Senior Environmental Specialist

Job description

We believe power is a promise - a shared commitment to be there for others when it matters most. For more than 65 years, we've turned big ideas into solutions that help protect homes, strengthen businesses and build a more resilient, efficient, sustainable energy future. Ready to Power a Smarter World with us? The Senior Corporate Environmental Specialist is responsible for supporting and advancing the company’s global environmental compliance and Environmental Management System (EMS) programs. This role serves as a technical subject matter expert and strategic business partner to manufacturing sites, helping translate complex regulatory requirements into practical, efficient, and sustainable solutions that work on the factory floor. This position works closely with site EHS teams, operations leadership, engineering, maintenance, and corporate functions to ensure environmental compliance, reduce risk, improve operational performance, and drive a culture of accountability. The ideal candidate is highly motivated, hands-on, and capable of balancing corporate strategy with site-level execution across multiple facilities and geographies. The successful candidate is not only technically strong, but also practical, responsive, and action oriented. They are comfortable walking a manufacturing floor, engaging employees at all levels, solving problems quickly, and ensuring environmental requirements are implemented in a way that supports safe and efficient operations. Essential Duties and Responsibilities: Provide technical leadership and oversight for environmental compliance programs across multiple manufacturing facilities. Interpret federal, state, and local environmental regulations and convert requirements into practical site implementation plans. Conduct compliance assessments, inspections, and program reviews involving air, hazardous waste, wastewater, stormwater, chemical storage, and related programs. Lead incident investigations, root cause analysis, and corrective/preventive action planning. Maintain effective working relationships with regulatory agencies and support agency inspections or inquiries. Partner directly with plant managers, operations leaders, maintenance teams, engineers, and EHS staff to implement environmental requirements in active manufacturing environments. Conduct floor-level observations and identify opportunities to improve compliance, efficiency, and risk reduction. Build credibility and trust with site teams through practical problem-solving and responsive support. Drive accountability and follow-through on site action items and compliance commitments. Support new product launches, process changes, facility expansions, and capital projects from an environmental compliance perspective. Lead preparation and submittal of air permit applications, permit modifications, registrations, and other regulatory filings. Support wastewater, stormwater, SPCC, hazardous waste, and other environmental permitting needs as required. Manage and review environmental reports including emissions inventories, Tier II, TRI, hazardous waste reporting, permit monitoring reports, and related submissions. Track permit conditions and ensure timely completion of recurring obligations. Support and improve the Corporate Environmental Management System (EMS), including ISO 14001 initiatives where applicable. Conduct internal audits and compliance reviews to verify conformance with company standards and regulatory requirements. Drive standardization of best practices, procedures, metrics, and compliance tools across facilities. Support sustainability and environmental performance data collection and improvement initiative Develop and deliver environmental training programs for site personnel and leadership teams. Coach facility teams on ownership of environmental responsibilities. Build internal capability to reduce reliance on third-party consultants where practical. Minimum Qualifications: Bachelor’s degree in Environmental Science, Engineering, Chemistry, Occupational Safety, or related field (or equivalent experience). 5+ years of environmental compliance experience in manufacturing or industrial operations. Ability to travel locally up to 20% Preferred Qualifications: Multi-site manufacturing or corporate environmental experience. Experience with International Organization for Standardization 14001 systems, auditing, or certification programs. Experience with Title V air programs, emissions inventories, and PTE calculations. Experience supporting capital projects, facility expansions, or new process implementation. Professional certifications such as CHMM, CEP, PE, or equivalent (or ability to attain). Demonstrated experience with air permitting, hazardous waste, wastewater, stormwater, or multi-media environmental programs. Experience interacting with regulatory agencies and supporting inspections. Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities: Strong knowledge of environmental regulations and industrial compliance programs. Ability to influence and lead through others without direct authority. Ability to translate technical regulations into clear operational expectations. Strong presence and confidence in manufacturing environments. Excellent project management, prioritization, and execution skills. Strong analytical and problem-solving ability. Effective verbal and written communication skills with both plant-floor employees and executive leadership. Strong systems capability including compliance databases, data tools, and Microsoft Office applications. Great Reasons to work for Generac: Competitive Benefits: Health, Dental, Vision, 401k and many more State-of-the-art facility with an onsite gym, walking trails, café, free parking and many employee activities Scheduled events throughout the year that allow our employees, both current and retirees, to gather together and enjoy their time with their families and co-workers Eligible for summer hours! (Memorial Day – Labor Day) Pride! When a storm strikes, Generac employees always rise to the occasion. Each time a storm hits many employees volunteer their time with the customer support team or on the production line while others go right into storm-affected areas to repair generators We believe in having fun. From minor celebrations to major events, our employees balance their work by building a strong culture of teamwork and collaboration through a variety of occasions, including our Fun Days. Every day is Jeans Day! Dress for your day. Product loan and discount programs Office Environment: While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to talk and hear; and use hands to manipulate objects or controls. The employee is regularly required to stand and walk. On occasion, the incumbent may be required to stoop, bend, or reach above the shoulders. The employee must occasionally lift up to 25 pounds. Specific conditions of this job are typical of frequent and continuous computer-based work requiring periods of sitting, close vision, and the ability to adjust focus. “We are an equal opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.”