Environmental Coordinator - Job Famil

NiSource; Valparaiso (IN); On-site; USD 82,000 - 145,000; Full time

Job summary

NiSource Inc. is seeking an Environmental Coordinator to provide corporate-wide technical environmental expertise, integrating science, regulatory requirements, and company policy.

The role covers air, water, natural resources, waste management, permitting, remediation, sustainability, and risk management across business units. The role includes travel between Valparaiso, IN, Wheatfield, IN, and Southern Indiana, with expected travel on a regular basis.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in environmental science, engineering, natural science, or a related field plus 3+ years of environmental compliance experience or equivalent work experience within a utility.
• Working knowledge of air, water, natural resources, and waste management requirements.
• Knowledge of environmental regulations applicable to the energy industry and familiarity with electric generation and natural gas operations.
• Proficiency with Microsoft 365 applications, including Excel and Word.
• Familiarity with Maximo, GIS, CIS and related systems.

Responsibilities

• Promote and support a safe working environment and public safety.
• Identify and communicate opportunities for environmental continuous improvement using established systems, processes, and procedures.
• Integrate business and regulatory needs, coordinate across organizational levels, and use change-management practices to support action planning.
• Provide clear, concise communication that keeps business partners and leaders informed of environmental performance and risk.
• Coordinate or perform required environmental activities to ensure programs and permits are implemented effectively and maintain compliance.
• Maintain current knowledge of environmental requirements and regulatory processes.
• Manage assigned budgets, consultants, and resources to deliver results on time and within budget.

Skills

Regulatory knowledge

Data analysis

Communication skills

Microsoft Excel

Team collaboration

Project management

Education

Bachelor's degree in environmental science, engineering, natural science, or a related field

Tools

Maximo

GIS

CIS

Work management systems

Job description

Job Summary

The Environmental Coordinator provides corporate-wide technical expertise and professional judgment by integrating environmental science, legal and regulatory requirements, operational activities, and company policy. This role analyzes, designs, implements, and manages environmental programs that support business units proactively and cost-effectively while aligning with company policy and objectives. Support may span air, water, natural resources, waste management, permitting, remediation, sustainability, compliance, and environmental risk management. The position also supports the Environmental Management System by analyzing data, monitoring performance, communicating risk, and driving continuous improvement.

Essential Functions

• Promote and support a safe working environment and public safety.

• Identify and communicate opportunities for environmental continuous improvement using established systems, processes, and procedures.

• Integrate business and regulatory needs, coordinate across organizational levels, and use change-management practices to support action planning.

• Provide clear, concise communication that keeps business partners and leaders informed of environmental performance and risk.

• Align operational needs and constraints with effective environmental risk minimization and mitigation strategies.

• Analyze and interpret environmental laws, regulations, policies, guidelines, and corporate directives; prepare summaries of their operational impact.

• Develop, enhance, and implement compliant, proactive environmental systems, programs, permits, and procedures.

• Prepare formal comments on proposed regulations and represent the company during regulatory interactions and inspections.

• Collaborate with diverse teams in policy, sustainability, compliance, permitting, remediation, and other environmental disciplines.

• Coordinate or perform required environmental activities to ensure programs and permits are implemented effectively and maintain compliance.

• Maintain current knowledge of environmental requirements and regulatory processes.

• Manage assigned budgets, consultants, and resources to deliver results on time and within budget.

• Work independently and collaboratively, demonstrating initiative, sound judgment, and accountability.

• Demonstrate initiative as a self-starter by independently identifying priorities, integrating environmental requirements into business and operational processes, and coordinating across teams to drive work to completion.

• This position will be based out of the Valparaiso, Indiana, office and will require weekly travel to Wheatfield, Indiana, and approximately monthly travel to company facilities in Southern Indiana. Most travel is expected to be completed within the same day, with little to no overnight travel except as needed for meetings.

Required Qualifications

Education and Experience: Bachelor’s degree in environmental science, engineering, natural science, or a related field plus 3+ years of environmental compliance experience or equivalent work experience within a utility.

Requirements for Both Levels

• Working knowledge of air, water, natural resources, and waste management requirements.

• Knowledge of environmental regulations applicable to the energy industry and familiarity with electric generation and natural gas operations.

• Ability to analyze requirements, identify issues and opportunities, and communicate results clearly.

• Strong written, oral, analytical, and interpersonal communication skills.

• Ability to work cooperatively, build consensus, and contribute effectively within diverse teams.

• Learning agility and adaptability in a changing regulatory and operational environment.

• Proficiency with Microsoft 365 applications, including Excel and Word.

• Familiarity with operations support systems such as Maximo, work management systems, GIS, and CIS.

• Working knowledge of standard project management practices, including planning, scheduling, risk management, stakeholder coordination, and timely delivery of project objectives.

• Valid driver’s license.

Environmental Coordinator 2 Requirements

• 3+ years of relevant experience.

• Ability to interpret environmental laws, regulations, policies, guidelines, and corporate directives and summarize their operational impact.

• Ability to support the development, implementation, and administration of environmental programs, permits, procedures, and compliance activities.

• Ability to collect and analyze environmental data, identify compliance issues or improvement opportunities, and communicate findings to business partners.

• Ability to coordinate with operations, environmental teams, consultants, and regulatory agencies to complete assigned work.

• Ability to manage assigned projects and priorities, exercise professional judgment, and work independently with appropriate guidance.

Additional Environmental Coordinator 3 Requirements

• 5+ years of relevant experience.

• Experience independently analyzing complex environmental requirements and leading work across diverse teams.

• Ability to develop and lead environmental programs, permitting strategies, regulatory responses, and risk-mitigation initiatives.

• Ability to provide advanced technical guidance, influence business decisions, and communicate significant environmental risks to leadership.

• Experience managing budgets, consultants, and resources to deliver complex work on time and within budget.

• Demonstrated ability to determine when legal counsel, technical experts, or government officials should be engaged.

Preferred Qualifications

• Master’s degree in an environmental or related field, particularly for the Environmental Coordinator 3 level.

• Experience directing or managing third-party consultants.

• 1+ years of NIPSCO renewables or combined cycle experience

The preceding description is not designed to be a complete list of all duties and responsibilities required of the position.

Job Family Level and Salary Disclaimer: This position is being posted as a job family and may be filled at either the Environmental Coordinator 2 or Environmental Coordinator 3 level. The successful candidate’s level will be determined based on their education, relevant experience, demonstrated knowledge and skills, and the scope and complexity of the work. The applicable salary range will correspond to the level for which the candidate is selected:

• Environmental Coordinator 2: $82,200–$123,200

• Environmental Coordinator 3: $96,600–$144,900

As a public utility, NiSource provides essential services to customers 24/7. Emergency needs can arise at various times throughout the year, including during storm season. Employees may be required to support emergency response efforts, which could include working