Senior Environmental Engineer

Job Summary

Location: This position supports two biomass power plants one in Stockton, CA and one Woodland, CA.

This senior engineering position is responsible for supporting operations or development groups by responding to phone or drop-in inquiries regarding interpretation of regulations and other compliance-related needs. This position also represents the company through interaction with environmental regulatory agencies to obtain air, water supply, water discharge, and other necessary permits as well as assisting with the management of company assets to maintain compliance with those permits and all federal, state, and local environmental regulations. Work involves performing difficult and complex services requiring a high level of independent judgement, initiative, and discretion. Work is mainly self-directed, with work results reviewed through the achievement of set goals and adherence to policies and procedures.

Key Accountabilities

• Supervises professional and technical consultants
• Provides guidelines, training presentations, and operational assistance to plant staff
• Provides technical and strategic input for DTE Vantage environmental programs
• Provides environmental risk mitigating strategies for operational and development projects
• Represent company’s interest in environmental related governmental work groups
• Develops and implements environmental related initiatives
• Conducts plant audits to assess compliance with regulations and DTE’s expectations
• Conducts training in area of expertise
• Advises and guides others
• Performs all other related duties as assigned

Minimum Education & Experience Requirements

• A Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university in chemical engineering or an environmental science related field, with at least seven years of relevant experience managing environmental compliance activities and/or permit development

Other Qualifications

Preferred:

• Conducts and/or supervises complex tasks requiring a thorough working knowledge of a range of key skills such as regulatory process, plant operations, pollution control equipment design and function
• Uses expertise to effectively challenge current policies/standards and to develop new techniques or approaches
• Sought out for technical expertise within DTE Vantage
• Possesses a strong working knowledge of regulatory requirements associated with energy related assets and a demonstrated ability to interpret environmental regulations

Other Requirements:

• Drives development of strategic approaches to environmental permitting to increase operational flexibility
• Demonstrates good understanding of compliance requirements to assist with the management of DTE assets
• Knowledge of environmental assessments and due diligence activities
• Strong organizational skills with the ability to meet deadlines and manage multiple tasks
• Possess excellent written and verbal communication skills and strong communication and presentation skills
• Proven ability to take projects from start to finish without significant supervision

Physical Demands & Working Conditions

The physical demands characterized here epitomize those that must be met by an employee to properly perform the integral functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. In order to properly perform the integral functions of this job, the employee is required to:

• Occasionally stand or walk and stoop or kneel. Frequently, the employee is required to sit
• Talk or hear, both in person and by telephone; use wrists, hands and/or fingers in a repetitive motion; and reach with hands and arms extensively
• Occasionally lift objects of up to 10 pounds in weight
• Use computers with exposure to video display terminals; and some repetitive motion associated with data entry, the use of a computer mouse, and while using other office equipment
• Vision requirements for this position include close vision, color vision, depth perception and the ability to adjust focus

The employee performs job duties primarily in a work from home capacity and periodically from a climate-controlled office environment, with a moderate noise level, but may also perform work in the plant as needed. While at the plant, the employee may be exposed to outside weather conditions, including cold/hot, windy, wet and/or humid conditions, and may work near moving mechanical parts and/or machinery. The employee is occasionally exposed to fumes, vapors, and/or airborne particles and vibration.

Additional Information

Incumbents may engage in all or some combination of the activities and accountabilities and utilize a variety of the competencies cited in this description depending upon the organization and role to which they are assigned. This description is intended to describe the general nature and level of work performed by incumbents in this job. It is not intended as an all-inclusive list of accountabilities or responsibilities, nor is it intended to limit the rights of supervisors or management representatives to assign, direct and control the work of employees under their supervision.