen, with knowledge and direct experience in multi-functional team leadership, operations and pipeline safety management system (OMS and PSMS) governance, compliance strategy, budget accountability, and oversight of due diligence activities supporting acquisitions and divestitures. Functional scope spans pipeline safety and regulatory compliance alongside governance of the company’s Operations Management System (OMS), the framework through which the department drives operational excellence, learning, and continuous improvement. This position reports to the Vice President, Health, Safety, Environment and Security and is based in The Woodlands, TX.

Key Responsibilities

• Provides senior-level leadership across the Pipeline Safety and Regulatory functions, with full accountability for compliance outcomes, risk management, costs, and timelines
• Actively develops and elevates direct-report managers, building both technical depth and leadership capability to enable a high-performing organization that allows the Director to operate at a strategic level
• Establishes and continuously improves processes, systems, and standards that mature the function to system-driven compliance and performance outcomes
• Influences the company's regulatory strategy, following emerging trends and rulemaking activity to position WES ahead of increasing regulatory complexity and translates that intelligence into actionable organizational direction
• Partners cross-functionally with Operations, Engineering, Commercial, Finance and Legal to align regulatory priorities with broader business objectives and ensure seamless execution
• Oversees governance and continuous maturity of the company’s Operations Management System (OMS), driving its adoption across day-to-day work so it operates as a working management system rather than documentation
• Ensures a rigorous OMS audit and learning framework is in place so the organization learns systematically from events and institutionalizes corrective and preventive actions
• Connects OMS performance measurement (KPIs and periodic management reviews) to measurable gains in safety, environmental performance, operational reliability, and regulatory compliance
• Leads or actively supports due diligence activities associated with acquisitions and divestitures, including evaluation of regulatory risk and integration of new scopes of work
• Prepares and delivers executive-level reports and presentations on regulatory developments and strategic recommendations
• Maintains and cultivates relationships with regulatory agencies and represents the company at external meetings and industry proceedings as needed
• Identifies and acts on performance improvement opportunities across both the internal team and field operations, with a focus on proactive risk reduction and compliance excellence

Skills & Leadership

• Embodies WES Core Values — Partnership, Resourcefulness, Performance, and Customer Focus — as a visible role model and cultural leader within the department and across the organization
• Demonstrates senior-level leadership across a multi-function team, with a proven ability to develop managers into strong, self-sufficient leaders capable of operating with increasing independence and accountability
• Maintains strategic focus while empowering direct reports to own their functions and grow their technical and leadership capabilities
• Establishes and maintains a high-performance culture through intentional coaching, meaningful development conversations, and clear expectations at every level of the team
• Brings personal technical credibility across pipeline safety, regulatory, and operations management systems, earning the trust of both the team and external stakeholders while leading primarily through others
• Leads high-stakes conversations and decisions with confidence and sound judgment, including performance evaluations, promotion decisions, succession planning, and resolution of complex organizational or interpersonal challenges
• Communicates with clarity at all levels from field operations to executive leadership and leverages influence effectively to drive alignment across functions
• Exceptional ability to navigate ambiguity, take on new scopes of work, and lead the organization through change with steady, decisive leadership
• Strong problem-solving skills with the ability to balance technical depth, business priorities, and organizational needs simultaneously

Required Knowledge & Experience

• Minimum 15 years of relevant experience, including at least 3 years leading managers or multi-function teams at a senior manager or director level
• Oil and gas industry experience required, with a strong understanding of how regulations apply to midstream or upstream field operations; experience in adjacent industries such as utilities or petrochemical may be considered in combination with oil and gas exposure
• Multi-site and corporate leadership experience required
• Knowledge of PHMSA and FERC pipeline regulations, with particular depth in control room management, operations and maintenance, operator qualification, and public awareness and damage prevention requirements is required
• Working knowledge of Texas and New Mexico pipeline and Class II SWD well permitting, regulations, and filings required; multi-state experience preferred
• Working knowledge of operations management systems, pipeline safety management systems, and OSHA PSM, including audit, incident investigation, and continuous improvement practices; experience governing or lead-auditing an enterprise management system preferred
• Demonstrated experience interacting with and influencing regulatory agencies
• Proven track record of improvement at both the team and organizational level

Education

• Bachelor's degree in Civil Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or a related technical or scientific field required
• Relevant professional certifications are a plus

Work Schedule

• Hybrid schedule: in-office Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday (9 hours each); remote Wednesday (9 hours) and Friday (4 hours)

25–30% travel required