Environmental Scientist

energynorthwest; Richland (WA); On-site; USD 126,000 - 190,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Energy Northwest benefits

No state income tax in Washington

Job summary

Energy Northwest in Richland, WA seeks an Environmental Scientist (Principal) to provide advanced regulatory and environmental expertise supporting the Environmental & Regulatory Program and the EPU initiative. This role develops programs, ensures compliance with federal, state, and local requirements, and leads complex environmental projects with a high degree of independence.

Responsibilities include directing environmental programs, coordinating with agencies on permits, monitoring regulatory

Qualifications

• Requires a Bachelor's degree in an Environmental Science, Engineering, Chemistry, Biological Science, or related technical field from an accredited college or university and eight years of experience in an environmental related field.

Responsibilities

• Assigned owner for one or more environmental programs; interface with state and federal regulatory agencies and participate in audits, inspections and assessments.
• Coordinate with Energy Northwest organizations to ensure environmental monitoring requirements (NPDES; REMP; Groundwater) are met and reported.
• Develop plans for programs, projects, audits, testing and inspections; lead audits and inspections; respond to inspection reports.
• Perform regulatory analysis by monitoring changes in environmental regulations and notify appropriate organizations of changes.
• Monitor plant events (condition reports) for impact/compliance with regulatory requirements; aid in reportability determinations.
• Provide technical guidance to other engineers; mentor staff and ensure coordination with other departments.
• Integrate design, regulatory, operating, maintenance, and administrative requirements into tasks; work with minimum supervision; participate in ERO and biennial refueling outage.

Skills

Regulatory compliance

Environmental program leadership

Audits & inspections

Mentorship

Education

Bachelor's degree in Environmental Science, Engineering, Chemistry, Biological Science, or related technical field

Job description

The Environmental Scientist (Principal) provides technical environmental and regulatory expertise to support Energy Northwest's Environmental & Regulatory Program and the Extended Power Uprate (EPU) initiative. This position performs environmental impact evaluations, regulatory compliance analyses, permitting support, and field/operational reviews to ensure Energy Northwest activities meet all federal, state, and local environmental requirements. The role also develops and maintains regulatory approvals schedules-including SEPA/NEPA, water rights, air permitting, NPDES, and other non‑nuclear environmental obligations-and ensures these schedules are fully integrated and aligned with EPU project planning and execution timelines.

GENERAL SUMMARY

Develops, implements, and administers environmental programs to ensure the safety of Energy Northwest facilities and protect human health and the environment. Provides leadership and coordination in developing company policies, programs, and procedures for assigned environmental programs to ensure compliance with federal, state, and local environmental regulations. Works closely with all company organizations and levels of management to monitor, communicate, and report environmental information and performance, and to help resolve environmental problems and issues. At the principal level this requires the ability to perform highly complex tasks with a high level of independence.

PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTABILITIES

• Assigned owner for one or more environmental programs. Interface with state and federal regulatory agencies. Responsible for routine written and oral communications with those agencies including participation in audits, inspections, and assessments using skills and experience gained through application of standards and regulatory requirements. Provide technical advice and proactive counsel to management on a wide range of complex environmental regulatory issues, interpretation and verification of industry guidance, and regulatory requirements for application to plant specific issues. Provide verbal and written management presentations on industry and generating station issues, preparation and presentation of new permit applications and subsequent amendments, and participation in industry regulatory initiatives. May provide unconventional or advanced problem solving techniques. Routinely provide technical leadership on complex and/or extended programs and projects.
• Coordinate with other Energy Northwest organizations to ensure environmental monitoring requirements (e.g., NPDES; REMP; Groundwater) are appropriately met and reported.
• Develop plans for programs, projects, audits, testing and inspections; lead audits and inspections. Use engineering judgment in evaluating results for findings. Respond to inspection reports and requests for interpretation and verification of industry and Energy Northwest issues. Participate in industry working groups and other discipline related activities.
• Perform regulatory analysis by monitoring changes in environmental regulations, and take actions to notify appropriate organizations and/or implement changes.
• Monitor plant events (condition reports) for impact/compliance with regulatory requirements. Provide assistance in determining reportability and making necessary notifications.
• Provide technical guidance routinely to other engineers; check and review technical products of others. Serve as a mentor.
• Integrate design, regulatory, operating, maintenance, and administrative requirements into tasks. Perform tasks within schedule and budget. Ensure effective coordination of efforts with other departments and disciplines. Work with minimum supervision.
• Must participate on the Emergency Response Organization (ERO) when designated.
• Must support the biennial refueling outage.

REQUIRED EDUCATION & EXPERIENCE

• Requires a Bachelor's degree in an Environmental Science, Engineering, Chemistry, Biological Science, or related technical field from an accredited college or university and eight years of experience in an environmental related field.

Pay Range

Pay Range $126,362.00 - $189,542.00

Annual Midpoint: $157,952.00

Typically, selected candidates are hired between the minimum and midpoint of the range, based on applicable experience and qualifications, market rate, internal equity, and budgetary allowances.

Offers will be negotiated based on each candidate's qualifications.

Incentive Compensation

This role may be eligible to participate in our annual incentive plan. Incentives are earned based on employee performance against defined metrics and company goals.

Benefits

• Energy Northwest (EN) provides a phenomenal benefits package.
• Washington State also has no state income tax, and the Tri-Cities provides a cost-of-living lower than the national average.
• EN offers substantial retirement benefits through three retirement programs including the Washington State Public Employees' Retirement System pension plan (PERS), a 401(k) savings plan with