Lead Environmental Compliance Manager (Owner's Advisor) (Field Based)

ERM; Savannah (GA); On-site; USD 150,000 - 210,000; Full time

Job summary

ERM is seeking a Lead Environmental Compliance Manager (Owner's Advisor) to guide environmental programs for hyperscale data center construction across Texas, Louisiana, or Georgia. You will translate permit conditions into actionable site practices, align with the EHS team, and lead field verification and risk-based actions.

The role requires strong communication, extensive field presence, and the ability to influence outcomes without direct authority.

Qualifications

• Must have strong leadership in owner-side environmental programs.
• Experience with large construction or data center projects is preferred.
• Familiarity with U.S. environmental regulations across multiple jurisdictions.
• Ability to translate permit conditions into practical on-site actions.

Responsibilities

• Lead owner-side environmental compliance across projects and ensure alignment with requirements.
• Develop project-specific environmental compliance framework and interfaces.
• Maintain field presence to validate controls align with plans and permits.
• Quality check environmental inspections and documentation cadence.
• Coach teams on findings and risks to drive corrective actions.
• Identify and prioritize environmental risks and mitigation strategies.
• Support development and improvement of environmental plans and procedures.
• Collaborate with client SMEs and permitting resources to stay aligned with permits.
• Develop metrics and report performance to leadership.
• Participate in investigations and preventive actions for incidents.
• Coordinate with waste vendors and site teams on handling and disposal.
• Manage chemical inventory data accuracy and approvals.
• Serve as primary contact for evolving environmental scope and site conditions.
• Ensure readiness for startup and commissioning by integrating requirements.

Skills

Environmental leadership

Construction industry experience

Regulatory knowledge

Communication skills

Education

Bachelor's degree in Environmental Engineering / Environmental Science

Job description

ERM is hiring a Lead Environmental Compliance Manager (Owner's Advisor) in Texas/Louisiana or Georgia. The Lead Environmental Compliance Manager serves as the owner’s environmental representative for the construction of hyperscale data centers across multiple U.S. states. Joining projects following site selection, environmental due diligence, and initial horizontal environmental permitting, this role helps translate permit conditions and environmental requirements into effective construction practices.

The position partners with project managers, general contractors, subcontractors, consultants, and the broader Environmental, Health and Safety (EHS) team to identify risks, resolve issues, and improve environmental performance. Success requires strong technical judgment, practical construction experience, and the ability to influence outcomes through trusted working relationships. This is a Full-Time (40+ hours per week) limited-term role with a duration of one (1) year, with potential to extend.

Responsibilities

• Provide owner-side environmental compliance leadership across the project, ensuring alignment with applicable local, state, and federal requirements and client expectations.
• Establish and maintain a clear, project-specific environmental compliance framework that defines requirements, roles, and interfaces to guide CM and contractor execution.
• Maintain strong field presence to validate that environmental controls, practices, and behaviors align with approved plans and permit obligations.
• Perform quality checks of contractor and CM environmental inspections and documentation, confirming inspections are occurring at the appropriate cadence and are effective.
• Coach CM and contractor teams on environmental findings, gaps, and emerging risks, driving timely and sustainable corrective actions without direct authority.
• Identify, assess, and prioritize environmental risks through regulatory aspect and gap reviews, recommending risk-based mitigation strategies.
• Support development, review, and continuous improvement of project environmental plans and procedures to ensure they are executable and field-ready.
• Partner with client environmental SMEs and permitting resources to ensure construction activities remain aligned with permit conditions and reporting expectations.
• Develop, track, and communicate environmental performance metrics, trends, and key risks to project and executive leadership.
• Participate in environmental incident and spill investigations, ensuring appropriate containment, root cause identification, and preventive actions.
• Coordinate with waste vendors and site teams to support compliant waste handling, profiling, storage, and disposal practices.
• Support chemical inventory management and applicable regulatory reporting by ensuring data accuracy and clear ownership for updates.
• Serve as a primary point of contact for environmental questions requiring practical judgment related to changing scope, sequencing, or site conditions.
• Support environmental readiness for startup and commissioning by verifying environmental requirements are integrated into transition plans.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Environmental Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Environmental Science, or equivalent experience preferred.
• Minimum of 8 years of environmental experience, including significant experience supporting large construction or capital projects.
• Demonstrated ability to operate as an owner-side environmental leader, balancing field verification with programmatic oversight.
• Strong working knowledge of construction-phase environmental compliance domains such as stormwater, spill prevention, waste management, air and dust controls.
• Extensive hyperscale data center construction experience preferred; substantial experience with large-scale industrial construction is also acceptable.
• Strong working knowledge of U.S. environmental requirements and experience applying permit conditions across multiple state and local jurisdictions.
• Proven ability to translate environmental requirements into practical execution through others.
• Experience influencing CM and contractor performance and driving accountability without direct line authority.
• Strong communication skills, including the ability to deliver concise, executive-level updates using metrics and risk-based insights.
• Experience conducting environmental audits or assessments and verifying effective corrective action closure.
• High standards for documentation quality, data integrity and compliance reporting.
• Familiarity with environmental management system concepts and continuous improvement practices preferred.
• Ability to travel extensively based on project location demands.

Who We Are

As the largest global pure play sustainability consultancy, we partner with the world's leading organizations, creating innovative solutions to sustainability challenges and unlocking commercial opportunities that meet the needs of today while preserving opportunity for future generations.

At ERM we know that creating a diverse, equitable and inclusive work environment is an essential part of making our company a great place to build a career. We also see our diversity as a strength that helps us create better solutions for our clients. Our diverse team of world‑class experts supports clients across the breadth of their organizations to operationalize sustainability, underpinned by our deep technical expertise in addressing their environmental, health, safety, risk and social issues. We call this capability our "boots to boardroom" approach for its comprehensive service model that allows ERM to develop strategic and technical solutions that advance objectives on the ground or at the executive level.

ERMwelcomes and encourages applications from people with disabilities. Reasonable accommodations are available on request for candidates taking part in all aspects of the selection process.

ERM is an equal opportunity employer.All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, religion, color, national origin, sex, age, Indigenous identity, or status as a protected veteran or qualified individual with a disability.

ERM does not accept recruiting agency resumes. Please do not forward resumes to our jobs alias, ERM employees or any other company location. ERM is not responsible for any fees related to unsolicited resumes.