Environmental Program Manager I

Environmental Program Manager I

Location: EPA Region 6 (Arkansas, Louisiana, New Mexico, Oklahoma, or Texas) or Overland Park, KS

The Program Manager I is responsible for supporting the EPA Director and CLIN 2 Program Manager in the leading and managing of the company's Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) contracts within EPA Region 6 and other regions and ensuring all projects are executed in alignment with client expectations, contractual requirements, and company objectives. This role oversees EPA-related projects and project teams, provides strategic leadership, supports business development efforts within the EPA Region 6 portfolio, and serves as a primary point of contact for Region 6 client engagement. The Program Manager I also plays a key role in mentoring and developing staff, including project managers, to ensure consistent and successful project delivery.

The Program Manager I has the potential to work fully remotely with occasional travel to project sites and HGL offices. If a candidate resides within commuting distance of an HGL office and would like to work hybrid, that option is also available to them. Preference is for candidates who reside within EPA Region 6 (Arkansas, Louisiana, New Mexico, Oklahoma, and Texas).

Staff Management:

• Support HGL's EPA program and direct all EPA-related contracts and CLIN (Contract Line-Item Number) project managers within region 6.
• Support a team of staff, including formal employee mentorship to provide guidance and professional development.
• Communicate and connect with various departments (proposal development, contracts, chemistry, data management, etc.) to ensure that they are properly coordinating and functioning to support the region.

Project Oversight and Delivery:

• Ensure EPA Region 6 projects are delivered on time, within budget, and in compliance with project scope of work and contract requirements and client expectations.
• Conduct routine meetings with project managers to monitor project progress, review deliverables, and provide strategic direction.
• Guide and enforce company best practices for consistent EPA project execution across teams.
• Address and resolve project issues and challenges.
• Serve as a Senior Project Manager on some Region 6 Task Orders.
• Uphold contract and company required QA/QC and Health and Safety standards.

Client and Stakeholder Engagement:

• Serve as liaison with EPA Region 6 clients, fostering strong relationships to ensure satisfaction and repeat business.
• Coordinate with external stakeholders for scope and cost sensitive items including EPA clients and state and local agencies as needed for specific projects.
• Respond to client inquiries and proactively address client needs to maintain high levels of satisfaction.

Proposal and Business Development:

• Support, organize and lead proposal efforts for EPA-related opportunities, working closely with technical teams, HGL leadership, and teaming partners to submit high-quality and competitive proposals.
• Assist in growing the company's Region 6 EPA portfolio, identifying new opportunities, and contributing to long-term client engagement strategies.
• Evaluate potential project opportunities for profitability and alignment with company goals.
• Support planning for and attendance of client sponsored Industry Day events and conferences.

Process Improvement and Standardization:

• Contribute to the development and refinement of internal guidelines and processes for program and project management to ensure consistency across teams.
• Mentor project managers on best practices and standardized approaches to ensure high-quality service delivery.
• Utilize approved digital and AI-assisted tools, where appropriate, to support technical documentation, data analysis, project communications, and workflow efficiency.

Minimum Requirements:

• Bachelor's degree in Science, Environmental Science, Engineering, or related field required.
• Minimum of 15 years of experience including 5 years managing large government contracts and multi-disciplinary teams, preferably in the environmental or engineering sectors.
• Prior experience managing EPA Region 6 clients and working with state and local agencies in EPA Region 6.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite, especially Microsoft Project for project scheduling and management.
• Strong leadership and people management abilities, including mentoring and coaching staff.
• Excellent communication skills, both verbal and written, to interact effectively with clients and team members.
• Strong problem-solving and decision-making skills.
• Highly organized with the ability to manage multiple competing priorities.
• Strategic thinker with the ability to see the big picture while focusing on project details.
• Demonstrated ability to learn and adopt new technologies and digital tools to improve project delivery and operational efficiency.

Desired Qualifications:

• Project Management Professional (PMP) certification, Professional Geologist (PG) certification, or Professional Engineer (PE) certification a strong plus.
• Experience using Ganttic or other resource management tools is a plus.
• Experience using generative AI tools (e.g., Microsoft Copilot, ChatGPT, Claude, or similar) to improve technical writing, data analysis, research, visualization, or project delivery efficiency.

Physical & Environmental Requirements:

• Prolonged sitting up to 70% of the time; Ability to interpret and analyze visual data (maps, graphs, warning indicators, etc.)
• Analyzing and synthesizing data; Complex problem solving and decision making; Reading and interpreting technical documents or regulations; Writing reports, proposals, or technical documentation; Leading a team or coordinating multiple priorities; Communicating effectively with clients, team members, and stakeholders; Managing competing deadlines and shifting priorities

Work Environment Requirements:

• Office and remote work environment; Must be able to travel up to 10% per year; May work in environments with loud noises, dust, or hazardous materials

This description is not a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that may be required of the employee. Other duties, responsibilities and activities may be assigned or may be changed at any time with or without notice.

Work Schedule: HGL office work is dictated by a 5-day work week; however, fieldwork schedules will deviate based on job requirements and may require longer hours and weekends.

Office Type: Remote but candidate should reside within EPA Region 6 (Arkansas, Louisiana, New Mexico, Oklahoma, or Texas). Candidates may also work hybrid if near Overland Park, KS office.

Travel: 10%

A favorable pre-hire drug test is required. All positions are subject to a pre-hire education and driving record verification.

This specific role supports a U.S. Federal government contract which requires employees engaged on this contract to be U.S. citizens.

More About HGL And The Opportunity:

At HGL, we share a drive and vision to restore natural resources and provide ongoing stewardship of our environment to benefit present and future generations. We believe that we can make a difference in improving the world we live in through collaboration, teamwork, and a positive work environment. This unites and empowers us to strive for excellence in all our endeavors.

HGL - Who We Are:

The exceptional quality of our people is key to our strength. We value our employees as individuals and as important members of our team. We offer a work environment that is flexible, inclusive, and dedicated to creating a sustainable future. By cultivating a culture of innovation, we're able to adapt and augment our services to solve complex environmental and natural resources challenges.

Projects at HGL primarily span the United States and its territories, tackling problems associated with emerging contaminants (like PFAS), radiological contamination, and military munitions, along with chemical contamination in groundwater, surface water, sediments, and soil.

With over 550 employees, HGL is large enough to execute high-profile projects, but small enough to develop personal working environments with our talented team members. By joining HGL, you will be working toward restoring the environment and protecting our future.

HGL - We Invest In You:

It's not just a job, it's your career. HGL provides career growth opportunities via mentoring, training, education, and support for your certifications and licenses. Achieve your career goals and help HGL achieve its mission of restoring the environment to beneficial use for our clients and communities.

We are an Equal Opportunity employer. All applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, age, national origin, disability, protected veteran status, or other protected category. Some positions may require U.S. citizenship.