Utilities Environmental Compliance Specialist

Cornell University is widely admired as one of the world’s most respected research and teaching institutions. The Department of Environment, Health and Safety (EHS) provides comprehensive programs and services to support our world class researchers, staff, and university community. EHS assists the campus community with compliance and promotes health, safety, and environmental stewardship.

   

The Utilities Environmental Compliance Specialist will provide project management, technical, engineering, regulatory, and community relations oversight for projects, including capital and other projects and activities required to ensure environmental compliance with regulations at Cornell University, with minimal oversight provided by the Director of Environmental Compliance and Hazardous Waste Services.  This includes development and review of project scopes, permit applications, development and review of project specifications, and design and construction documents for projects that protect the environment through control of emissions, discharges, disposal, and appropriate site use.  This position includes duties such as technical (computational) modeling and evaluations, calculations, adherence to recognized engineering and environmental standards, and constructability evaluations.  Also, manage the work of consultants in environmental engineering services, providing technical reviews, and response and remediation services in the event of spills or discovery of unknown discharges.

Manage compliance at University facilities, primarily for Utilities, where extensive technical expertise is required.  This may include management of preventative maintenance, site monitoring, reporting, record keeping, and budgeting.  Prepare regulatory compliance assessments and permits to construct and conduct environmental investigations.  Partner with capital project managers through oversight of technical design, hire and manage outside consultants to supplement internal expertise, review all work, facilitate meetings and interactions with stakeholders, and communicate recommendations and results through status reports and personal presentations.  Integrate environmental compliance requirements of new permits into normal compliance operations.  Negotiate with regulators to obtain permits to construct and to coordinate on-going compliance with facilities for environmental permits required by state and federal law.

The Utilities Environmental Compliance Specialist will also support the Cornell environmental management system (EMS).  This includes oversight and performance of environmental compliance assessments of university facilities, projects and operations; documenting compliance status and making recommendations on corrective action required to achieve compliance; writing and reviewing operating procedures; and interfacing with regulatory agencies and developing the plans and procedures necessary to achieve compliance for projects and operations found out of compliance.

The Utilities Environmental Compliance Specialist will train and educate university personnel in environmental compliance and EMS requirements, as needed.

Stakeholders include facility and project managers, the Environmental Health & Safety Department, Cornell administration, the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, and the US Environmental Protection Agency and other local, state and federal agencies.   

Ours is a values based organization where all employees are accountable for supporting the organization’s values of collegiality, integrity initiative, excellence, civility and stewardship as well as provide leadership role in supporting university sustainability goals. 

While position responsibilities vary, every member of our community is expected to foster a culture of belonging and a psychologically healthy work environment by communicating across differences; being cooperative, collaborative, open, and welcoming; showing respect, compassion, and empathy; engaging and supporting others regardless of background or perspective; speaking up when others are being excluded or treated inappropriately; and supporting work/life integration of oneself and others.

We are a value–based organization where all employees are accountable for supporting the organization’s values of truth, respect, excellence, teamwork, and integrity. Facilities and Campus Services employees are required to attend staff development trainings and participate in the performance evaluation process.

We require these qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in engineering, or science BS with environmental focus required. 

• Five years of experience required, or less in combination with an applicable science or engineering degree.

• Demonstrated use of Microsoft Suite products, at a minimum, Word, Ex