Senior Manager of Environment, Compliance Permitting

Job description

Position Overview This position is responsible for leading environmental stewardship and comprehensive compliance permitting strategies across all operations. The role provides technical guidance grounded in process understanding for environmental facilities, ensures regulatory adherence, and manages the full lifecycle and cross-media (air, water, waste, GHG, etc.) permitting—from greenfield/brownfield applications to renewals, modifications, and closure. The role partners with site teams, engineering, legal, business units, and regulatory authorities, and works closely with R&D and ESG/sustainability functions to align environmental performance with corporate sustainability goals. Responsibility 1. Strategic Program Development Establish and execute corporate standards and programs for environmental management and full-lifecycle, cross-media permitting compliance. Ensure alignment with applicable laws, regulations, and industry best practices, covering all HSE and operational licensing needs. 2. Technical Leadership – Environmental Facilities (Process Understanding & Solutions) Provide expert technical guidance to sites on the design, operation, and optimization of environmental control facilities (e.g., WWT, scrubbers, incinerators, waste handling systems), with a strong emphasis on understanding underlying process engineering principles. Evaluate facility performance against regulatory requirements, diagnose complex operational deviations, and recommend process modifications or technology upgrades to ensure robust compliance and cost-effective performance. Stay abreast of emerging treatment technologies and drive their adoption where beneficial. 3. Technical Leadership – Full Lifecycle & Cross-Media Permitting Provide authoritative advice on the full lifecycle of permitting—from pre-application consultations, environmental impact assessments, and risk evaluations through to renewals, modifications, and permit closure. Ensure cross-media coverage (air, water, waste, GHG, biodiversity, etc.) in all permitting strategies. Lead / support the development of permit application packages for new facilities, major modifications, and renewals, coordinating with internal teams and external agencies. 4. Performance Monitoring & Improvement Develop and track key performance indicators to measure environmental performance and permitting effectiveness across all sites. Conduct compliance risk assessments and lead continuous improvement initiatives to address identified gaps. 5. Stakeholder Engagement & Internal Influence Partner with site leadership, engineering, operations, legal, and business teams to build organizational capability in environmental management and permit compliance. Influence cross-functional decision-making to ensure environmental and permitting considerations are embedded early in project design and operational changes. Deliver training programs and technical support to ensure consistent implementation of corporate standards and best practices. 6. External Regulatory Coordination & Liaison Technically support in negotiations and communications with regulatory authorities and industry associations on permitting and compliance matters. Monitor regulatory developments, advocate for practical, science-based policy positions, and manage regulatory inspections and information requests effectively. 7. Compliance Assurance & Audit Oversee environmental and permit compliance audits, self-assessment programs, and corrective action plans. Manage reporting obligations and ensure timely, accurate submissions to regulatory bodies. 8. New Facility & Project Support – Including Design Review Provide dedicated permitting support for greenfield and brownfield projects, including pre-application consultations, risk assessments, and timeline management. Conduct technical reviews of environmental facility designs for new and modified projects, identifying potential compliance gaps and recommending design improvements to ensure permitability and operational robustness. Ensure that all new projects are designed and permitted in full compliance with local and international requirements. 9. Technical Collaboration on ESG Data Support Collaborate closely with R&D teams to assess and provide technical inputs on emission reduction strategies, technology selection. Work with site teams to organize, validate, and submit ESG-related environmental data, ensuring accuracy and traceability for corporate sustainability reporting and external disclosure. Requirements • Bachelor's degree or higher in Environmental Science, Environmental Engineering, or related field. • 10+ years' experience in environmental management and compliance permitting, with 5+ years within multinational chemical, petrochemical, or oil & gas industries. • Required: Regional or corporate level management experience in multinational industrial settings. • Proven experience in providing technical guidance on environmental control facilities, demonstrating strong process engineering understanding, the ability to evaluate facility performance against regulatory requirements, and the capability to recommend and implement technical solutions for complex operational challenges. • Demonstrated experience in permitting for new facility construction, including preparing and submitting applications, negotiating with authorities, and securing approvals. • Comprehensive knowledge of global environmental regulations (EPA, REACH, China MEE regulations, etc.) and familiarity with other operational permits (safety, fire, pressure equipment, chemicals). Awareness of emerging ESG reporting requirements, carbon management, and GHG regulations is a strong plus. • Strong understanding of environmental management systems (ISO 14001) and compliance assurance frameworks. • Excellent communication skills in English and Chinese. • Willingness to travel frequently domestically and internationally. • Strong leadership and project management skills with the ability to influence cross-functional teams internally, negotiate effectively with regulatory agencies externally, and engage with senior leadership on complex permitting strategies. • Proficiency in common office software and data analysis/visualization tools (e.g., Excel, PowerPoint) for compliance tracking, reporting, and presentation.