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Ascension is seeking a Senior Technical Advisor to serve as a senior-level technical authority supporting the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) in advancing transportation safety, regulatory analysis, engineering assessments, and mission-critical technical initiatives.

The ideal candidate is a highly experienced technical professional who can translate complex engineering concepts, safety risks, regulatory requirements, and emerging technologies into actionable recommendations for Federal decision-makers. This individual will support multidisciplinary teams conducting technical research, engineering analysis, risk assessments, and program improvement activities that directly contribute to improving national hazardous materials and pipeline safety outcomes.

This role is best suited for a technical leader who has demonstrated experience working within Federal transportation safety, regulatory, engineering, or public safety environments and possesses the ability to independently analyze complex problems, develop defensible technical recommendations, and communicate findings effectively to technical and executive audiences.

The successful candidate will bring:

• Deep technical expertise in engineering, transportation safety, risk analysis, or regulatory programs.
• Experience advising Federal agencies or highly regulated organizations.
• Ability to lead complex technical studies and research efforts.
• Strong analytical judgment and ability to solve ambiguous, interdisciplinary problems.
• Ability to communicate technical findings clearly to both engineers and senior executives.

Summary of Contractor Role

The Senior Technical Advisor serves as Ascension’s principal technical expert supporting PHMSA’s engineering, safety, regulatory, and technical advisory mission requirements.

The position provides senior-level technical direction, research leadership, and advisory support for complex transportation safety challenges. The Senior Technical Advisor will lead and guide technical studies, assessments, modeling activities, engineering analyses, and advisory products that support regulatory decisions, operational improvements, and safety program modernization.

The role supports PHMSA service areas including:

• Engineering and technical analysis.
• Specialized research and applied studies.
• Safety risk analysis and technical evaluations.
• Regulatory program improvement.
• Technology assessment and implementation.
• Data-informed decision-making.
• Development of technical reports, white papers, briefings, and recommendations.

The Senior Technical Advisor will collaborate with PHMSA leadership, technical specialists, engineers, analysts, and program stakeholders to evaluate emerging safety challenges, assess regulatory impacts, and develop innovative solutions.

The position requires an individual capable of operating independently with limited direction while maintaining technical rigor, quality standards, and alignment with Federal regulatory requirements.

Position Responsibilities / Expected Activities

The Senior Technical Advisor will:

• Provide senior technical leadership and advisory support for engineering, safety, and regulatory program initiatives.
• Lead technical research activities, engineering studies, and analytical assessments supporting PHMSA mission objectives.
• Analyze complex transportation safety challenges, emerging technologies, regulatory impacts, and operational risks.
• Develop technical findings, recommendations, white papers, memoranda, and executive briefing materials.
• Evaluate engineering approaches, safety methodologies, and technical solutions to address mission challenges.
• Review technical analyses, research products, models, and supporting documentation for accuracy and defensibility.
• Advise Federal stakeholders on technical implications of regulatory changes, technology adoption, and safety improvements.
• Support risk analysis activities including identification of hazards, evaluation of consequences, and development of mitigation recommendations.
• Collaborate with engineers, analysts, program managers, and subject matter experts across multidisciplinary teams.
• Translate complex engineering and technical information into clear recommendations for non-technical decision-makers.
• Participate in technical meetings, working groups, reviews, and stakeholder discussions.
• Ensure technical products align with Federal regulations, industry standards, and PHMSA mission objectives.
• Mentor technical staff and provide knowledge transfer across project teams.