Senior Counsel - Health, Safety and Security - Houston, TX

Primary Purpose

Sempra Infrastructure (SI) seeks an outstanding Health, Safety & Security (HSS) attorney with expertise in the energy industry, specifically including strategic legal guidance and support to the company's Health, Safety, and Security teams. This role ensures compliance with applicable laws and regulations, manages legal risk, and supports the company's commitment to operational excellence, environmental stewardship, and workforce safety. The successful candidate will provide legal guidance on a wide range of HSS matters and serve as a subject matter expert on related laws and regulations. This includes day-to-day counseling on operational activities, regulatory compliance, crisis and emergency response, incident reporting, and investigations. Prior experience advising energy companies or government agencies on emergency management is strongly preferred.

The position will require excellent communication skills and the ability to coordinate with internal and external specialized consultants to ensure activities are conducted in an efficient manner with the highest level of skill and attention to detail. The ideal candidate will work seamlessly with diverse teams in the U.S. and Mexico and have the ability to manage complex projects, meet deadlines, and complete assigned tasks with minimal to no supervision.

This position will interface with colleagues across SI offices in the U.S. and Mexico, with an expectation that the candidate can independently produce final documents and work with others on matters. The ability to provide commercially minded support to the business teams is also strongly preferred. Candidates should exhibit strong substantive legal skills (drafting and analysis), negotiation skills, commercial acumen, and the ability to collaborate and strategically partner with other lawyers and the business to achieve objectives.

Duties and Responsibilities

• Implement SI's HSS policies and procedures, and serve as the primary legal advisor on related matters. Key duties include advising stakeholders on compliance, policy development, and risk mitigation; supporting crisis management through contingency planning, post-incident analysis, and continuous improvement; coordinating with departments such as Operations, Corporate HSS, Legal, Government Relations, Sustainability, and Strategic Projects; and managing HSS legal matters with a focus on proactive risk identification and practical, business-oriented solutions.
• Lead the Monitoring and Continuous Improvement Program, including facilitating HSS Program reviews, implementing monitoring mechanisms, reviewing data analytics, and supporting change management initiatives. This role also delivers tabletop exercises and conducts trainings and workshops to educate employees on HSS regulations and best practices.
• Provide legal guidance on federal, state, and international HSS regulations, including OSHA, EPA, TSCA, RCRA, CERCLA, and the Clean Air and Water Acts. Responsibilities include interpreting and applying laws related to chemical manufacturing, transportation, and environmental protection, as well as supporting permitting processes, audits, and inspections.
• Establish processes that create a consistent rhythm of creative HSS communications for SI. Develop tailored messaging that effectively engages Business Units in the U.S. and internationally, driving awareness and action in close coordination with SI's and the Business Units' HSS compliance teams. Monitor and track health and safety incidents and accidents, providing recommendations for continuous improvement.
• Provide proactive legal and compliance guidance to diverse client groups, with a strong understanding of their unique goals, operational contexts, and sensitivities.
• Collaborate with and supervise outside counsel to ensure that HSS related aspects of the company's legal representation are of the highest quality.
• Perform other duties as assigned (no more than 5% of duties).

Education

• J.D. or LL.M from an accredited US law school required.

Experience

• 7+ years of relevant legal experience for the job activities described above required.
• 5+ years of experience at a reputable law firm, in-house counsel or government agency required.
• 1+ years of environmental law in a law firm or in-house setting preferred.
• Strong knowledge of industry standards (e.g., OSHA, API, ISO 45001) preferred.
• Experience with the energy industry and local governmental law required.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Knowledge of the energy industry (specifically the LNG, power or natural gas industry) is desirable.
• Experience in technical and Industry-Specific Skills, such as: Risk Assessment & Hazard Analysis (e.g., HAZOP, HAZID, FMEA), Process Safety Management (PSM), Incident Investigation & Root Cause Analysis, Emergency Response Planning, Environmental Compliance & Monitoring, Occupational Health & Industrial Hygiene and knowledge of Standards.
• Regulatory and Compliance knowledge with local, national, and international regulations.
• Experience with permitting and reporting requirements.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills and strong analytic ability.
• Demonstrated ability to manage a range of legal matters independently or with limited support.
• Ability to translate complex legal concepts into actionable advice for the business unit and act as a strategic partner for the business.
• Ability to quickly learn and apply knowledge accurately to various legal situations affecting the Business Unit.

Licenses and Certifications

• Member in good standing of a U.S. State Bar with a strong preference for Texas or Louisiana required.

Other Qualifications

• Ability to occasionally travel in the U.S. and Mexico.
• Ability to read and write in Spanish is preferred.

Note: The Company strives to ensure that employees are paid equitably and competitively. Starting salaries may vary based on factors such as relevant experience, qualifications, and education.

Sempra Infrastructure offers a competitive total rewards package that goes beyond base salary. This position is eligible for an annual performance-based incentive (bonus) as well as long-term incentive plans and additional merit-based recognition. Company benefits include health and welfare (medical, dental, vision), employer contributions to retirement benefits, life insurance, paid time off, as well as other company offerings such as tuition reimbursement, paid parental leave, and employee assistance programs.