Assistant Director, Environmental Programs

About the role

This position is eligible for telework which is currently one day per week. New hires are eligible to apply 30 days after their effective date of hire.

Responsibilities

• Lead and coordinate site-specific environmental risk assessments to identify operational impacts and recommend mitigation and corrective actions.
• Ensure environmental compliance activities at assigned facilities are executed in accordance with federal, state, and local regulatory requirements, as well as Authority policies and procedures.
• Coordinate, review, and support the timely submission of State Agency Environmental Audit (SAEA) reports in collaboration with internal stakeholders under Vice President oversight.
• Oversee petroleum bulk storage (PBS) compliance monitoring programs to ensure regulatory adherence and prevent environmental contamination risks.
• Provide functional oversight of hazardous materials handling, storage, and disposal practices to ensure compliance with regulatory standards and safe operating procedures.
• Monitor contractor and vendor compliance with environmental standards, contractual obligations, and regulatory requirements.
• Serve as a functional lead and technical resource providing guidance to site personnel, contractors, and vendors on environmental compliance requirements.
• Support the development, implementation, and continuous improvement of site-level environmental procedures and controls.
• Support environmental training and awareness initiatives to promote a culture of compliance and environmental responsibility across operations.
• Coordinate environmental compliance activities related to capital projects to ensure environmental impacts are identified, assessed, and mitigated throughout planning and execution.
• Serve as the environmental liaison between site operations and Construction & Development (C&D) to ensure environmental requirements are integrated into project scope, design, and execution.
• Participate in project planning and design discussions to provide environmental expertise and ensure regulatory compliance considerations are embedded from project inception.
• Monitor implementation of environmental controls during construction activities to ensure compliance and minimize operational disruption.
• Support strategies to maintain operational continuity and customer experience during capital project execution.
• Assist in post-project reviews, reporting, and documentation of environmental outcomes, compliance status, and lessons learned.
• Research and analyze regulatory developments, industry standards, and environmental best practices to inform continuous improvement of environmental programs.
• Collaborate with internal TBTA departments to identify, assess, and mitigate environmental risks across assigned sites.
• Provide site-level input into program enhancements and operational improvements to strengthen environmental performance and compliance.
• Contribute to a collaborative and accountable work environment by supporting cross-functional initiatives and continuous improvement efforts.
• Monitor environmental performance trends and provide recommendations to site and senior leadership on risk reduction and operational improvements.
• Lead and coordinate delivery of mandatory environmental training and awareness programs for operational, maintenance, safety, and contractor personnel.
• Evaluate training effectiveness through feedback, compliance indicators, and operational performance metrics, and recommend improvements as needed.
• Manage relationships with training vendors, consultants, and instructors to ensure high-quality delivery of environmental training programs.
• Contribute to site-level workforce planning by providing input on environmental staffing needs, scheduling considerations, and resource allocation to support compliance obligations.
• Support coordination of environmental personnel and resources across capital and operational programs to improve efficiency and compliance outcomes.
• Represent the Environmental Compliance function in meetings with site leadership, contractors, and internal stakeholders as appropriate.
• Support coordination and communication with regulatory agencies under the direction of the Vice President of Environmental Compliance.
• Provide input into internal reporting, dashboards, and compliance updates to support executive awareness of environmental performance and risk areas.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in arts/sciences (BA/BS) in Environmental Law, Environmental Science, Environmental Engineering, Environmental Management, or Occupational Health & Safety Management or a related field. An equivalent combination of education and experience may be considered
• Minimum 8 years of progressively responsible experience in environmental compliance, environmental management systems, or regulatory programs within a complex operational or infrastructure environment.
• Minimum 4 years of experience with oversight of multi-site environmental programs, regulatory reporting, and coordination with capital or construction projects.
• Experience in environmental program administration or closely related environmental compliance work.
• Experience with environmental audits, regulatory reporting, and ensuring compliance with federal, state, and local environmental, health, and safety regulations.
• Experience conducting or supporting incident investigations, including root cause analysis and corrective action development.
• Experience coordinating environmental compliance activities within large, complex facilities, infrastructure systems, or multi-site operational environments.
• Experience with environmental compliance management systems (EMS), incident reporting systems, and compliance tracking tools.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite and document management software.
• Working knowledge of federal, state, and local environmental regulations (e.g., EPA, NYSDEC).
• Knowledge of environmental regulatory frameworks and standards, including RCRA, TSCA, and applicable water and air quality regulations.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to develop regulatory reports, documentation, and audit materials.
• Demonstrated ability to build effective working relationships and collaborate with internal and external stakeholders.
• Demonstrated ability to perform effectively in a high-profile, high-pressure operational environment.
• Strong focus on results delivery, organizational effectiveness, and continuous improvement
• Demonstrated ability to act as a change agent, with creative and innovative thinking to support process improvement and alignment of business objectives with operational solutions.
• Strong team building, listening, problem-solving, and prioritization skills.
• Ability to be on call 24/7 and respond to any MTA Bridges and Tunnels facility as operational needs require.
• Unrestricted driver's license in New York State.

Preferred Qualifications

• Master’s degree in arts/sciences (MA/MS) or advanced degree in environmental engineering or a related field.
• Significant experience in program management within large government agencies or highly complex organizational environments.
• Familiarity with MTA policies and procedures and/or New York State environmental regulatory frameworks.
• Experience supporting or coordinating environmental compliance activities within capital construction or infrastructure project environments.
• Certifications such as Certified Environmental Professional (CEP), OSHA, or equivalent.