Environmental Health & Safety Manager

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Job Summary

NRG Energy has a career opportunity for an Environmental, Health & Safety (EH&S) Manager supporting the Aurora and Rockford Generating simple cycle peaking plants located outside of Chicago. Aurora Generation is a 1,000 MW facility operating four GE 7FAs and six GE LM6000 natural gas-fired combustion turbines. Rockford Generation is a 540 MW facility operating three Siemens V84.3A2 natural gas-fired combustion turbines. This position has shared responsibility across both facilities. The primary base site will be determined based on the successful candidate's residential location, and routine travel between both the Aurora and Rockford sites will be required.

As a key member of the plant management staff and a key contributor to the corporate Compliance Staff, the EH&S Manager provides technical, administrative, and strategic leadership for all environmental, industrial health, safety, and NERC compliance programs. The position ensures that plant operations strictly comply with all applicable corporate policies, permits, and federal, state, and local safety and environmental regulations (including OSHA, USEPA, IEPA, and NERC standards). The EH&S Manager performs day-to-day compliance tasks, drives employee engagement and a 'safety over production' culture, conducts investigations and audits, and administers key regulatory programs to minimize risk, eliminate accidents, and achieve an injury-free workplace. Additionally, the EH&S Manager identifies practical, cost-effective solutions to operational challenges, maintains a proactive view of regulatory changes, and optimizes plant performance, reliability, and profitability.

Essential Duties / Responsibilities

• Assume responsibility for the day-to-day administration and effective execution of plant-wide Environmental, Health, Safety, and NERC Compliance Programs across both assigned generating facilities.
• Plans, directs, and manages all health, safety, and environmental policies, procedures, and programs under senior management direction, ensuring full alignment between individual, team, station, and corporate initiatives.
• Serve as the primary station point-of-contact for environmental, safety, and health matters both internally and externally; coordinate communications and maintain single-point-of-contact alignment with Corporate Safety and Environmental personnel.
• Perform day-to-day compliance tasks including environmental and safety data collection, monitoring, analyzing, correlating, recordkeeping, and regulatory reporting to maintain and improve plant performance, reliability, and compliance status.
• Perform thorough permit, statutory, and regulatory reviews (OSHA, USEPA, IEPA, NERC) as necessary; keep fully informed on existing and proposed changes in safety and environmental legislation, protective equipment requirements, and permit conditions, positioning management strategy accordingly.
• Escort environmental and safety regulatory inspectors during all site visits and inspections; facilitate pre- and post-inspection meetings, document findings, and communicate corrective action plans and/or potential notices of violations to plant management.
• Partner with plant leadership to foster an environment that encourages superior Safety Awareness and Environmental Stewardship through the implementation and support of the Safety Management System (SMS) and Environmental Management System (EMS), promoting a 'safety over production' culture.
• Influence, motivate, and direct employees and contractors to work safely; communicate safety requirements and hazard awareness during shift briefings, Job Safety Briefings, and planned work scheduling meetings.
• Designate as Program Administrator for key Safety, Health, and Environmental programs. Administer and maintain safety and environmental databases, files, information systems, and site-specific compliance documentation.
• Work with corporate environmental team and prepare, review, and submit required regulatory filings, reports, and submittals, including Title V air permit reports, CEMS quality assurance reviews/analyzer performance evaluations and waste tracking when done at the plant level.
• Provide technical support, leadership, and guidance to other EH&S Specialists and station staff to aid in completing compliance responsibilities and supporting regional compliance efforts.
• Provide or arrange comprehensive environmental, health, and safety training for station personnel using both computer-based systems and instructor-led sessions. Ensure compliance with occupational standards including Generation Station Emergency Plan, Confined Space Entry, Hearing Conservation, Respiratory Protection, PPE, Fire Protection, and site-specific hazard awareness.
• Conduct industrial hygiene sampling and monitoring using specialized IH equipment; assess exposures and maintain technical expertise in health hazard identification and controls.
• Conduct regular safety audits, facility inspections, and risk assessments to identify non-compliance problems and significant loss-producing exposures; evaluate program effectiveness and implement best management practices.
• Oversee incident investigation processes for safety, environmental, and equipment failure events (utilizing tools such as Root Cause Analysis, TapRoot, Cause Mapping, Fishbone, 5 Whys); identify root causes and track/execute corrective actions to prevent recurrence.
• Track, trend, and analyze safety and environmental performance data; assess injury and illness trends and recommend/initiate proactive measures and strategic programs to improve plant performance.
• Manage all activities associated with subcontracting vendors for EH&S services and equipment; monitor contract compliance and maintain mobility across sites for program quality control.
• Work with established teams to ensure new or modified environmental permits and authorizations required by operational changes or evolving regulations are applied for and obtained in a timely manner.
• Manage and direct activities of professional, technical, support personnel, and contractors during routine operations as well as extraordinary circumstances, including plant outages, unit trips, and heavy personnel demand shifts.
• Formulate and manage EH&S budgets, work scopes, outage schedules, and resource planning to support plant reliability and corporate financial goals.

Working Conditions & Physical Requirements

Working Conditions:

This position operates in a combination of open office and dynamic industrial power plant environments (both indoors and outdoors). The workplace includes exposure to seasonal weather extremes (extreme heat and cold), high ambient noise levels, high humidity areas, rotating and energized electrical equipment and hazardous materials/chemicals. Workplace compartments and equipment areas may occasionally exceed temperatures of 120°F. The role requires extended working hours, weekend/holiday work as dictated by plant outages, schedules, and operating conditions, as well as being available on 24/7 on-call status when needed. Travel between generating facilities and occasional travel outside the immediate business area for meetings and training is required.

Physical Requirements:

• Ability to stand and work on feet for extensive periods, walk long distances over uneven surfaces (e.g., loose rock, open grating, concrete), bend, stoop, kneel, crouch, crawl, reach, push, pull, and routinely lift up to 50 pounds.
• Ability to safely navigate industrial structures, including climbing vertical fixed ladders in excess of 20 to 40 feet and stairways in excess of 50 feet.
• Ability to work in elevated areas, enclosed vessels, and permit-required confined spaces.
• Extensive manual and finger dexterity required for computer keyboard operations, preparing detailed technical reports, operating precision tools, and handling industrial hygiene monitoring equipment.
• Must be able to respond promptly to audio alarms, variations in machinery sound, and visual indicators.
• Must possess the physical ability and willingness to wear all required Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), including hard hats, safety glasses/goggles, face shields, hearing protection, fall protection harnesses, chemical suits, and air-purifying/supplied-air respirators.

Minimum Requirements

• Education & Experience: Undergraduate Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Environmental Science, Occupational Health & Safety, or equivalent combination of technical education and power generation/industrial experience (or High School Diploma / GED with at least 4 years’ experience in industrial safety, environmental, and operations experience).
• Demonstrated broad understanding of compliance, business, and plant operational issues, with proven skills in regulatory reporting and equipment/emissions monitoring.
• Demonstrated working knowledge of applicable federal, state, and local safety and environmental regulations (OSHA, USEPA, IEPA, NERC).
• Must possess a valid State Driver’s License and maintain an acceptable driving record to operate motor vehicles between plant sites.
• Computer Skills: Demonstrated proficiency in personal computer hardware and software applications, including Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint), databases, CEMS reporting tools, and job-related compliance software.
• Fitness for Duty: All candidates must successfully pass a post-offer pre-employment physical examination, background check, and drug screening, and participate in the ongoing random drug and alcohol testing program. Must adhere to strict facility smoking and tobacco restrictions.

Preferred Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Occupational Health & Safety, Environmental Engineering, or related technical discipline.
• Five (5) or more years of direct EH&S leadership experience within simple cycle gas turbine facilities or utility-scale power generation operations.
• Professional Safety & Health Certifications: Certified Safety Professional (CSP), Associate Safety Professional (ASP), Certified Industrial Hygienist (CIH), Certified Occupational Safety Specialist (COSS), Certified Occupational Safety Manager (COSM), or Occupational Health & Safety Technologist (OHST).
• Environmental Operator Certifications (or ability to obtain and maintain): USEPA Visible Emissions (Method 9) Certification, USDOT / RCRA Hazardous Waste Management Certification, Illinois Class A Landfill Operator with Special Waste Endorsement, Illinois Site-Specific Class K Wastewater Operator Certificate, Illinois IDPH Non-Transient Non-Community Public Water System (NTNCPWS) Drinking Water Operator Certificate, and Illinois Underground Storage Tank (UST) Class A/B/C Operator Certificate.
• Experience with OSHA Voluntary Protection Program (VPP) and Special Government Employee (SGE) designation.
• Formal training and experience in advanced incident investigation techniques (e.g., TapRoot, Cause Mapping, Fishbone, Five Whys).

Additional Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Leadership & Interpersonal: Strong leadership, interpersonal, and management skills. Ability to listen, respond constructively, mentor personnel, encourage high performance, and accept accountability for program outcomes.
• Communication & Negotiation: Excellent oral and written communication skills; strong negotiation tactics; professional demeanor using tact and diplomacy. Ability to present technical data succinctly to management, regulators, and plant staff.
• Regulatory & Analytical Problem Solving: Superior analytical and critical thinking skills. Ability to conceptualize practical, business-oriented solutions to complex regulatory and technical plant challenges.
• Technical & Scientific Foundation: Working knowledge of mathematics, chemistry, and environmental/power engineering sciences sufficient to interpret operational events and regulatory standards.
• Organization & Initiative: Highly self-organized, self-motivated, self-directed, goal-oriented, and results-focused with proven project management skills and the ability to track multiple deadlines independently.
• Team Alignment & Collaboration: Demonstrated ability to work cooperatively in a team environment, pool knowledge, and cultivate/maintain effective networks across plant, corporate, contractor, and regulatory agency boundaries.
• Safety Culture & Human Performance: Deep understanding of human behavior factors in industrial safety, safety committee facilitation, and promoting a proactive safety culture.
• Operations & Tools Knowledge: Understanding of power plant equipment (combustion turbines, generators, transformers, CEMS, water treatment) and proficiency with power/precision tools and industrial hygiene monitoring apparatus.

Company Statement & EOE

NRG Energy is committed to a drug- and alcohol-free workplace. To the extent permitted by law, employees are subject to periodic random drug testing, as well as post-accident and reasonable suspicion drug and alcohol testing. EOE AA M/F/Vet/Disability. This job description in no way states or implies that these are the only duties to be performed by the employee occupying this position. Employees will be required to follow any other job-related instructions and to perform any other job-related duties requested by plant or corporate management, subject to all applicable state and federal laws. Certain job functions described herein may be subject to possible modification in accordance with applicable state and federal laws. Level, Title, and/or Salary may be adjusted based on the applicant's experience, certifications, and skill set. Official description on file with Human Resources.

NRG Energy is committed to a drug and alcohol-free workplace. To the extent permitted by law and any applicable collective bargaining agreement, employees are subject to periodic random drug testing, and post-accident and reasonable suspicion drug and alcohol testing. EOE AA M/F/Vet/Disability. Level, Title and/or Salary may be adjusted based on the applicant's experience or skills.

Official description on file with Talent.

We support the use of AI tools to help you prepare for your interview (e.g., practicing responses, researching the role, or refining your resume). However, during interviews and assessments, we expect responses to reflect your own thinking, experience, and communication. Use of AI to generate or read answers in real time, complete assessments, or misrepresent your qualifications is not permitted and may impact your candidacy.

The base salary range for this position is: $93,760 - $154,680* *The base salary range above represents the low and high end of the salary range for this position. Actual salaries will vary based on several factors including but not limited to location, experience, and performance. The range listed is just one component of the total compensation package for employees. Other rewards may include annual bonus, short- and long-term incentives, and program-specific awards. In addition the position may be eligible to participate in the benefits program which include, but are not limited to, medical, vision, dental, 401K, and flexible spending accounts.