Environmental Specialist, Water

MP Materials; California (MO); Hybrid; USD 95,000 - 115,000; Full time

Job summary

MP Materials, based in Mountain Pass, CA, seeks an Environmental Specialist to ensure water-related regulatory compliance and continuous improvement across the organization.

You will develop and maintain water-related compliance plans, collect data from wells, and prepare required reports and permits to support operations and sustainability initiatives.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in environmental or environmental-related discipline preferred.
• 4+ years’ experience in environmental or related fields.

Responsibilities

• Oversee and update environmental compliance programs (water management).
• Maintain records of water data, system performance, and logs.
• Submit Water Quality Monitoring Reports, Water Use Reports, and Site Water Reports.
• Prepare and maintain water permits (California RWQCB, County Permits, SWPPP).
• Analyze water data from wells and sample data.
• Support environmental assessments for new/modified processes.
• Assist operations with ensuring water systems operate efficiently.
• Conduct internal water compliance audits and corrective actions.
• Deliver water compliance training to employees and contractors.
• Track changes in water regulations and inform management.
• Support sustainability initiatives related to water balances and recycling.
• Identify opportunities to reduce environmental impact and improve compliance.

Skills

Water management

Regulatory compliance

Communication skills

Training others

Education

Bachelor’s degree in environmental discipline

Tools

Regulatory tracking software

Job description

Full Time Mountain Pass, CA, US

Salary Range: $95,000.00 To $115,000.00 Annually

Company Overview:

MP Materials (NYSE: MP) is rebuilding American industrial capability for a new era of autonomy, robotics, and electrification.

We are the only U.S. company with a fully integrated rare earth supply chain—from mining and refining to advanced metal and magnet manufacturing. Our products include both the critical materials used to make permanent magnets and the finished magnets themselves—enabling next-generation technologies in robotics, automation, aerospace, transportation, defense, and energy systems. These materials are the foundation of physical AI—the convergence of computation, movement, and control.

We hire ambitious, mission-driven people who want to tackle complex challenges and shape the future of strategic industries. Our culture is rooted in teamwork, resiliency, and integrity, with a deep commitment to operational excellence and national purpose. MP is rapidly evolving from a materials producer into a leading U.S. manufacturer—and our people are driving that transformation.

Position Overview:

Under supervision of the Environmental Manager, the Environmental Specialist serves as the technical expert for environmental compliance. The Environmental Specialist is responsible for developing strategic compliance plans and objectives to meet current, developing, and future regulatory requirements with a focus on water permitting, monitoring, reporting, and recordkeeping, while supporting continuous improvement in environmental performance across the organization. This position will ensure compliance with applicable federal, state, and local water quality standards and regulations.

Position Responsibilities:

• Oversee and actively update environmental compliance programs in assigned area of responsibility (water management).
• Maintain accurate records of water data, water system performance, and operational logs.
• Prepare and submit required reports such as Water Quality Monitoring Reports, Water Use Reports, and Site Water Reports.
• Prepare, submit, and maintain all required water permits, including California Regional Water Board, County Water Permits, and SWPPP Reports.
• Collect, analyze, and interpret water data from sources including but not limited to remote monitoring wells, freshwater wells, mine wells, and various sample data.
• Support environmental assessments for new or modified processes and projects (construction, expansion, etc.).
• Assist operations and maintenance teams with ensuring water systems (e.g., pumps, wells, pipes) operate efficiently.
• Conduct internal water compliance audits and corrective action follow-ups.
• Develop and deliver water compliance training for employees, contractors, and supervisors.
• Track changes in water regulations and communicate potential impacts to management.
• Support company sustainability initiatives related to water balances, water recycling, and freshwater use.
• Identify opportunities to reduce environmental impact and improve compliance performance.
• Perform and document environmental, health, and safety audits.
• Develop an understanding of CalOSHA and MSHA regulations as well as MP Materials Health and Safety Practices.
• Respond to chemical spill emergencies by managing the containment, clean up, and disposal of hazardous materials.
• Keeps all levels of the facility personnel aware of environmental regulations and pending changes. Educates, clarifies, and simplifies environmental regulations, policies, and procedures into understandable and operations terms.
• Effectively maintains high level of knowledge and understanding of environmental regulations, policies, and procedures into understandable operations terms.
• Effectively maintains high level for knowledge and understanding of environmental regulations, policies, and procedures into understandable operations terms.
• Effectively maintains high level for knowledge and understanding of environmental regulations and how they apply to the facility in the areas of air, water, and solid waste management.
• Develops and provides necessary training of site personnel so that all facility employees have the knowledge and skills to comply with and enforce environmental regulations and policies. Training should emphasize Environmental over Production - prevention, individual responsibility, and commitment.

Basic Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in environmental or environmental related discipline is preferred.
• 4+ years’ experience in environmental or environmental related fields.

Desired Qualities:

• Professional certifications not required but are a plus: CEP, QEP, and/or CES.
• CA State Water Boards D1 Operator certification is preferred; or be able to acquire certification within 6 months of hire date.
• Excellent verbal, interpersonal, and written communication skills.
• Ability to effectively train and direct others (peers, employees, contractors/vendors).
• Ability to work independently and within a team environment.
• Knowledge of industrial plant processes and equipment.
• Knowledge of industrial plant operations and maintenance requirements.
• Employee relations skills and ability to motivate others.
• Knowledge of regulatory and corrective action tracking programs.
• Knowledge of computer maintenance management tracking programs.

MP Materials is Proud to be an Equal Opportunity / Affimative Action Employer

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law. Underrepresented groups/Women/Disabled/Veterans are encouraged to apply. Candidates whose disabilities make them unable to meet the position’s requirements will still be considered qualified if they can perform the essential functions of the job with reasonable accommodation.

Your Right to Work – In compliance with federal law, all persons hired will be required to verify identity and eligibility to work in the United States and to complete the required employment verification document form upon hire.

Safety Provision- Employees are responsible for following all company, industry and regulatory procedures and laws to ensure a safe work environment for themselves and the company. Employees must have a willingness to promote safety among the workforce, participate in Process Hazard Analysis procedures and Pre-Startup Safety Reviews.

(PPE) Personal Protective Equipment is required when performing work in a mine, manufacturing, outdoor, or plant environment. Required PPE may include, but is not limited to, hard hat, hearing protection, safety glasses, safety footwear, respirator, rubber steel-toe boots, protective clothing, gloves, and any other protective equipment as required.

Working Conditions- Our facility sits at an elevation of 4,700 feet. Employees may be subject to extreme weather conditions when working in an outdoor setting (heat and cold, wind). Work is at an open pit mine or manufacturing/chemical plant setting, which may include exposure to moving mechanical parts, toxic chemicals, risk of electrical shock, explosives, fumes, or airborne particles.

Physical Demands-Manual dexterity; sense of touch; sense of smell; speaking clearly; hearing-speech range; hearing – all ranges; seeing, reading and comprehensions; seeing – distant/near; depth perception; color vision. While performing the job responsibilities, the employee is required to talk and hear. The employee is often required to stand and use their hands and fingers, to handle or feel and to manipulate laboratory equipment. The employee is occasionally required to walk, reach with arms and hands, climb or balance, and to stoop, kneel, crouch or crawl. Vision abilities required by this job include close vision. Employees must pass a full-face respiratory fit test. Employees must be able to lift 50 lbs. Must be able to work in PPE level C. These requirements are representative, but not all-inclusive, of the knowledge, skill, and ability required of the employee.