Director - Strategic Initiatives

Primary Purpose

The Director, Strategic Initiatives will serve as a strategic leader and enterprise operator responsible for delivering high-impact cross-functional programs that advance company strategy, culture, performance, and external stakeholder credibility. This role owns the Corporate Responsibility (CR) reporting portfolio while also serving as a key enterprise partner supporting strategic initiatives across Operations, HR, administrative modernization, organizational effectiveness, and other enterprise priorities. A critical dimension of this role is driving change management and execution capacity across a rapidly growing organization. This leader will help translate executive priorities into structured plans, communication, and implementation, supporting adoption, alignment, and sustained outcomes across both corporate and field environments.

Responsibilities

Corporate Responsibility Reporting (Primary Owner)

• Serve as enterprise owner for Corporate Responsibility reporting process.
• Lead the annual Corporate Responsibility Report from end-to-end (content strategy, data readiness, project plan, internal approvals, design production, and rollout).
• Lead and continuously improve external reporting and performance frameworks, including:
  • GRI / SASB-aligned disclosure.
  • GRESB submission and performance improvement strategy.
  • Investor and lender ESG questionnaires and diligence requests.
• Support strong internal CR governance (councils, executive updates, cross-functional accountability).
• Ensure CR initiatives reflect operational realities and create real business value (risk mitigation, investor confidence, employee pride, regulatory readiness).

Enterprise Initiatives & Strategic Program Execution

• Lead and execute enterprise initiatives tied to company strategic priorities and enterprise goals.
• Support and help manage multi-workstream programs, including:
  • Enterprise goal cascading and alignment.
  • Organizational effectiveness and operating rhythm modernization.
  • Administration and corporate modernization initiatives.
  • Cross-functional special initiatives driven by executive leadership.
• Provide structured execution support for priority executive initiatives, which may include communication planning, material development, stakeholder coordination, and initiative tracking.

Change Management & Internal Communications

• Play a central role in enterprise change management, ensuring strategic initiatives are supported by clear communication, leader enablement, and adoption planning.
• Build and execute communication strategies that drive alignment and sustained behavior change across the organization.
• Support internal communications within the Operations function, including:
  • Maintaining and evolving the Operations SharePoint site as a key information hub.
  • Supporting development and coordination of the quarterly Operations newsletter.
• Translate complex strategy and initiatives into clear, practical messaging that resonates across both corporate and field audiences.
• Support leader-led communications by equipping managers with tools and materials to reinforce enterprise direction.

Cross-Functional Enablement (Operations, HR, Admin, Facilities)

• Serve as a strategic partner and execution driver for initiatives that touch:
  • Operations effectiveness and strategy support.
  • HR transformation, talent, and culture initiatives.
  • Administrative modernization and enterprise coordination.
  • Executive execution and special project support.
• Support the Facilities team with administrative and program support related to long-term corporate office strategy and capital projects, helping ensure cross-functional alignment, communication, and execution discipline.
• Support enterprise initiatives that strengthen coordination between field and corporate teams (ONE Tallgrass culture), including leadership enablement and clarity of roles and accountability.

Employee Engagement & Culture (Lakewood Office)

• Support employee engagement and culture-building efforts within the Lakewood office, helping foster a connected and high-performing workplace environment.
• Partner with internal stakeholders to support planning and execution of engagement activities and events such as holiday celebrations, summer gatherings, community service efforts (e.g., blood drives), and other culture-building initiatives.
• Help ensure engagement efforts align with company values and reinforce a strong sense of community and shared purpose.

TOPSafe & Safety Culture Initiatives

• Support advancement of the company’s safety culture through strategic initiative development and execution aligned with the TOPSafe program.
• Contribute to initiatives such as:
  • Safety engagement and awareness campaigns (e.g., branding and communications efforts).
  • Support for TOPSafe Recognition Program.
  • Cross-functional projects that strengthen specific elements of the safety management system in alignment with API RP 1173.
• Help connect corporate and field efforts to ensure safety remains visible, supported, and integrated into enterprise initiatives.

Executive And Board-Ready Support

• Develop high-impact materials for executive leadership team, board, and key stakeholder engagement, including:
  • Briefing memos.
  • Board-quality slides.
  • Executive narratives and scripts.
  • Scorecards and dashboards.
• Provide executive-level synthesis: “here’s what matters, what’s at risk, what’s next”.

Qualifications

Job Requirements

Minimum Requirements

Education

• Bachelor’s degree required (Master’s, MBA, or equivalent preferred).

Experience / Specific Knowledge

• 10+ years of progressive experience in strategy, enterprise programs, corporate responsibility, operations enablement, or consulting.
• Demonstrated experience leading enterprise-wide, cross-functional initiatives with measurable outcomes.
• Strong program leadership capability: ability to drive from ambiguity → structure → execution.
• Strong executive presence: communicates clearly, confidently, and credibly with senior leaders.
• Excellent writing skills (can produce board-ready narratives and crisp strategic messaging).
• High analytical ability: can translate data into insights and decisions.

Certifications, Licenses & Registrations

• Must possess and maintain a valid driver’s license and a driving record satisfactory to the company and its insurers (for travel).

Competencies, Skills & Abilities

• Enterprise ownership mindset (thinks “company-first,” not function-first).
• Ability to work across personalities and functions without formal authority.
• Comfortable with complexity and ambiguity.
• Highly organized program execution and strong strategic judgment.
• Strong interpersonal maturity, discretion, and integrity.
• Bias toward action and outcomes (not perfectionism for its own sake).
• Capable of working independently and with limited supervision.
• Must be able to perform all essential and marginal functions of the job.
• Must be able to work with a team, take direction from management, adhere to required work schedules, focus attention on details, and follow work rules.
• Ability to successfully perform multiple tasks with strict deadlines.
• Ability to organize and prioritize daily work.
• Job level commensurate with experience and skill sets; position will be filled depending on qualifications, experience and skill sets of the successful candidate. (as applicable to job).

Physical Demands

Sitting; standing; walking or moving throughout facility; driving; talking; seeing (specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception and ability to adjust focus); hearing; feeling; bending or stooping; squatting or crouching; reaching; kneeling; pushing; pulling; lifting up to 25 lbs. Minimal safety hazards; general office working conditions. Must be able to sit for prolonged periods of time. The employee is regularly required to use hands to type, touch, handle, or feel. The employee is required to talk and hear. The employee is frequently required to stand and reach with hands and arms. The employee is occasionally required to walk and climb or balance. The employee must regularly lift and /or move up to 10 pounds and occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds.

Working Conditions

• May be required to carry a cell phone and be available to respond during working and non-working hours.
• The successful candidate will be required to clear a drug screen and a complete background check, including credit reports for certain positions, after an offer has been extended and prior to being employed.

Supervisory Responsibility

• None.

Preferred Education, Experience, Certifications, Competencies, Skills, & Abilities

• Experience in energy, midstream, infrastructure, industrial operations, or regulated environments.
• Experience with CR frameworks such as GRI, SASB, GRESB.
• Experience supporting major capital programs, growth environments, and fast-paced transformation.
• Experience managing or mentoring teams and cross-functional contributors.

Other Responsibilities

The above statements describe the general nature and level of work being performed. This position may perform other duties as assigned.

About Us

Tallgrass was named one of the 2023 Top Workplaces USA and highlighted in Colorado's Top Workplaces for the past seven consecutive years. Tallgrass is a leading energy infrastructure company focused on safely, reliably, and sustainably delivering the energy and services that power our nation and enable our quality of life.

At Tallgrass, we value our teams and strive to create an environment where employees feel respected, and their contributions are valued. We aim to support employees' physical, mental, and financial well-being through a comprehensive Total Rewards Program.

• Industry competitive pay
• Health insurance package options that include Flexible Spending & Health Savings Accounts
• Infertility Coverage
• Parental Leave
• 401(k) with up to a 6% match that vests immediately plus an employer discretionary contribution of up to 4%
• Wellness Programs and Mental Health Resources
• Employer-paid life insurance, short-term disability, and long-term disability coverage
• Critical Illness & Accident Insurance
• Vacation, sick days, paid caregiver leave, volunteer and bereavement paid time off
• Identity theft protection
• Annual discretionary bonus
• Generous Tuition Reimbursement Program
• Company-paid holidays and floating holidays
• Company vehicle (if applicable)
• Employee discounts; vehicles, tires, cellular plans, and more.
• Networking and employee engagement events.
• Personal development to grow your career with us based on your strengths and interests.

Application Deadline

Recruiting timelines vary by position; however, all Tallgrass positions accept applications for at least five business days from the posting date. This position is open and still accepting applications.

Compensation

Compensation ranges are provided in good faith based on what we anticipate when researching wages for this position at the state and national levels. We may ultimately pay more or less than the posted range. This salary range may also be modified in the future.

Notice to External Search Firms

Tallgrass does not accept unsolicited resumes from search firms or employment agencies. Unsolicited referrals and resumes are considered Tallgrass property; therefore, Tallgrass will not pay a fee for any placement resulting from the receipt of an unsolicited referral. Approved vendors may be invited to refer talent for specific positions at Tallgrass's request only. A fully executed agreement with Tallgrass must be in place and current in these cases.

EEO Statement

Tallgrass complies with all Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) affirmative action laws and regulations. Tallgrass does not discriminate on the basis of age, race, religion, color, sex, national origin, marital status, genetic information, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, disability, veteran status, pregnancy status, or other status protected by law.

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