ENVIRONMENTAL PROGRAM ADMINISTRATOR (DIVISION DIRECTOR) - 80863

State of Tennessee; Nashville (TN); On-site; USD 136,000 - 177,000; Full time

Job summary

State of Tennessee is seeking an Executive Service Environmental Program Administrator (Division Director) in Nashville to lead the Division of Air Pollution Control. You will oversee statewide programs, interact with regulators, industry, and the public, and guide policy and enforcement to protect air quality.

The role requires an advanced degree and 8–10 years of leadership experience, with emphasis on budgets, grants, and complex regulatory programs.

Qualifications

• Advanced degree required (MS or higher) in environmental/physical sciences, ecology, sustainability, or law.
• 8–10+ years of progressively responsible leadership experience.
• Experience managing budgets, grants, and complex programs.
• Strong leadership, communication, and organizational skills.
• Experience working with public agencies, boards, and legislative bodies.

Responsibilities

• Provide strategic leadership for statewide air permitting, compliance, enforcement, planning, modeling, monitoring and regulatory development.
• Lead and develop high-performing teams with effective communication and accountability.
• Manage the Division's financial performance to ensure compliance with requirements.
• Serve as Technical Secretary of the Air Pollution Control Board.

Skills

Leadership

Budget management

Communication

Stakeholder engagement

Regulatory compliance

Education

MS or higher in environmental science, engineering, or law

Job description

Executive Service

ENVIRONMENTAL PROGRAM ADMINISTRATOR (DIVISION DIRECTOR)

Department of Environment and Conservation Air Pollution Control Nashville, TN

Annual Salary: $136,236 - $177,000

Closing Date: 09/21/2026

Who We Are And What We Do

The Department of Environment and Conservation exists to enhance the quality of life for citizens of Tennessee and to be stewards of our natural environment. Our Department is committed to providing a cleaner, safer environment that goes hand-in-hand with economic prosperity and increased quality of life in Tennessee. We deliver on our mission through managing regulatory programs that maintain standards for air, water and soil quality while providing assistance to businesses and communities in areas ranging from recreation to waste management. We manage the state park system and programs to inventory, interpret and protect Tennessee's rich natural, historical and archaeological heritage.

How You Make a Difference In This Role

The Division of Air Pollution Control implements the Tennessee Air Quality Act and delegated programs of the federal Clean Air Act, working to maintain the purity of Tennessee's air resources consistent with the protection of human health, general welfare and physical property of the people, maximum employment, and the full industrial development of the state. The Division serves 91 counties within Tennessee and oversees local air programs in Davidson, Hamilton, Knox, and Shelby counties. The Division operates an ambient monitoring network, provides air quality forecasting, establishes emission standards and procedural requirements for industries through the issuance of construction and operating permits, and ensures compliance by inspecting facilities and verifying compliance with issued permits or pursuing enforcement to ensure the facility returns to compliance in a timely manner.

Job Overview

As the APC Director, this Executive Service position leads staff across the state in implementing the mission of the Division and works with diverse stakeholders including regulated entities, state and federal agency partners, and members of the public from the Nashville Central Office. The Division Director reports directly to the Deputy Commissioner of TDEC's Bureau of Environment (BOE) and serves as the Technical Secretary of the Air Pollution Control Board.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide strategic leadership and oversight for statewide air permitting, compliance, enforcement, planning, modeling, monitoring and regulatory development programs.
• Lead, develop, and support high-performing teams through effective communication, collaboration, coaching and accountability.
• Manage the financial performance of the Division to ensure compliance with federal and state requirements.
• Serve as the Technical Secretary of the Air Pollution Control Board in accordance with Tennessee Code Annotated (T.C.A.)
• 68-201-107.
• Engage with state leadership and legislators, as needed, to support rule making efforts, provide expert guidance on air-quality and air-pollution matters, and communicate the Division's regulatory and program priorities.
• Serve as the Division's primary public representative, including media engagement and stakeholder relations.

Minimum Qualifications

• Advanced degree (MS or higher) in environmental science, physical science, ecology, sustainability, life sciences, environmental health, engineering, or law.
• At least 8-10 years of progressively responsible leadership experience.
• Demonstrated experience managing budgets, grants, and complex programs.
• Strong leadership, communication, and organizational skills.
• Experience working with public agencies, boards, and legislative bodies.

Pursuant to the State of Tennessee's Workplace Discrimination and Harassment policy, the State is firmly committed to the principle of fair and equal employment opportunities for its citizens and strives to protect the rights and opportunities of all people to seek, obtain, and hold employment without being subjected to illegal discrimination and harassment in the workplace. It is the State's policy to provide an environment free of discrimination and harassment of an individual because of that person's race, color, national origin, age (40 and over), sex, pregnancy, religion, creed, disability, veteran's status or any other category protected by state and/or federal civil rights laws.