Description
SUMMARY
Terra-Gen is a growing developer and operator of renewable energy facilities. Under the general direction of the Chief EHS Officer, the Director, Health, Safety & Environmental Compliance is responsible for leading the development, implementation, and management of health, safety and environmental compliance programs across the company’s California, Texas, Nevada and New York locations. This role ensures the company complies with all applicable federal, state, and local environmental, health, and safety regulations, laws, and customer requirements. The Director promotes the protection of human health, safety, and the environment as foundational to all that we do and works closely with various departments to foster a culture that embraces a healthy, safe and compliant work environment.
This position is responsible for Terra-Gen’s avian environmental services (AES) business, AES is specialized in technological services focused on the protection of the federally endangered California Condor and located in the Tehachapi Wind Resource Area in Kern County, CA.
This position leads a team of 5-6 direct reports who are subject matter experts and a total team of 8-10. It is a full-time and hybrid position, working part-time remotely (from home) and making frequent trips to the facilities in Palm Springs, Mojave and San Diego. The Director needs to reside within driving distance to each of the facilities to be accessible for the required regular trips to the facilities. The position travels within California frequently and occasionally travels across the U.S. as required. Position may require up to 50% travel and can be during non-traditional days and hours or as needed.
ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES (Other duties may be assigned as needed)
- Execute the company’s comprehensive multi-year Health and Safety plan, aligned with the company mission.
- Develop and implement EHS policies: create, update, and enforce environmental, health, and safety policies in line with regulatory requirements and industry best practices. Collaborate with cross-functional teams to develop and implement policies that meet regulatory requirements.
- Regulatory compliance: Ensure the company is compliant with all relevant state and federal regulations (e.g., OSHA, EPA, DOT and local laws), including managing permits, safety logs, reports, inspection records, audits, and corrective actions.
- Manage all environmental policies and procedures, including hazardous and non-hazardous waste management, air permitting, pollution and spill prevention and response, storm and wastewater management, etc.
- Risk assessment and mitigation: Conduct regular risk assessments, audits, and safety inspections across all facilities to identify hazards, assess risks, and implement corrective measures to reduce risks and prevent incidents.
- Emergency preparedness: Develop and manage emergency action plans for workplace incidents, hazardous material spills, fires, and natural disasters.
- Incident investigation: Oversee investigations of incidents, injuries, and near-miss incidents to identify root causes and implement corrective actions to prevent future occurrences
- Employee training and development: Design and deliver EHS training programs to educate employees on safe work practices, environmental protocols, and emergency response procedures. Deliver emergency preparedness simulations for workplace preparedness.
- Safety culture promotion: Foster a company-wide safety culture by encouraging open communication on safety issues, recognizing safe behaviors, and engaging employees at all levels in safety initiatives.
- Reporting and documentation: Prepare reports on EHS performance metrics, incidents, and compliance for senior management and regulatory bodies.
- Ensure that all documentation is accurate, properly maintained and up to date
- Budget management: Develop and manage the EHS budget, ensuring cost-effective management of programs and initiatives.
- Collaboration: Work with operations, Legal, Operations, Construction, Project Management, and other departments to integrate EHS into processes and projects
- Talent management: Oversee EHS personnel planning; hire, develop, train and mentor all EHS employees.
- Consultants and Contractors: Oversee the management of consultants, as needed, including soliciting proposals, reviewing bids, contract negotiations, overseeing work assignments, reviewing deliverables, and billing.
- Oversee management of AES including contracting of AES clients, reporting, agency engagement, troubleshooting system issues, staffing, etc.
- Support EHS aspect of financing company projects including preparation of Environmental Site Assessments and environmental review of permit memos, opinions and permit lists.
- Participate as a member of the company's Management Safety Committee working with other company leaders to drive alignment across the function.
- Designed Employer Representative for USDOT FMCSA Drug and Alcohol program.
- Oversee company’s two H&S committees for PV/BESS and Wind.
- Lead safe work practices by example and foster a culture of compliance consistent with company polices including Code of Ethics and Employee Handbook.
Requirements
QUALIFICATIONS
To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS
- Strong management and leadership skills
- High work ethic.
- Proven experience developing and implementing EHS strategies and programs
- Excellent organizational skills and attention to detail
- Excellent time management skills with a proven ability to meet deadlines
- Strong PC skills with Microsoft Office (Word, Excel and PowerPoint, SharePoint)
- Individual must be able to perform all of the duties and responsibilities listed in a fully competent manner to be considered successful in the job
EDUCATION and/or EXPERIENCE, KNOWLEDGE
- Bachelor's degree in health & safety, environmental, or equivalent experience
- Experience leading others and working with teams remotely
- 7-10 years as an EHS professional in energy sector (power preferred) or construction environment.
- Knowledge of renewable energy facilities. Wind, Solar and BESS operations knowledge preferred.
- Knowledge and significant practical experience in emergency management including agency reporting protocols
- Environmental health & safety skills to include risk assessment, policy, injury investigation, training, project management, hazardous substances, environmental site assessments, stormwater management and safety
- Knowledge of DOT fleet safety requirements
- Ability to read, analyze and interpret EHS reports, governmental regulations, laws and legal documents
- Strong understanding of OSHA regulations
- Experience using a safety management system, database, and/or other digital tools for managing safety activities, protocol, and compliance (preferred)
COMMUNICATION SKILLS
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills
- Excellent interpersonal skills
- Ability to interface with people at all levels within the company
- Ability to facility meetings and present training in an engaging manner
REASONING ABILITY & DECISION-MAKING SKILLS
- Strong analytical and problem-solving skills
CERTIFICATES, LICENSES, REGISTRATIONS
- Valid CA driver’s license with excellent driving record (required).
- Hazwoper 40 and Incident Commander certified (preferred)
- Environmental compliance programs (i.e. QSP) (preferred).
- Certified Health & Safety Professional (preferred)
PHYSICAL DEMANDS
Mostly sedentary work. Exerting up to 10 pounds of force occasionally and/or negligible amount of force frequently or constantly to lift, carry, push, pull or otherwise move objects. Repetitive motion. Substantial movements (motions) of the wrists, hands, and/or fingers. The worker is required to have close visual acuity to perform an activity such as: preparing and analyzing data and figures; transcribing; viewing a computer terminal; extensive reading.
WORK ENVIRONMENT
Ability to conduct field work in challenging terrain and/or during inclement weather.
Terra-Gen is an equal opportunity employer, drug-free workplace, and complies with Americans with Disabilities Act and related laws and regulations as applicable. All applicants are considered for all positions without regard to age, race, religion, color, sex, gender, sexual orientation, pregnancy, national origin, ancestry, physical/mental disability, medical condition, military/veteran status, genetic information, marital status, ethnicity, alienage, or any other protected classification, in accordance with applicable federal, state, and local laws.
All offers of employment are contingent upon successful completion of a pre-employment background check and drug screening. All qualified applicants with arrest or conviction records will be considered for employment in accordance with federal, state or local requirements such as the Los Angeles County Fair Chance Ordinance for Employers and the California Fair Chance Act. Employees must be authorized to work in the US and employment is contingent upon presentation of acceptable documents as evidence of identity and employment authorization, as detailed on Form I-9.
Terra-Gen provides a comprehensive benefits package that promotes employee ownership, employee health, performance, and success, which includes medical, dental, vision, short and long-term disability, life insurance, an employee assistance program, paid time off, paid holidays, and 401(k) retirement savings plan with employer match.
The posted compensation is the range that we in good faith anticipate relying on when setting wages for this position. We may ultimately pay more or less than the posted range and this range is only applicable for jobs to be performed in California. This salary range may also be modified in the future, depending upon skills, experience, education, and geographical location.
