Environmental Permitting & Compliance Technician

Sims Metal (Sims) is a global leader in metal recycling. With facilities across the globe, Sims plays an intrinsic role in the circular economy by making resources available for future use. As a responsible corporate citizen, we continuously seek new ways to broaden our participation in the environmental sector, ensuring that our future is as bright, safe, and secure as at any time in our long history.

Salary range: $115,000 to $125,000

Purpose of Role         

Work under the direction of Senior Specialist to ensure that assigned sites within the region are provided leadership, guidance and support to comply with environmental corporate, regulatory and permitting requirements.

Provide facilities with environmental guidance and support for appropriate control measure, environmental testing/assessment, and implementation efforts.

Primary Focus

1. To advance a culture of environmental stewardship by providing guidance, training and hands-on support to comply with environmental corporate, regulatory and permitting requirements
2. Facilitate the determination and implementation of appropriate environmental practices in response to facility-specific and regional requirements and issues, consistent with the company’s commitment to its social license to operate.

Principal Accountabilities

1. • Supports permitting & compliance (P&C) team in CA/NV
   • Assist with environmental permitting program for CA/NV (including non-air quality applications for new permits and renewals; air monitoring network operation and management)
   • Assist with environmental compliance program for CA/NV (including regulatory visits and responses to NOVs), in coordination with Senior Specialist, facility operations management and national environmental management and enviro legal counsel
   • Supports proactive regional environmental/regulatory objectives (working with regional and facility management and environmental resources)
   • Assist in review, modification, preparation and implementation of site level environmental operating procedures (SOPs) as necessary
   • Supports implementation of the CA/NV environmental program, for fugitive and other emissions, storm water, hazardous materials, waste, wastewater, petroleum above-ground storage tank and inbound source control
   • Support environmental remediation programs under environmental counsel direction
   • Supports implementation of national environmental SOPs
   • Support the Environmental Management System for environmental-related Standards, Compliance/Permit requirements, delivery systems, training, tools and communication.
   • Drive implementation and monitoring of environmental strategic plans considering State-specific standards aligned with corporate and regulatory requirements. These include storm water, air emissions, hazardous waste, hazardous materials, petroleum above-ground tanks and wastewater.
   • Assist with the development, monitoring and adjustment of company-wide environmental key performance indicators designed to measure continual progress with environmental goals, as necessary.
   • Promote and facilitate company related environmental standard conformance, regulatory and legal compliance, external and internal standard conformance requirements.
   • Provide guidance and support to regional EHS teams to track, manage, and report compliance activities and results.
   • Support environmental assessments of facilities and interface with Senior Specialist, environmental legal counsel, national environmental management and key audit personnel on compliance activities, as necessary.
   • Support Senior Specialist, environmental legal counsel, regional management and corporate environmental team regarding management of remediation projects.  
   • Collaborate with operational management/EHS teams as subject matter expert to provide guidance and support for environmental aspects of the business (and compliance with environmental regulations).
   • Monitor environmental regulations and industry standards to support business units with implementation.
   • Act as the escalation point of contact for operations to coordinate environmental regulatory inquiries and mitigation actions.
   • Facilitate the management of waste reporting, profiling, handling, storage and shipping (i.e., hazardous and non-hazardous wastes), as necessary.
   • Oversee the data entry into the EHS system of regulatory inspections.
   • Assist with review of regional/site operations to ensure that current and planned activities are in conformance with applicable environmental permit, regulatory and SOP requirements.
   • Assist in addressing environmental concerns related to facility operations.
   • Remain current on training requirements (e.g., Air Emissions, Storm Water, Hazardous Materials, Solid/Hazardous Waste, Petroleum ASTs and Spills Prevention Control Countermeasures, etc.).
   • Assist with the development, review, revision of required environmental plans (e.g., SWPPP, SPCC, Haz Mat Business Plan, etc.)
   • Assist in data gathering and generation of environmental reports as assigned.
   • Support programs for testing and monitoring of environmental parameters (including future ambient air monitoring network(s)).
   • Ensure day-to-day environmental compliance obligations are being met at each facility; routinely visit all yards within the region.
   • Other duties as assigned.

Key Performance Indicator (KPIs)

1. • Actively participate in Leading Indicator programs as set by the Permitting & Compliance Program, including by not limited to:
   • Pre-determined project milestones per fiscal year
   • General Inspections – Environmental.
   • Environmental Training of Key Staff
   • Maintaining a Level of Care for each assigned facility
   • Support implementation of the Environmental Management System

Experience Required

• 2+ years' experience in environmental compliance management (in corporate setting, with CA-focused regulatory background a plus)
• Industrial facility experience in environmental compliance requirements
• Experience implementing industrial facility environmental regulations and standards
• Experience in engagement with CA environmental regulators
• Experience with storm water, hazardous materials, waste, waste water, and petroleum above-ground storage tank requirements
• Experience with CA regulations affecting recycling industries a plus
• Experience in metal recycling or related industry a plus
• Environmental 14001 ISO standard management experience a plus
• Electronic environmental reporting and tracking experience
• Must be willing to work outside for extended periods of time (for sampling, monitoring, site assessments, etc.)

Formal Education, Skills and Competencies

• 2+ years' experience in environmental compliance/management (in corporate setting, with Northeast-focused regulatory background a plus)
• Bachelor’s or Master’s Degree in environmental engineering or technical/earth sciences (or below):

• Ecology
• Geology
• Chemical Engineering
• environmental engineering
• chemistry or physics
• environmental sciences
• environmental management
• environmental health

• Technical and/or professional certifications a plus
• Strong writing and oral communications skills a must (regulatory- and operations-focused)
• Microsoft Office software skills
• Experience with CA Environmental Agencies specific websites

A career with Sims provides you with the opportunity to work with an organization whose goal is to be the world’s safest and most responsible recycling company. Our people achieve this by creating a zero-harm workplace, being exemplary members of the communities in which we operate, and being responsible stewards of the environment. We also offer competitive pay and a range of attractive benefits.

Sims is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. We value the diversity of all of our employees and are committed to creating an inclusive working environment where everyone can contribute, advance on merit, and realize their full potential. Sims does not discriminate with regard to race, sex, religion, color, national origin, citizenship status, disability, age, marital or familial status, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, veteran status, housing status, source of income, or any other status protected by federal, state, or local laws. This applies to any employment decision, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation, and training.  qualified applicants with a disability in need of a reasonable accommodation may request such without fear of reprisal or discrimination. 

To achieve our purpose to create a world without waste to preserve our planet, we are guided by our Principles of Purpose: Be Safe + Well, Band Together, Be Accountable + Transparent, Consistently Innovate, Inspire with Purpose, Celebrate + Have Fun.