ENVIRONMENTAL PROGRAM DIRECTOR - 79977

State of Tennessee; Nashville (TN); On-site; USD 103,000 - 165,000; Full time

Job summary

State of Tennessee's Department of Environment and Conservation, Air Pollution Control Division, in Nashville, seeks an Executive Service Environmental Program Director to provide strategic leadership for air permitting and regulatory development, guiding organizational change and high-performing teams.

The successful candidate will oversee permit decisions, ensure compliance with state and federal requirements, and drive program improvements while aligning operations with the state's

Qualifications

• The ideal candidate will demonstrate experience in leading organizational change and developing high-performing teams.
• Strong expertise in environmental program management and regulatory development is required.
• Excellent communication and collaboration skills are essential.

Responsibilities

• Provide strategic leadership for statewide air permitting and regulatory development programs.
• Develop and support high-performing teams through coaching, collaboration, and accountability.
• Ensure timely, accurate permitting decisions aligned with state and federal requirements.
• Drive continuous improvement to enhance program efficiency, quality and effectiveness.
• Oversee regulatory development activities, including SIP revisions and related air modeling and coordination.

Skills

Leadership

Change management

Team development

Regulatory expertise

Education

Bachelor's degree

Job description

Executive Service

Closing Date: 08/23/2026

Executive Service

ENVIRONMENTAL PROGRAM DIRECTOR

Department of Environment and Conservation

Air Pollution Control Division

Nashville, TN

Annual Salary: $103,440.00 - $165,048.00

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.

Job Overview

This position serves as the Deputy Director for Permitting and Regulatory Development, providing strategic leadership for APC's air permitting and regulatory programs. The ideal candidate will demonstrate experience and proficiency in leading organizational change, developing high-performing teams, coaching and talent development, and overseeing environmental program operations.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide strategic leadership and oversight for statewide air permitting and regulatory development programs.
• Lead, develop, and support high-performing teams through effective communication, collaboration, coaching, and accountability.
• Manage program operations to ensure timely, accurate, and consistent permitting decisions that meet state and federal requirements.
• Drive continuous improvement initiatives to enhance program efficiency, quality, and operational effectiveness.
• Oversee regulatory development activities, including rules and State Implementation Plan (SIP) revisions as well as air modeling, transportation conformity and local program coordination.

Minimum Qualifications

The ideal candidate will demonstrate experience and proficiency in leading organizational change, developing high-performing teams, coaching and talent development, and overseeing environmental program operations. Successful candidates will possess a bachelors degree and have demonstrated expertise in environmental program management, regulatory development, complex problem-solving and decision-making, communication and collaboration.

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.