Texas Air Permitting Lead

Job Summary

Western Midstream is seeking a Texas Air Permitting Lead to join the Health, Safety, Security, and Environmental (HSSE) team in The Woodlands, TX. This senior-level position serves as the technical lead for air permitting activities across Western Midstream’s Texas oil and gas operations. The role is responsible for developing and executing permitting strategies that support operational reliability, regulatory compliance, and business growth while minimizing permitting risk and schedule impacts.

The successful candidate will provide technical leadership for complex permitting projects, serve as the primary liaison with regulatory agencies, and work closely with Operations, Engineering, Commercial, and Legal teams throughout project development and execution. This individual will also play a key role in driving continuous improvement initiatives and supporting the long-term development of the Southern Air Quality program.

Qualifications

• Minimum of 10 years of experience leading increasingly complex air quality permitting and regulatory compliance initiatives, preferably within the oil and gas industry.
• Extensive experience with Texas air permitting programs, including Permits by Rule (PBRs), Standard Permits, Case-by-Case NSR Permits, and Title V Operating Permits.
• Strong knowledge of state and federal air regulations applicable to oil and gas operations.
• Demonstrated experience developing permitting strategies for complex capital projects, facility expansions, and operational modifications.
• Experience leading permitting efforts for compression, processing, treating, storage, gathering, and associated oil and gas infrastructure.
• Strong understanding of emissions calculations, applicability analyses, emissions inventories, and air quality regulatory interpretations.
• Ability to evaluate regulatory risk and provide practical, business-focused recommendations.
• Experience managing external consultants and reviewing technical work products.
• Demonstrated leadership experience mentoring technical personnel and influencing cross-functional teams.
• Strong organizational and project management skills with the ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously.
• Excellent written, verbal, and presentation communication skills.
• Experience interacting directly with regulatory agencies and negotiating permitting approaches.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office applications.
• Experience with BR&E ProMax or other process simulation software.

Responsibilities

• Serve as the technical lead and subject matter expert for air permitting activities across Western Midstream’s Texas oil and gas operations, providing strategic guidance on permitting, regulatory applicability, and compliance requirements.
• Develop and execute air permitting strategies to support facility expansions, operational modifications, capital projects, acquisitions, and long-term business growth objectives while minimizing permitting risk and schedule impacts.
• Partner with Operations, Engineering, Commercial, and Legal teams to identify permitting requirements early in project planning and provide practical, business-focused regulatory solutions.
• Lead preparation, review, and submittal of air permit applications, permit amendments, Title V modifications, regulatory analyses, emissions calculations, and other technical deliverables, ensuring consistency, quality, and regulatory defensibility.
• Serve as the primary liaison with the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) and other regulatory agencies, managing permitting negotiations and regulatory interpretations.
• Evaluate the applicability and implementation of state and federal air quality regulations, monitor emerging regulatory developments, and provide recommendations regarding potential impacts to company operations and future projects.
• Provide technical oversight for Management of Change (MOC) and Process Safety Start-up Reviews (PSSR).
• Drive continuous improvement of the company’s Texas air permitting program through development of standards, procedures, permitting tools, data management solutions, and best practices that improve efficiency, consistency, and data quality.
• Manage consultant-supported permitting activities, including scope development, technical review, budget oversight, and quality assurance of work products.

Education 

• A Bachelor’s degree in Environmental Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Environmental Science, or a related technical discipline is required.
• Grade and salary will be commensurate with relevant education and experience.

License / Certifications 

• A valid driver's license with no restrictions that would prohibit driving a company vehicle is required.

Travel Requirements 

• The percentage of travel required for this position is 10-20%.

Work Schedule 

• This position follows a hybrid schedule working in-office Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and working remote Wednesday and Friday. Monday-Thursday are 9 hours and Fridays are 4 hours.