Location: Brownsville,TX, USA
ABOUT NEXTDECADE CORPORATION
NextDecade Corporation is an energy company accelerating the path to a net-zero future. Leading innovation in more sustainable LNG and carbon capture solutions, NextDecade is committed to providing the world access to cleaner energy. Through our subsidiaries Rio Grande LNG and NEXT Carbon Solutions, we are developing a 27 MTPA LNG export facility in South Texas and have proposed a carbon capture and storage project at the site. We remain committed to advancing and lowering the cost of utilizing carbon capture and storage and helping companies reduce their facility emissions and achieving their clean energy goals.. NextDecade's common stock is listed on the Nasdaq Stock Market under the symbol NEXT. NextDecade is headquartered in Houston, Texas. For more information, please visit www.next-decade.com.
SUMMARY OF THE ROLE
NextDecade is seeking a full-time Laboratory Manager to support long-term operations for the Rio Grande LNG facility located near Brownsville, Texas. The position will require work from Houston during early job phases before transitioning to Brownsville, Texas prior to commissioning and startup. The incumbent will report to the Process Engineering Sr. Manager (Position #135) in the Operations Engineering Department, under the leadership of the Director of Engineering. Peer level personnel across the engineering team will include Laboratory Technicians and external laboratory resources. The Laboratory Manager will supervise and mentor a team of four (4) or more Laboratory Technicians. The position will require work from Houston during the early job phase before transitioning to Brownville, Texas.
RESPONSIBILITIES
* Supervise the laboratory teams to support day-to-day plant operations ensuring compliance with safety and operational standards.
* Coordination with the production team to define the schedule of laboratory analysis required, including prioritization process when required.
* Ensure that all laboratory tests and analyses area performed accurately and efficiently.
* Ensure the analysis of laboratory data and prepare detailed reports on findings.
* Ensure proper communication of results to relevant departments and advise on any necessary adjustments.
* Ensure that all laboratory equipment is maintained in proper working order, ensuring regularly scheduled calibrations and troubleshooting.
* Enforce strict adherence to safety protocols within the laboratory environment.
* Ensure compliance with regulatory requirements and internal policies related to environmental, health, and safety standards.
* Ensure that all process and laboratory deliverables conform to industry regulatory compliance standards and recommended practices for safety, environment, and process design.
* Oversee the proper implementation, use, and maintenance of the LIMS (Laboratory Information Management System) in the laboratory.
* Establish laboratory work standards, procedures, and instructions.
* Coordinate with quality and document control teams to maintain laboratory procedures and other documents ISO 17025 and ISO 9001 compliant (expected within two years of operation).
* Interface with intercompany department personnel to provide timely information and document support.
* Supervise and ensure laboratory related performance and equipment compliance tests.
* Ensure laboratory support for intercompany teams, such as Operations, Maintenance, Process Control, Reliability, Quality, Process Safety Management (PSM), Document Control, Environmental, etc.
* Supervise core process laboratory personnel technical proficiencies and ensure training of laboratory staff and competencies development.
* Ensure procurement and inventory management of laboratory supplies and chemicals.
* Ensure proper storage and handling of hazardous materials.
* Lead initiatives for continuous improvement in laboratory processes and procedures.
* Stay update on industry advancements and implement best practices in the laboratory
* Coordination with Process Engineering Manager to ensure laboratory's budget controlling costs while maintaining the necessary resources for operations.
REQUIREMENTS
* MINIMUM:
* 5+ years of experience as a Laboratory Supervisor or Manager, preferably within gas, petrochemical or energy industries.
* Experience in management, supervisory, or leadership roles, managing teams in a laboratory setting,
* Strong leadership abilities including team supervision, task delegation, and performance evaluation.
* Experience of analytical techniques and laboratory procedures relevant to the LNG industry, such as gas chromatography, spectroscopy, moisture analysis, and other quality control measures.
* Experience with safety protocols and regulatory compliance specific to laboratory operations in an LNG industrial environment.
* Experience with establishing and/or maintaining ISO 9001 compliance and certifications.
* Ability to mentor and motivate technical staff by guiding, mentoring, and inspiring.
* Ability to work collaboratively and foster a collaborative work environment.
* Ability to lead by example, perform under pressure, and deliver against targets.
* An eye for detail to ensure complete documentation and associated metadata.
* Excellent organization, planning, and time management skills to ensure timely execution of work tasks.
* Highly motivated self-start mentality with focus on timely, consistent, and accurate results.
* Ability to accept responsibility with determination to consistently meet and exceed expectations.
* Assertiveness and ability to motivate and ensure that others provide input, missing data, etc., to avoid EDMS and other work process backlogs.
* Ability to liaise effectively with other departments such as operations, safety, and engineering.
* Communicates effectively at all levels of the organization to ensure clarity in expectations requirements, and deliverables. Excellent analytical skills.
* Computer literate, including proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite.
* PREFERRED:
* ISO 17025 and ISO 9001 Foundations or Auditor Certification
* Proficiency in using laboratory equipment and software for data management and analysis (LIMS - Laboratory Information Management System).
* Strong understanding of chemicals properties and behaviors, particularly those relevant to natural gas and LNG processes
* Familiarity with LNG production process, including key unit operations like the Acid Gas Removal Unit, Dehydration, Heavies Removal Unit, and Liquefaction.
* Industry regulatory compliance standards and recommended practices for safety, environment, and process design, such as those set by ISO, ASTM.
* In-depth knowledge of safety protocols and regulatory compliance related to laboratory operations in LNG or similar industrial environments.
* Ability to conduct precise and accurate chemical analysis and interpret data.
TRAVEL REQUIRMENTS
* Initial assignment will begin in Houston, then transition permanently to Brownsville, TX.
Job Site Work Environment
* Must be able to wear all necessary PPE equipment to perform job functions.
* Operates in a complex construction environment.
* Exposure to indoor and outdoor weather conditions.
* Not necessarily protected from weather and temperature changes. Possible exposure to hot, cold, wet, humid, or windy weather conditions.
* Exposure to moving mechanical parts and electrical circuits.
* Exposure to constant or intermittent sounds of a pitch level sufficient to cause marked distraction.
* Routinely uses standard office and field communications equipment such as computers, phones, photocopiers w/scanner and fax, and radios.
Able to meet the following physical demands of the job, with or without reasonable accommodations:
* Ability to drive to other Company work locations as required.
* Ability to move throughout all areas of the facility, including being physically capable of traveling to a designed muster point during emergency situations.
* Stand and/or sit continuously and perform job functions for a full shift.
* The incumbent is required to have fully mechanical motion and usage of all extremities.
* Physically able to walk, stand, bend, stoop, kneel, reach, twist, lift, push, pull, climb, balance, crouch, handle, and lift items weighing up to 20 lbs. without assistance.
* Visual acuity corrected to perform job functions. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception and ability to adjust focus.
* Must be able to clearly communicate with others via radio, phone, and verbal methods.
* May be required to enter confined spaces.
* May be required to work at elevated heights and access elevated structures without assistance.
Other Duties
Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change at any time with or without notice.
* In compliance with federal law, all persons hired will be required to verify identity and eligibility to work in the United States and to complete the required employment eligibility verification document form upon hire.
NEXTDECADE VALUES
* Safety - We make safety a priority. Everything we do relies on the safety of our people and the communities around us.
* Integrity - We do the right thing, and are open, ethical, and fair. We hold ourselves to the highest standards in all that we do.
* Honesty - We value truth and honesty in ourselves and others. We honor our commitments and take responsibility for our actions.
* Respect - We listen, and respect people, the environment, and the communities in which we live and work.
* Transparency - Transparency builds trust. We promote open communication with our people, our customers, and all our stakeholders.
* Diversity - We value diversity of people and thought. It takes people with different strengths, ideas, and cultural backgrounds to make our company succeed.
NextDecadeprovides equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all applicants without regard to race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, genetic information, marital status, amnesty, or status as a covered veteran in accordance with applicable federal, state and local laws. NextDecadecomplies with applicable state and local laws governing nondiscrimination in employment in every location in which the company has facilities.