Environmental Manager Job

JOB SUMMARY

The Environmental Manager reports directly to the Clear Lake Loss Prevention Manager and provides routine oversight, guidance and support for Environmental related programs and protocols at the site all with goal of ensuring compliance with all Local, State and Federal regulations. The individual directly manages 3 employees, a Senior Environmental Engineer, an Environmental Engineer, and an Environmental Specialist. The position requires direct interaction with other onsite company and contract employees to exchange information and ideas directly related to the success of the plant and Acrylics business. The Senior Environmental Specialist is the designated backup for this role in the organization. The Environmental Manager also monitors directly 3 imbedded LDAR contractors and 4 consulting companies which provide offsite environmental support.

The Environmental Manager provides day-to-day support to all plant personnel to ensure the safe, compliant, efficient, and reliable operations of the Clear Lake Plant. The Clear Lake Plant operates continuously (24/7) and has an annual Acrylic Acid production capability of 270 kT. Finished products are Glacial Acrylic Acid, Butyl Acrylate and Methyl Acrylate.  Depending on the different environmental indicators (CO2, waste, water,…), the Clear Lake plant represents between 10% and over 50% of the total worldwide Arkema Group environmental footprint making it the biggest contributor to the Arkema Group (global) CSR indicators.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Key activities and responsibilities of the Environmental Manager:

1. Permitting Strategy & Business Interface

• Ensure major Environmental Permits for CLO (Title V, NPDES et al) are developed and maintained so as to support objectives of the CLO Business Model. Tasks could include coordination of Permit Modifications or Renewals with possible assistance from external associates such as CSP Regional, KOP SMEs or external consultants when necessary. The site has 2 Title V permits, 1 RCRA permit, SPCC,…

2. Maintaining continual regulatory compliance

• Develop and drive all programs necessary to ensure continual compliance with any and all Local, State and Federal Environmental regulations, rules or mandatory protocols. Tasks here could include compulsory environmental sampling, stack tests, fugitive emission monitoring (LDAR) as well as necessary site inspections, internal audits and resolution of related findings and Corrective Actions. Also critical will be participation or leadership with Root Cause Investigations to help learn from previous events in order to strengthen program efficiencies going forward.

3. AIMS/Management System Support

• Serve as the primary Environmental contact to provide necessary support and engagement to CLO Management System programs such as ISO, AIMS, RCMS etc. Tasks can include preparations for external audits, procedural development consistent with AIMS elements, driving necessary accountability and documentation in ongoing compliance initiatives.

4. Corporate Social Responsibility

• Coordinate, oversee the development of and validate the timely submission all necessary environmental metric, monthly/annual reporting and KPI information through required internal and external platforms (REED, PowerBI, TCEQ Databases et al).
• Tasks include the gathering, review, and submittal of all required Environmental Data including EFPI, GHG, Energy metrics into these platforms including but not limited to:
  • Air Emissions (VOC, NOx, SOx, PM, CO et al)
  • Water Discharge (Flowrate, COD, TSS, BOD et al)
  • Waste Treatment and Generation (Hazardous Waste & Non-Hazardous Waste
  • Energy Usage & Optimization (Usage, Conservation etc.)
  • Provide support and guidance for projects that reduce the environmental footprint of the site and support the company’s Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) goals.

ENVIRONMENTAL – 100%

• Efficiently manage CISWI permitting and compliance activities for the CLO site, including contractor stack testing to ensure timely and accurate collection and submittal of agency reports.
• Generate timely and accurate agency reports on the plant’s Annual Emission Inventory (AEI), Toxics Release Inventory (TRI), Green House Gas (GHG) emissions, and National Emissions Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants (NESHAP) benzene waste operations emissions and other regulatory reporting efforts.
• Oversee the development and implementation of strategic programs aimed at ensuring compliance with CLO Title V Air permits. Ensure the plant stays in compliance with permit requirements and facilitate needed permit needs to meet business demands.
• Facilitate REED reporting improvements and coordinate quarterly REED report data reviews with plant management. Work in tandem with the Senior Environmental Specialist I to ensure REED data is accurately and appropriately into REED database and serve as a backup for final date entry into the REED tool when necessary.
• Fulfill the role of On-Call Environmental Contact for CLO and ensure timely NRC and TCEQ reporting and follow up for events which could or does result in a reportable quantity (RQ)exceedance. Assist in related incident response activities – including providing timely & appropriate responses to regulatory inquiries from state and other government agencies.
• Provide support for other environmental reporting and permitting activities, including managing the NSR HRVOC, HWC MACT and RCRA permits, managing NOx permitting and compliance activities, coordinating STEERS online TCEQ accounting system activities, interacting with Gulf Coast Authority (local wastewater treatment facility), and providing environmental reports to the local community advisory panel (BAYCAP).
• Accountable for communicating regulatory and permit requirements to plant personnel with a thorough knowledge and understanding of the following:
  • State of Texas air regulations and permit conditions and reporting requirements.
  • Harris County and Houston regional regulations and reporting requirements.
  • Knowledge of DOT, OSHA, EPA, state and local codes and requirements.
• Serve as a focal point for regulatory agency and corporate environmental audits.
• Facilitate implementation of corporate driven environmental improvement initiatives
• Provide information and training to plant management and plant personnel with the goal of providing the tools and knowledge needed by plant personnel to meet their environmentally related job responsibilities.
• Periodically audit environmental data and records and provide timely feedback on any deficient conditions so that action items are promptly addressed.
• Develop and maintain a productive working relationship with the appropriate regulatory agencies with the goal of developing trust and ensuring effective problem solving with the group when needed.
• Participate in the Texas Chemical Council (TCC), EHCMA and other forums to stay abreast of regulatory trends and activities that could affect the Clear Lake plant.
• Assist in developing the site’s environmental improvement strategy. Track data, understand cause(s), and make recommendation to systematically reduce both the frequency and severity of non-routine environmental events. Evaluate waste disposal costs and identify waste reduction/recycling opportunities. Develop projects to achieve waste and cost reduction.
• Performs other duties as assigned.
• In the absence of the Environmental Manager, the Senior Environmental Specialist will serve as backup. Specific duties include:
  • Follow up on any agency incident reports.
  • Respond to regulatory inquiries from compliance agencies.
  • Work with contractors to coordinate required environmental activities, including stack testing.
  • Ensure environmental reports are submitted in a timely fashion.

The Environmental Manager:

• Has minimal (<5%) travel obligations – both domestic and international.
• Supports the site HES policy and complies with all regulatory and internal requirements.
• Participates in HES activities provided by site management and Arkema Inc. (e.g., Behavioral Base Safety, SafeStart, etc.).
• Supports and promotes the reporting of all health, safety, environmental, near-miss, accident, or injury incidents.
• Understands and supports the Clear Lake Facility Acrylic Monomers HSE2Q Commitment.
• Serve as a backup for the site HESQ Loss prevention manager (incl. Delegation of Authority) with oversight on process safety, Quality (lab and quality systems) and all Health & Safety matters.

Minimum Qualifications/Education Requirements/area of focus:

• Minimum of 10 Years of experience with proven environmental expertise and understanding of safety processes and plant experience.
• Environmental focus and experience on “Air” recommended.
• Bachelor or Master’s degree in Environmental, Safety or Chemical Engineering or related and equivalent technical degree

Competencies -Knowledge Skills & Abilities (KSAs)

• Works autonomously
• Ability to work with all plant departments and with Corporate & legal environmental groups
• Ability to strategize and plan improvements over multiple years
• Can translate high level plant vision & goals into solutions and actions
• Responsible to provide engineering solutions to environmental matters
• Ability to analyze complex and transverse data set and trends to make recommendations impacting the plant operations, following all regulations. Example : Complex new environmental regulations, applicability analysis, permitting for significant projects for the site (>$100M CAPEX),... with significant potential impacts on Arkema’s liability and Coating Solutions P&L
• Strong knowledge of local, Texas State and Federal regulations
• Knowledge of Green House Gas (GHG) and SBTi international environmental standards
• Proven track of advocacy outside of the company (American or Texas Chemistry Council, TCEQ forums,…)
• Proven leadership of teams, projects, etc., through knowledge in the area of expertise (environmental)
• Good verbal and written communications skills to communicate effectively with the hourly workforce, the plant day staff, contract employees, and other plant and company leaders.
• Ability to prioritize work and meet deadlines.
• Solid judgment and problem analysis skills are required.
• Experience with developing or implementing health and safety systems & policies.
• Highly motivated team player able to work at a fast pace