Sr. Environmental Counsel

At SI Group, we aspire for all employees to live and work to their full potential. We foster a unique environment where each employee is empowered to create value for our business with a commitment to safety and compliance. We promote personal and professional success that aligns with productivity and extraordinary results. Become a Catalyst for Change and help ignite impossible. 

The Role: As the Senior Environmental Counsel, reporting to the Deputy General Counsel, you will be responsible for leading, mentoring, and influencing members of the corporate and field-based SI Group Environmental, Health and Safety (EHS) and operations teams in order to provide direction on key environmental matters within SI Group’s operations globally. 

How You Will Make an Impact:

Remediation Programs

• Lead the management of all environmental cleanup matters from investigation to closure, including cost modeling, oversight of technical consultants, prioritizing sites, developing strategies, budgets and schedules and producing internal and external status reports, as appropriate. (SI Group spends an estimated $5-15 million annually on remediation.)
• Provide specific expertise in terms of remediation strategies for each subject site; develop forward looking plan aimed at reducing ongoing liability and cost;
• Identify and leverage innovative technologies for abatement of contaminated sites;
• Review and update Corporate Finance, Legal, Real Estate and Risk Management departments on open or pending environmental liabilities and prepare environmental disclosures as requested.

Compliance Support

• Conduct baseline assessments of all facilities to ensure that appropriate compliance programs are in place. Work with EH&S and Operations teams to prioritize and address any identified deficiencies.
• Conduct detailed environmental program reviews (Air, Water, Waste, etc.) and suggest improvement opportunities for global applicability.
• Review and approve environmental permit applications and lead the efforts of cross-functional permitting teams including facility, corporate and third-party consultants; and
• Develop regional compliance improvement programs addressing requirements of current and pending legal requirements, corporate procedures and industry practices.

Enforcement

• Serve as the global leader for all external communications relating to environmental compliance matters.
• Track enforcement activities and assist in the response to actions, including post inspection information requests, notices of noncompliance or violation and administrative or judicial actions; lead negotiations with regulators to ensure best possible terms/outcomes for SI Group, and
• Work with internal and external counsel on enforcement matters and provide regular reports to management and legal department on compliance status.

Acquisitions and Divestments

• Direct & lead environmental due diligence for acquisitions and environmental disclosures for divestures;
• Support the integration of new acquisitions into SI Group EHS and sustainability programs;
• Direct environmental activities related to the closure and disposition of SI Group facilities; and
• Provide expertise for site development and/or capital projects globally.

Creating Extraordinary Starts With:

• J.D. from an accredited law school
• Minimum of 7 years’ experience working for a national or multinational law firm with a significant environmental practice and/or experience with a multinational company with significant remediation obligations, preferably in the chemical industry.
• Substantial experience in dealing with enforcement/legal matters pertaining to environmental issues at operating sites, as well as developing, implementing, managing and auditing programs applicable to multiple facilities across multiple jurisdictions globally.
• Significant direct experience in managing remediation projects.
• Valid license to practice in Texas.  Other state licenses will be considered.

What We Value: 

We strive for all employees to nurture physical, mental and emotional health both personally and professionally. Our commitment to health and wellness centers around prevention, early detection and embracing a healthy lifestyle. Some offerings may vary by role or region, but may include:  

• Physical Health benefits including competitive Medical, Dental, and Vision packages, company contribution to Health Savings Account, cash incentive for Annual Physical and reimbursement 
• Financial Wellness opportunities including company paid life insurance and disability plans, 401(k) Retirement Plan with generous company match, and certified Financial Planning & Investment services 
• Mental Health benefits including generous Paid Time Off and 10 Paid Holidays, Paid Parental Bonding Leave, and much more!