Environmental Counsel

Gates Corporation; Denver (CO); On-site; USD 155,000 - 170,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, vision insurance

401(k) with company matching

Tuition Reimbursement

3 weeks vacation + holidays

Job summary

Gates Corporation, based in Denver, is seeking a seasoned environmental law attorney to advise on compliance, permitting, and environmental negotiations. The role involves guiding environmental due diligence, lifecycle assessments, and regulatory strategy across multiple jurisdictions.

You will support environmental reserves and reporting, lead remediation efforts, and collaborate with internal stakeholders and external counsel.

Qualifications

• JD required and active US licensure; Colorado Bar preferred or eligible to waive into it.
• 5+ years of experience in environmental law, regulatory compliance, and enforcement.
• Strong advocacy, project management, and negotiation skills; experience with external counsel.
• Willingness to travel 25-30% domestically and internationally.
• Legal work authorization in the US without sponsorship.

Responsibilities

• Provide environmental regulatory, permitting, and policy guidance.
• Lead environmental compliance initiatives, risk assessments, and remediation strategies.
• Advise on environmental clauses in transactions and agreements.
• Support interactions with federal, state, and local environmental agencies.
• Manage environmental reserves and reporting (10K, Sustainability Report, CSRD).
• Lead a small team and coordinate with cross-functional stakeholders.

Skills

Environmental law

Regulatory compliance

Enforcement

Negotiation

Litigation support

Travel 25-30%

Bar admission (US)

Colorado Bar eligibility

Education

Juris Doctor (JD)

Job description

Are you inspired by challenging the status quo? Do you thrive in collaborative environments that drive results? If so, Gates could be for you.

Gates is a leading manufacturer of application-specific fluid power and power transmission solutions. We push the boundaries of material science to engineer solutions that continually exceed customer expectations.

Let's simplify it, think belts and hoses. Found in motorcycles, conveyor belts, cars, tractors, blenders, vacuum cleaners, bicycles, & 3D printers just to name a few. Because why not do it all?

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• Compliance & Risk Management: Advising on environmental compliance, permitting, and incident response related to safety and environmental regulations.
• Litigation & Negotiations: Managing complex environmental litigation, enforcement actions, and negotiations with government agencies.
• Corporate Support: Providing legal advice on transactional matters, sustainability, and environmental due diligence.
• Provide extensive environmental regulatory, permitting, technical guidance, and support for topics including but not limited to:
  • Product/chemicals regulations, standards & abatement (Packaging, REACH, RoHS, PFAS, GADSL, PCBs, asbestos, lead, etc.)
  • Air & greenhouse gas emissions
  • Wastewater and storm water
  • Solid and hazardous waste, reuse & recycling
  • Environmental marketing
  • Life cycle assessment & carbon footprint
  • Pollution prevention & resource conservation
  • Storage tank management
  • HSE Management Systems (ISO 14001, 14040, 14044. 45001, 50001, etc.)
• Assess, inform and collaborate with internal stakeholders to minimize impact of environmental regulations to business, operations, products, and commercial mark
• Advise on environmental clauses in agreements or conditions for business and property transactions
• Support communications and negotiations with federal, state, and local environmental agencies around the world in collaboration with regional HSE teams
• Facilitate audit program to achieve compliance and reasonable assurance
• Lead site investigations, remediation strategies, and cost control for remediation portfolio
• Provide technical support and data for environmental reserves and reporting (10K, Sustainability Report, CSRD, etc.)
• Manage environmental department invoice processing & accruals

Keys to Success

• Requires depth and breadth of expertise in specialized area
• Considered a company subject matter expert in their particular discipline
• Incorporates understanding of business objectives and strategies in recommending functional goals and operating plans
• Leads projects with notable risk and complexity
• Decision making involves researching, analyzing and evaluating data and using judgment in applying professional expertise
• Anticipates business, vendor and/or regulatory changes; recommends product, process or service improvements
• Communicates complex concepts, anticipates potential objections and persuades senior executives, to adopt a different point of view

Supervisory Responsibilities

• Provides technical leadership and consultation to management and peers
• 1-2 direct reports

Requirements and Preferred Skills

• 5+ years of experience in environmental law, regulatory compliance, and enforcement.
• Education: A Juris Doctor (JD) degree is required.
• Licensure: Active license to practice law in the U.S., with a strong preference for admission to the Colorado Bar or eligibility to waive into it.
• Areas of Expertise: Specific experience in Clean Air Act compliance, hazardous waste regulations, remediation, and permitting is highly sought after.
• Skills: Strong advocacy, project management, and negotiation skills, along with the ability to manage external counsel.
• 25-30% travel allotment, both domestic and international
• Must be legally authorized to work in the US without company sponsorship

Pay & Benefits

• Full-Time
• Salary Range: $155,000 - $170,000
• Bonus Eligible: 15%
• Medical, Dental, Vision insurance and other voluntary benefit options: benefits beginonthe first day of the month immediately following your date of hire
• Eligible for 3weeks of paid vacation + 11 holidays (9 scheduled & 2 floating) + 8 sick days. All vacation days are accrued
• 401(k): 3% company contribution and additional 3% company match
• Tuition Reimbursement

Why Gates?

Founded in 1911 in Denver, Colorado, Gates is publicly traded on the NYSE. While we might operate in a vast amount of time zones we operate as 'One Gates' and have a common goal of pushing the boundaries of materials science. We invest in our people, bringing real-world experience that enables us to solve our customers' diverse challenges of today and anticipate those of tomorrow.

Work Environment

Gates is an Equal Opportunity and is committed to ensuring equal employment opportunities for all job applicants and employees. Employment decisions are based upon job-related reasons regardless of race, sex, color, religion, age, disability, pregnancy, citizenship, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, protected veteran status, genetic information, marital status, or any other consideration defined by law. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently required to sit; use hands and fingers to work with objects, tools, or controls; and use office equipment including computers, telephones, and/or copiers/scanners. The employee must frequently lift and/or move up to 10 pounds. For individuals assigned and/or hired to work in Colorado, Gates is required by law to include a reasonable estimate of the compensation for this role. This compensation range is specific to the State of Colorado and takes into account various factors that are considered in making compensation decisions, including but not limited to the candidate's relevant experience, qualifications, skills, competencies, and proficiency for the role.

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