Clearance Coordinator (Contract to Hire)

Job Title: Clearance Coordinator (Contract to Hire)
Location: Columbus, OH
Work Model: Fully Onsite
Rate: $30/hour
Contract Duration: October 12, 2026 – December 31, 2026
Contract to Hire: Yes
Employment Type: W-2 Only
Work Authorization: U.S. Citizens Only | Green Card holders also eligible; no visa sponsorship available
Number of Openings: 5
Primary Worksite: 290 W Nationwide Blvd, Columbus, OH 43215
Parking: Available; not reimbursed

Available Work Schedules:

• Tuesday–Saturday, 6:00 AM–2:00 PM — 1 position
• Monday–Friday, 6:00 AM–2:30 PM — 1 position
• Monday–Friday, 7:00 AM–3:30 PM — 1 position
• Monday–Friday, 9:30 AM–6:00 PM — 2 positions

Important: Candidate submissions should clearly indicate which shift(s) the candidate is available to work and whether they are available for a Monday–Friday or Tuesday–Saturday schedule. Onboarding may be staggered to allow the initial group to complete training before additional hires begin.

Position Overview

We are seeking Clearance Coordinators to support the Clearance Coordination Center within Gas Control. This role is responsible for coordinating and authorizing gas-related field work across transmission and distribution operations while maintaining system-wide situational awareness and supporting safe, reliable operations.

The Clearance Coordinator will review work requests, supporting documentation, concurrent system activity, supply positions, and real-time operating conditions to determine whether maintenance, repair, and construction activities can safely proceed. This individual will communicate directly with field personnel, Gas Control, upstream pipeline providers, contractors, engineers, and other operational stakeholders to coordinate work and reduce risks associated with simultaneous activities on the gas system.

This role requires strong judgment, attention to detail, communication skills, and the ability to remain effective in fast-paced and potentially emergency situations. While prior gas utility experience is preferred, this opportunity is also well suited for early-career professionals with strong analytical, technical, and problem-solving capabilities.

Key Responsibilities

Clearance Coordination & Work Authorization

• Review and execute clearance requests for gas transmission and distribution field activities.
• Receive and evaluate clearance requests by phone during normal and emergency operating conditions.
• Review work requests, technical records, and supporting documentation submitted by field personnel and upstream suppliers.
• Determine whether and when maintenance, repair, or construction activities may safely begin.
• Prioritize the order in which work requests are approved based on system conditions and operational risk.
• Independently evaluate and approve assigned clearance requests.
• Suspend, modify, delay, or stop previously authorized work when system conditions or safety considerations require it.
• Maintain situational awareness of concurrent activities affecting gas assets.

Simultaneous Work Avoidance & Risk Management

• Support the organization's Simultaneous Work Avoidance (SWA) processes.
• Review planned and active work to identify potential conflicts between concurrent field activities.
• Collaborate with other Clearance Coordinators and Clearance Engineers to identify and mitigate simultaneous-work risks.
• Evaluate system conditions and field activities to determine potential operational impacts.
• Stop work when personnel are unsafe, unprepared, or when conditions do not support safe execution.
• Identify opportunities to improve work coordination and reduce operational risk.
• Support risk mitigation efforts related to gas system maintenance, construction, and operational activities.

Gas System Monitoring & Operational Coordination

• Review and track system events that may affect field work or gas operations.
• Coordinate system changes with:
  • Gas Control
  • Clearance Engineers
  • Gas System Planning
  • Field Engineering
  • System Operations
  • Field personnel
  • Upstream pipeline providers
  • Contractors
• Communicate changes in operating conditions or work authorization status to appropriate internal and external stakeholders.
• Support coordination between field activities and real-time gas system conditions.
• Help maintain awareness of supply positions and operational constraints.

Data Analysis & Clearance Management Tools

• Record and analyze clearance activity using tools such as j5, Power BI, Tableau, Excel, and similar applications .
• Maintain accurate records of work requests, approvals, modifications, suspensions, and completed activities.
• Analyze clearance data to support operational reviews and risk mitigation.
• Use data to identify patterns, recurring issues, simultaneous-work concerns, and potential process improvements.
• Support analysis associated with Gas Standards and operational requirements.
• Develop or contribute to meaningful metrics that measure Clearance Coordination Center activity and performance.

Audit, Compliance & Documentation

• Prepare and maintain documentation required for internal and external audits.
• Ensure clearance activities are performed in accordance with applicable Gas Standards, Operational Notices, procedures, and requirements.
• Support audit requests by gathering, validating, and presenting clearance records and supporting data.
• Maintain clear and accurate documentation of decisions and operational activities.
• Assist with administrative and compliance-related activities associated with the Clearance Coordination Center.
• Identify areas where documentation, processes, or controls may require improvement.

Emergency & Contingency Support

• Perform assigned responsibilities effectively during emergency and contingency situations.
• Evaluate changing conditions quickly and make appropriate decisions under pressure.
• Communicate clearly with field personnel, Gas Control, leadership, and other stakeholders during time-sensitive situations.
• Maintain focus and situational awareness during rapidly changing operational conditions.
• Escalate issues appropriately when additional operational or engineering support is required.

Day-to-Day Responsibilities

• Receive and review gas-system clearance requests.
• Communicate with field personnel regarding planned maintenance, repair, and construction work.
• Evaluate work requests against current system conditions and concurrent field activities.
• Authorize, modify, delay, suspend, or stop work as appropriate.
• Monitor and document active system events and clearance activity.
• Coordinate with Gas Control, engineering, planning, operations, contractors, and upstream suppliers.
• Enter and analyze information in clearance management and reporting tools.
• Review activity for simultaneous-work risks.
• Maintain accurate operational and audit documentation.
• Support emergency and contingency operations as needed.
• Participate in self-guided training and continued development of gas utility knowledge.

Required Qualifications

• 0–2 years of relevant professional experience.
• Ability to read, write, understand, and interpret technical plans, procedures, processes, and supporting documentation.
• Strong planning and organizational skills.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills.
• Ability to perform effectively during emergency and contingency situations.
• Ability to exercise sound judgment and make decisions using available information.
• Strong attention to detail.
• Ability to perform self-guided study and training as instructed.
• Ability to manage multiple activities and priorities in a fast-paced operational environment.
• Ability to communicate effectively with field personnel, technical teams, contractors, and operational stakeholders.
• Ability to work fully onsite in Columbus, OH.
• Availability to work one of the designated schedules associated with the five openings.

Preferred Qualifications

• 1+ years of experience in the natural gas utility industry, gas operations, or a related industrial environment .
• Bachelor's degree in Business, Mathematics, Statistics, or a related field, or equivalent professional experience.
• Experience working with utility or industrial operations.
• Experience manipulating, reviewing, or analyzing data using:
  • Microsoft Excel
  • Microsoft Access
  • SCADA
  • j5
  • Tableau
  • Power BI
  • Similar operational or analytical tools
• Demonstrated ability to exercise independent judgment in a high-profile, fast-paced environment.
• Strong problem-solving skills.
• Ability to evaluate multiple alternatives and make decisions under pressure.
• Experience communicating operational decisions to multiple stakeholder groups.
• Familiarity with gas transmission, gas distribution, field operations, maintenance, construction, or pipeline operations is a plus.

Safety Responsibilities

• Actively support and promote a safe work environment.
• Participate in applicable employee safety programs and processes.
• Identify and report unsafe conditions.
• Take appropriate action to prevent personal injury and operational risk.
• Support an interdependent safety culture by considering the safety of coworkers, field personnel, contractors, and other stakeholders.
• Maintain focus on assigned responsibilities and promote safe, productive work practices.
• Exercise authority to stop or delay work when safety or operational readiness requirements are not satisfied.

Core Competencies

• Gas Operations Coordination
• Clearance Management
• Work Authorization
• Simultaneous Work Avoidance
• Situational Awareness
• Operational Risk Management
• Gas Transmission & Distribution
• Field Operations Coordination
• Emergency Response
• Data Analysis
• j5
• Power BI
• Tableau
• Excel
• SCADA
• Audit & Compliance Support
• Technical Documentation
• Independent Judgment
• Problem Solving
• Stakeholder Communication
• Safety Focus

Ideal Candidate Profile

The ideal candidate is an organized, analytical, and dependable professional who can learn gas utility operations quickly and make sound decisions in a highly operational environment. They should be comfortable reviewing technical information, communicating directly with field personnel, analyzing multiple activities occurring across the gas system, and determining when work can safely proceed.

The strongest candidates will combine good judgment, attention to detail, analytical ability, clear communication, and composure under pressure . Prior natural gas or utility experience is valuable, but candidates with strong technical aptitude and experience in operational, industrial, analytical, or control-center environments may also align well with the role.