Environmental Operations Manager

The University of Texas at Austin; Austin (TX); On-site; USD 77,000 - 94,000; Full time

Job summary

The University of Texas at Austin seeks an Environmental Operations Manager to lead Environmental Health and Safety Services on the UT Austin campus. You will direct a team responsible for coordinating environmental programs, ensuring compliance, and supporting safe, sustainable campus operations.

The role emphasizes leadership, regulatory knowledge, and hands-on oversight of inspections, SPCC/storm water programs, and emergency response.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in environmental science, chemistry, engineering, or related field.
• 4+ years of experience in environmental health and safety compliance.
• Proven experience as an environmental manager/supervisor.
• Solid understanding of environmental laws and regulations.
• Excellent interpersonal communication skills and attention to detail.
• Class C Operator Driver's License.

Responsibilities

• Manage the environmental operations team and develop staff.
• Oversee inspections and monitoring for permit compliance (storm water, wastewater, air, SPCC, PST).
• Develop and implement programs such as SPCC and storm water; track permit requirements.
• Oversee environmental sampling, analyze data, and generate compliance reports.
• Provide coverage for Associate Director and understand RCRA and EPA regs.
• Serve on UT Hazmat response team and coordinate with other departments.
• Represent UT EHS with CAF, EAG, and IAS and communicate with stakeholders.
• Maintain Class C driver eligibility and drive university vehicles.

Skills

Leadership and staff development

Interpersonal communication

Attention to detail

Regulatory knowledge

Environmental program oversight

Team leadership

Driver's license (Class C)

Project coordination across teams

Education

Bachelor's Degree in Environmental Science, Chemistry, Engineering, or related field

Master's Degree in Environmental Science or related field

CHMM / CSP / Registered Sanitarian (certifications)

Job description

Environmental Operations Manager

Hiring Department: Environmental Health and Safety

Position Open To: All Applicants

Weekly Scheduled Hours: 40

FLSA Status: Exempt from FLSA

Earliest Start Date: Immediately

Position Duration: Expected to Continue

Location: UT MAIN CAMPUS

Job Details

Environmental Health and Safety Services provides healthy and safe operations on campus, to protect students, faculty, staff and visitors, and to ensure protection of the environment.

Your skills will make a difference.

You’ll be working for a university that is internationally recognized for our academic programs and research. Your work will contribute to operational excellence and enhance the student experience. If you’re the type of person that wants to know your work has meaning and impact, you’ll like working in our department and for UT Austin. UT Austin provides an outstanding benefits package including but not limited to:

• Competitive health benefits (employee premiums covered at 100%, family premiums at 50%)
• Voluntary Vision, Dental, Life, and Disability insurance options
• Generous paid vacation, sick time, and holidays
• Teachers Retirement System of Texas, a defined benefit retirement plan, with employer matching funds
• Additional Voluntary Retirement Programs: Tax Sheltered Annuity 403(b) and a Deferred Compensation program 457(b)
• Flexible spending account options for medical and childcare expenses
• Robust free training access through LinkedIn Learning plus professional conference opportunities.
• Tuition assistance
• Expansive employee discount program including athletic tickets
• Free access to UT Austin’s libraries and museums with staff ID card
• Free rides on all UT shuttle and Austin CapMetro buses with staff ID card
• For more details, please see: https://hr.utexas.edu/prospective/benefits and https://hr.utexas.edu/current/services/my-total-rewards.

For more information on Environmental Health and Safety, Visit the Environmental Health and Safety Website.

Must be authorized to work in the United States on a full-time basis for any employer without sponsorship.

Security sensitive; Criminal background check conducted on selected applicant. Hiring decision is contingent on applicant clearing check. This job class may contain positions that are security sensitive and thereby subject to the provisions of Texas Education Code *51.215. Applications will be reviewed online by the hiring department.

Purpose

Manage the coordination and compliance of environmental programs including food and drinking water safety, storm water and wastewater management, spill prevention and response for the University's main campus and satellite locations. Manage environmental operations staff.

Responsibilities

• Manage the environmental operations team. Foster a collaborative and ethical team environment through leadership and development of staff.
• Oversees inspections and monitoring of UT properties, facilities, and construction sites to ensure compliance with permit requirements of storm water, wastewater, air, SPCC, Petroleum Storage Tanks(PST) and other environmental programs. Reviews plans and specifications submitted to EHS for compliance with environmental regulations and University requirements, e.g. construction standards, environmental plans, and other design requirements. Effectively communicates Environmental Program's requirements to Project Managers and Construction Administrators.
• Directs the development, enhancement, and implementation of programs such as SPCC and storm water for the University. Tasks include strategic development, developing procedures, training, and forms and documents. Develops internal system to track permit requirements within Environmental Programs.
• Oversees environmental sampling in accordance with permit requirements. Reviews and analyzes laboratory results and environmental data. Compares results to current policies, guidelines, and regulations. Generates reports including recommendations for immediate resolution. Prepares reports as required by permits.
• In the absence of the Associate Director, oversight of the EHS-Environmental Program. Must be familiar with the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) and other EPA regulations and develop a working knowledge of the University procedures and processes for hazardous waste management.
• Serve as a member of the UT Hazmat response team responding to potentially unsafe conditions such as spills of pollutants and other contaminants, environmental complaints and other problems, while analyzing results of environmental, personnel and facility safety. Works with team members and other University departments to resolve these situations.
• Serve as the University and EHS representative in each of the following regulatory organizations: Clean Air Force of Central Texas (CAF), UT System Environmental Advisory Group (EAG) and Improving Austin Streams (IAS). Will represent the University and update the Director and Associate Director.
• This position requires a class "C" operator driver's license. The applicant selected must provide a current three-year driving record from the current state of residence. If not currently a Texas resident, a Texas driver's license must be obtained within 30 days of becoming a Texas resident. Drive University vehicles. Maintain acceptable driver rating as established in Policy: UTS157 Section 2.5.4.

Required Qualifications

Bachelor's Degree in Environmental Science, Chemistry, Engineering, Applied or Basic Science, or a closely related field. 4+ years of experience in the field of environmental health and safety compliance. Proven experience as an environmental manager/supervisor. Solid understanding of environmental laws and regulations. Outstanding attention to detail. Demonstrates excellent interpersonal communication skills. Class "C" Operator Driver's License.

Relevant education and experience may be substituted as appropriate.

Preferred Qualifications

Master's Degree in Environmental Science, Chemistry, Engineering, Applied or Basic Science, or a closely related field. 6+ years of experience in the field of environmental health and safety compliance. Proven experience as an environmental manager/supervisor. Environmental health and safety experience in a higher education environment. Experience and ability in reading construction drawings. Professional licenses or certifications such as CHMM, CSP, or Registered sanitarian.

Salary Range

$85,000 + depending on qualifications

Working Conditions

Environmental Demands

• Uniforms and/or personal protection equipment (furnished)
• May work in all weather conditions
• May work in extreme temperatures
• May work around chemical fumes
• May work around standard office conditions
• May work around biohazards
• May work around chemicals
• May work around electrical and mechanical hazards

Physical Tasks

• Repetitive use of a keyboard at a workstation
• Use of manual dexterity
• Climbing of stairs
• Climbing of ladders
• Lifting and moving

Additional Working Conditions

• May be required to work in confined spaces, manholes, tunnels, elevated work, extended shifts including nights, weekends, and holidays.
• Considerable walking, standing, squatting, stooping, and moving of heavy materials and equipment in all weather conditions.
• May be required to use personal protective equipment (PPE) while performing duties.
• May be required to pass a physical examination.
• May be exposed to loud noise, high dust and allergen levels.
• May be required to lift up to 50lbs. Often required to twist, grasp, push, pull and bend.
• May be required to operate forklifts, personnel lifts and cranes. Operate job related equipment.
• May be required to perform elevated work. Occasional work from ladders and/or scaffolds.
• May require tuberculosis screening and occasional use of a respirator.
• Perform other duties as required.

Work Shift

• 40 hour work week schedule; Monday-Friday, 08:00 AM - 05:00 PM

Required Materials

• Resume/CV
• 3 work references with their contact information; at least one reference should be from a supervisor
• Letter of interest

Employment Eligibility

Regular staff who have been employed in their current position for the last six continuous months are eligible for openings being recruited for through University-Wide or Open Recruiting, to include both promotional opportunities and lateral transfers. Staff who are promotion/transfer eligible may apply for positions without supervisor approval.

Retirement Plan Eligibility

The retirement plan for this position is Teacher Retirement System of Texas (TRS), subject to the position being at least 20 hours per week and at least 135 days in length.

Background Checks

A criminal history background check will be required for finalist(s) under consideration for this position.

Equal Opportunity Employer

The University of Texas at Austin, as an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer,complies with all applicable federal and state laws regarding nondiscrimination and affirmative action. The University is committed to a policy of equal opportunity for all persons and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, marital status, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, disability, religion, or veteran status in employment, educational programs and activities, and admissions.

Pay Transparency

The University of Texas at Austin will not discharge or in any other manner discriminate against employees or applicants because they have inquired about, discussed, or disclosed their own pay or the pay of another employee or applicant. However, employees who have access to the compensation information of other employees or applicants as a part of their essential job functions cannot disclose the pay of other employees or applicants to individuals who do not otherwise have access to compensation information, unless the disclosure is (a) in response to a formal complaint or charge, (b) in furtherance of an investigation, proceeding, hearing, or action, including an investigation conducted by the employer, or (c) consistent with the contractor's legal duty to furnish information.

Employment Eligibility Verification

If hired, you will be required to complete the federal Employment Eligibility Verification I-9 form. You will be required to present acceptable and original documents to prove your identity and authorization to work in the United States. Documents need to be presented no later than the third day of employment. Failure to do so will result in loss of employment at the university.

E-Verify

The University of Texas at Austin use E-Verify to check the work authorization of all new hires effective May 2015. The university's company ID number for purposes of E-Verify is 854197. For more information about E-Verify, please see the following:

• E-Verify Poster (English and Spanish) [PDF]
• Right to Work Poster (English) [PDF]
• Right to Work Poster (Spanish) [PDF]

Compliance

Employees may be required to report violations of law under Title IX and the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Crime Statistics Act (Clery Act). If this position is identified a Campus Security Authority (Clery Act), you will be notified and provided resources for reporting. Responsible employees under Title IX are defined and outlined in HOP-3031.

The Clery Act requires all prospective employees be notified of the availability of the Annual Security and Fire Safety report. You may access the most recent report here or obtain a copy at University Compliance Services, 1616 Guadalupe Street, UTA 2.206, Austin, Texas 78701.