VP, HSSE

Job Description

Job Description

ABOUT NEXTDECADE CORPORATION 

NextDecade is committed to providing the world access to reliable, lower-carbon energy. We are focused on delivering secure and cost-effective energy through the safe and efficient development and operation of natural gas liquefaction capacity at Rio Grande LNG. Through our subsidiaries, we are developing and constructing the Rio Grande LNG natural gas liquefaction and export facility near Brownsville, Texas, with approximately 48 MTPA of potential liquefaction capacity currently under construction or in development, sufficient space at the site for up to 10 liquefaction trains, and a potential carbon capture and storage project. 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 

SUMMARY OF THE ROLE  

The VP, HSSE serves as the company’s senior leader responsible for defining and executing the enterprise-wide strategy across health, safety, security, environment, and sustainability. Reporting into the COO, this role is accountable for embedding HSSE principles into all phases of the business—from project development and construction through commissioning and operations. 

The VP, HSSE will shape and lead a high-performing organization, establish consistent management systems, and provide executive-level guidance on risk, compliance, and performance, while serving as a key external representative on HSSE and sustainability matters. 

• Define and execute an integrated HSSE strategy aligned with NextDecade’s business objectives, regulatory requirements 

• Serve as the company’s senior subject matter expert, advising executive leadership on risk, compliance, and performance across all HSSE disciplines. 

• Shape, develop and lead a high-performing HSSE organization, fostering strong followership, accountability, and visible leadership. 

• Champion a culture of safety, environmental stewardship, and sustainability through consistent leadership behaviors and enterprise-wide engagement. 

• Establish and maintain consistent HSSE policies, standards, and management systems across the company, ensuring appropriate flexibility for local regulatory requirements. 

• Embed HSSE principles into core business processes, including project development, construction, and operations. 

• Integrate HSSE requirements into critical business processes, including asset integrity, Management of Change (MOC), Safety Case frameworks, and operational readiness. 

• Identify, assess, and mitigate HSSE risks, ensuring proactive management of high-consequence hazards across projects and operations. 

• Provide executive oversight of incident response and investigation for high-potential events, ensuring root cause analysis and sustainable corrective actions. 

• Ensure full compliance with all regulatory, contractual, and company HSSE requirements across all operations. 

• Partner with internal functions (Operations, Projects, Supply Chain, Regulatory, and Commercial) to embed HSSE priorities into business decision-making. 

• Lead engagement industry bodies and external stakeholders on HSSE and sustainability matters, including oversight of ESG-related disclosures and reporting. 

• Lead the development and integration of sustainability and environmental strategies, including emissions reduction, carbon management, and environmental impact mitigation. 

• Ensure alignment of HSSE programs with company-wide sustainability commitments. 

• Establish and oversee HSSE performance metrics, driving continuous improvement through data-driven insights, benchmarking, and best practice adoption. 

• Conduct regular performance reviews and ensure timely implementation of corrective actions. 

• Minimum of 15 years of progressive HSSE leadership experience within the oil and gas, energy, or related industrial sector, including leadership across major capital projects, construction, and operating environments 

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, HSSE, or related discipline required 

• Proven experience developing and implementing enterprise-wide HSSE policies, standards, and management systems 

• Deep expertise across HSSE disciplines, including process safety, environmental management, and risk management, with strong working knowledge of Safety Case frameworks and major accident hazard management 

• Demonstrated ability to lead high-performing teams and influence across matrixed organizations, including operations, projects, and contractor environments 

• Strong analytical, risk management, and decision-making capabilities, with the ability to advise executive leadership on enterprise risk and regulatory matters 

• Working knowledge of applicable laws, regulations, codes, and industry standards related to occupational health, safety, and environmental compliance 

• Excellent communication and stakeholder engagement skills, with the ability to operate effectively in a multicultural, global, and project-driven environment 

• Advanced degree or relevant professional certifications (e.g., CSP or equivalent) 

• Experience in LNG and/or other high-hazard industries, including Safety Case development and implementation 

• Experience leading sustainability and/or ESG strategy, including emissions management and environmental performance 

• Familiarity with sustainability reporting frameworks (e.g., SASB, TCFD) 

• Ability and willingness to travel frequently to project sites, offices, and external stakeholder locations, including South Texas and other operational locations 

• Formal training in HSSE disciplines such as planning, management, and HSSE performance evaluation. 

• Membership in a professional safety organization and/or National Construction Safety Officer (NCSO) certification 

• Occupational Health and Safety Degree, Diploma or CSP would be a plus. 

• National Construction Safety Officer Certificate would be a plus. 

Ability and willingness to travel frequently to the Rio Grande LNG facility based in Brownsville, TX., and external stakeholder locations.  

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. 

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to support individuals with ADA-recognized disabilities to perform the essential functions for the job.

·  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. 

If you require accommodations during the application or interview process, please contact Human Resources at View email address on ziprecruiter.com.

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 experiences and thoughts. It takes people with different strengths and backgrounds to make our company succeed.

NextDecade provides 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. NextDecade complies with applicable state and local laws governing nondiscrimination in employment in every location in which the company has facilities. 

We may use artificial intelligence (AI) tools to support parts of the hiring process, such as reviewing applications, analyzing resumes, or assessing responses and identifying potential inconsistencies or verification signals in application materials based on available information. These tools assist our recruitment team but do not replace human judgment. Final hiring decisions are ultimately made by humans. If you would like more information about how your data is processed, please contact us.