Environmental Compliance Specialist

aquaamerica; Denver (CO, NC); On-site; USD 70,000 - 97,000; Full time

Job summary

Aqua, an Essential Utilities company, seeks an Environmental Compliance Specialist to support environmental programs for water and wastewater systems. You will collect data, perform compliance reviews, and manage permits to help ensure safe, reliable service while coordinating with engineers and operations.

The role emphasizes data analysis, reporting, and liaison with state and federal regulators to implement regulatory updates and maintain high standards of environmental stewardship.

Qualifications

• Associate's degree required; Bachelor's degree preferred.
• Willing to travel up to 5%.
• Understanding of environmental regulations.
• 2+ years of relevant experience; water utilities experience a plus.
• Attention to detail and strong customer service skills.
• Experience with data management and lab data software (SAMS).
• Proficient in MS Office.

Responsibilities

• Coordinate water and wastewater sampling programs and tracking.
• Prepare sampling plans, issue work orders, and draft permits.
• Analyze compliance data, summarize findings, and advise leadership.
• Record test results in databases/spreadsheets and ensure documentation.
• Assist inspections and draft responses; support regulatory communications.
• Provide public notices and coordinate with operations on compliance matters.
• Contribute to training and knowledge sharing on compliance topics.

Skills

Attention to detail

Customer service

Data management

Environmental regulations knowledge

Education

Associate's degree

Bachelor's degree

Tools

SAMS

MS Office

Job description

Aqua, an Essential Utilities company, employs people in a variety of roles within our eight-state footprint, ranging from field workers and customer service representatives who are on the front lines working with customers, to scientists and engineers who help ensure we're delivering reliable water and wastewater services to our communities. If you're looking for a rewarding career helping improve our environment and protect our natural resources, we encourage you to join our team!

About Essential Utilities

Essential Utilities, Inc. delivers safe, clean, reliable services that improve quality of life for individuals, families, and entire communities.

Operating as the Aqua (water and wastewater services) and the Peoples and Delta (natural gas) brands, Essential serves approximately 5.5 million people across 10 states. We are committed to sustainable growth, operational excellence, a superior customer experience, and premier employer status - including a competitive and comprehensive benefits package as well as a commitment to career growth opportunities.

We are advocates for the communities we serve and are dedicated stewards of natural lands, protecting more than 7,600 acres of forests and other habitats throughout our footprint.

Our company is one of the most significant publicly traded water, wastewater service and natural gas providers in the U.S.

The Environmental Compliance Specialist performs a variety of tasks to support Aqua's compliance functions. Activities include collecting and maintaining data to fulfill regulatory requirements, performing environmental compliance reviews and inspections and documenting results of compliance testing. Manages, coordinates and administers permits in accordance with compliance initiatives and regulatory requirements.

DUTIES

• Coordinates and oversees Aqua's environmental programs including water and wastewater sampling programs, pretreatment, and grease control programs. This task includes preparing and maintaining all sampling plans, issuance and tracking of sampling work orders, drafting permit applications and contracted laboratory budgets, and analyzation of compliance data.
• Schedules sampling for water and/or wastewater systems and assists operators and managers with sampling issues.
• Organizes and tracks compliance data for inclusion in reports including field data. Conducts data analysis, summarizes findings and prepares reports on various environmental programs. Makes recommendations to department leadership when issues or questions of non-compliance arise.
• Records and monitors test results in the company compliance database and/or spreadsheets. Documents and tracks activities to ensure compliance with departmental and regulatory standards policies, and procedures.
• Identifies gaps in documentation or potential areas of non-compliance and recommends solutions. Prepare and submit necessary paperwork for reduced monitoring of any contaminant that allows reductions from the base monitoring frequency.
• Reviews inspection reports and regulatory correspondence, meeting with operators and managers as needed to gather details and discuss results. Partners with engineers and management to draft responses.
• Assist operations with regulatory compliance inspections.
• Responds to inspection reports and other correspondence from regulatory agencies. Researches and provides pertinent information to department leadership in response to state violations. Builds and maintains strong working relationships with state and federal environmental regulatory staff.
• Reviews and analyzes new and proposed environmental regulations. Informs management of potential impact of the regulations and assists management with written comments on the regulations as needed. Provides regulatory updates to Facility Operators on any new sampling requirements and provides updates of laboratory results to operations.
• Coordinates, drafts, and issues any public notices. Partners with management, engineering and communications staff as needed on communications.
• May facilitate training of new Facility Operators on compliance matters.
• Serves as a company representative to discuss water quality issues with customers who contact Aqua.
• Assists in the resolution or response to compliance violations.
• Performs other related activities as assigned, e.g, MOR and DMR review and troubleshooting in CMMS, prepares CCR reports, LCR notices, and performs regulatory certifications for each system as required by rule.

REQUIREMENTS

• Associate's degree required, Bachelor's degree preferred
• Ability to travel up to 5%
• Understanding of environmental regulations
• 2+ years relevant experience
• Prior experience in water utilities a plus
• Exceptional attention to detail
• Exceptional customer service skills
• Knowledge and experience with data management and calculations using lab data management software (i.e. SAMS)
• Proficient in MS Office

Aqua, an Essential Utilities company is an Equal Opportunity / Affimative Action employer. Eq