Environmental Affairs Manager

Overview

Are you a passionate environmental professional ready to take your career to the next level? Do you thrive in dynamic, mission-driven environments where your work directly supports sustainability, innovation, and research excellence? If so, we invite you to join our team as the Environmental Affairs Manager at North Carolina State University.

This position oversees a team of professionals delivering critical environmental programs, including hazardous waste, permitting, stormwater, and more. The Environmental Affairs Manager ensures university-wide environmental compliance through expert oversight of programs related to hazardous and universal waste, groundwater, stormwater, and drinking water. They maintain a comprehensive compliance management system, guiding varied stakeholders across all campuses, field labs, and research stations in North Carolina.

Responsibilities include developing and reviewing pollution prevention SOPs, providing hazardous waste training, managing waste in labs and remote areas, conducting sediment control and pollution inspections, and auditing environmental programs and procedures. The manager collaborates closely with the NC State Facilities Division on managing programs such as USTs, the Air Permit, medical and wastewater management, property acquisitions, SPCC plans, and hazardous building materials for construction projects.

As part of the broader EHS team, they contribute to facilities modification reviews, emergency response planning, design reviews, research waste management, and inspections of university facilities and grounds.

Professional Knowledge (30%)

• Manage and execute environmental programs, including hazardous materials, stormwater, and permitting, ensuring compliance with EPA, federal, state, and university regulations.
• Oversee hazardous materials inspections, documentation, and stakeholder communication on findings and corrective actions; collaborate with safety committees (OHSC, Radiation, Biosafety, unit-level).
• Promote safe practices through education and guidance for inspections, permitting, and construction-related activities.
• Provide expert recommendations to leadership and resolve technical issues not directly addressed by existing regulations.

Program Monitoring and Administration (25%)

• Design and implement permitting programs, SOPs, and compliance documentation in EHSA and other systems to streamline audits and reporting.
• Advise researchers on hazardous waste management and maintain training on hazardous materials handling and hazmat shipping.
• Review research and construction protocols to ensure compliance with regulations and university policies.
• Lead operations and maintenance of Superfund site remediation systems, including testing, reporting, and regulatory coordination.
• Partner with Facilities on compliance for USTs, Air Permit, Dam Plans, and SPCC.
• Collaborate with EHS teams to train research and Facilities personnel on waste management, sustainability, hazardous materials, and stormwater, ensuring compliance and follow-up action.

Management/Supervisory (25%)

• Supervise environmental staff and manage the university’s environmental compliance system.
• Provide compliance guidance across all university campuses, labs, and research stations statewide.
• Oversee SOP development, hazardous waste training and management, pollution inspections, and environmental audits.

Training and Education (10%)

• Develop and deliver training with EHS teams for researchers, animal care staff, and students on hazardous waste, building materials, stormwater, and related topics.

Communication (5%)

• Coordinate with researchers, EHS, Facilities, and committees to provide consultation and updates.
• Communicate regulatory changes, update training materials, and summarize inspection findings for campus-wide sharing.
• Improve information delivery via EHSA, the EA website, and other platforms.

Safety and Health Compliance (5%)

• Serve as a subject matter expert on EPA, NC DEQ, and other regulatory standards; mentor university personnel.
• Promote and evaluate safe practices among campus stakeholders and issue compliance notices as needed.
• Ensure environmental compliance at…