Operational Risk Manager Jobs in Fort Smith, AR (NOW HIRING)

Lead Safety. Influence Strategy. Drive Enterprise Impact.

Join our growing team and discover why Summit Utilities, Inc. continues to earn national and regional recognition as an employer of choice. Our recognitions include Best Places to Work in Maine (2019–2025); Best Places to Work in Arkansas (2020, 2023, 2025); Best Places to Work in Oklahoma (2022–2025); Best Places to Work in Missouri (2023 and 2026); Best Places to Work in Colorado (2025); Forbes America’s Best Small Employers (2023); and, most recently, Proud and Purposeful Employer (2026).

Summit is a growing natural gas utility that’s committed to delivering reliable energy to homes and businesses in Arkansas, Colorado, Maine, Missouri, Oklahoma, and Texas. Being part of the Summit team means embracing excellence and innovation, committing to safety each and every day, and doing all that we can to serve each other, our customers, and the communities where we live. We aim to bring warmth and energy to everything we do.

We are seeking an experienced and strategic leader to serve as Director, Pipeline Safety & Asset Risk. This hybrid opportunity may be based in one of Summit Utilities' Arkansas locations: Little Rock, Fort Smith, or Fayetteville.

POSITION SUMMARY

The Director of Pipeline Safety & Asset Risk provides strategic leadership for pipeline safety, integrity management, asset risk, and regulatory compliance across Summit’s multi-state utility operations. Reporting to the Vice President of Operations Support, the Director partners with executive leadership and key business stakeholders to strengthen safety performance, improve system reliability, advance regulatory compliance, and support risk-informed investment decisions.

This highly visible leadership role works across Operations, Engineering, Construction, Regulatory Affairs, and Finance to protect employees, customers, communities, and critical infrastructure while advancing continuous improvement and operational excellence.

PRIMARY DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

•    Provide enterprise leadership for pipeline safety, integrity management, and asset-risk strategy.

•    Oversee DIMP, TIMP, MAOP compliance, corrosion control, advanced leak detection, damage prevention, and public awareness programs.

•    Advance Summit’s Pipeline Safety Management System and related continuous improvement initiatives.

•    Strengthen regulatory compliance, audit readiness, and relationships with PHMSA and state regulatory agencies.

•    Establish governance, performance measures, and risk-informed practices supporting operational and capital-investment decisions.

•    Monitor emerging regulatory and industry developments and provide executive-level reporting and recommendations.

•    Develop and lead high-performing teams responsible for pipeline safety, integrity, governance, and compliance.

EDUCATION AND WORK EXPERIENCE

•    Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Risk Management, Safety, Regulatory Compliance, Business Administration, Construction Management, or a related field, or an equivalent combination of education and directly relevant experience.

•    Twelve or more years of progressively responsible experience in natural gas utility operations, pipeline safety, integrity management, asset risk, engineering, regulatory compliance, or a related discipline.

•    Five or more years of leadership experience managing employees, technical professionals, multidisciplinary teams, or complex programs.

•    Demonstrated leadership of pipeline integrity, asset-risk, regulatory compliance, audit-readiness, or operational-improvement programs.

•    Experience leading complex, cross-functional initiatives within a regulated utility environment.

•    Experience working with federal or state pipeline safety regulatory agencies and supporting audits, inspections, investigations, or compliance reviews.

•    Strong strategic, analytical, communication, and organizational leadership capabilities, including the ability to translate technical and regulatory information into business strategies and investment decisions.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

•    Experience within a natural gas utility or pipeline operating environment.

•    Professional Engineer licensure or relevant AMPP/NACE, API, audit, quality, risk, or compliance certification.

•    Experience developing and presenting budgets, business cases, and investment recommendations to executive leadership.

The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by employees assigned to this classification. They are not intended to be construed as an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties and/or skills required of all personnel so classified.

Summit offers competitive pay and medical/dental/vision and other benefits that provide flexibility, choice, and support to our employees when they need it most. We understand that home and family are essential pieces of your life, and our benefits are designed to support you both at work and at home. 

Summit Utilities, Inc. is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, or protected veteran status and will not be discriminated against on the basis of disability or veteran status