Lead Environmental Specialist

The Lead Environmental Specialist spearheads environmental compliance and stewardship for the Mylar Hopewell site. This role is responsible for the site’s environmental programs across air, water, and waste; meets applicable permit and regulatory obligations; and leads two direct reports. The supervisor works with Operations, Maintenance, Engineering, site leadership, and other functions to build environmental requirements into daily work and site planning.

The supervisor is the primary site environmental contact for regulatory agencies and takes ownership of identifying risks, setting priorities, resolving gaps, and sustaining compliance. The role combines technical judgment with hands-on leadership and coaching.

Responsibilities

• Own Hopewell environmental compliance programs and maintain the systems, schedules, records, and controls needed to meet federal, state, and local requirements and site permits.

• Lead air compliance, including Clean Air Act and Title V obligations, emissions data, applicable standards, permit applications and renewals, and required reporting.

• Oversee wastewater treatment and water compliance, including permit conditions, operating performance, monitoring, reporting, and timely response to deviations.

• Direct hazardous and nonhazardous waste management, including characterization, accumulation, handling, disposal, records, and waste minimization.

• Ensure accurate and timely environmental reports and submissions, including applicable EPCRA and SARA reporting, annual air emissions, and other permit or regulatory reports.

• Lead environmental permitting and management of change reviews so proposed equipment, process, and operating changes are evaluated before implementation.

• Maintain and improve the site Environmental Management System, including objectives, procedures, training, audits, corrective actions, and pollution prevention efforts.

• Serve as the primary site contact during agency inspections, audits, permit discussions, and other regulatory interactions; communicate material risks and needed decisions to site leadership.

• Lead, prioritize, coach, and develop two direct reports; assign work, clarify expectations, review execution, and support accountability and growth.

• Engage employees and leaders across the site to explain requirements, remove barriers, and drive corrective actions through completion. Evaluate regulatory changes for their effect on Hopewell.

Competencies

• Self direction and ownership: Anticipates obligations and risks, sets priorities, follows through, and resolves problems with appropriate escalation.

• Curiosity and learning: Asks thoughtful questions about processes and equipment, investigates causes, and uses operational data and regulatory requirements to find practical solutions.

• Engagement and influence: Builds trust across functions, is visible in the plant, and explains what compliance requires and why it matters.

• Leading compliance: Coaches others, establishes clear expectations, addresses barriers, and helps Operations and other teams own their part of sustained compliance.

• People leadership: Gives clear direction and useful feedback while developing the capability and independence of team members.

• Analysis and judgment: Evaluates evidence and risk, makes sound recommendations, and communicates concerns promptly and clearly.

Bachelor’s degree in Environmental Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Environmental Science, or a related technical field.

• Five or more years of environmental experience in a manufacturing or industrial setting preferred.

• Working knowledge of relevant environmental requirements, including the Clean Air Act, Clean Water Act, RCRA, CERCLA, and EPCRA, and experience applying permit conditions in plant operations.

• Experience with environmental permitting, regulatory reporting, compliance systems, and interactions with regulatory agencies.

• Ability to manage complex responsibilities independently and engage employees and leaders at all levels through clear written and verbal communication.

• Prior direct supervision experience desired but not required. Candidates with strong project or program leadership, coaching, influence, and readiness to lead a team will be considered.

• Proficiency with common business software and environmental data and recordkeeping systems.

This Virginia position pays between $103,600 and 170,900/year. Actual pay may vary based on experience, qualifications, and market factors.