Lead Specialist, Environmental

About the Company

AES Corporation is the largest US-based global power company, with a team of 8,300 employees across 12 countries. Ranked #1 by BloombergNEF in renewable energy sales to corporations in the US and Americas for five consecutive years, AES provides electricity for millions worldwide. The company fosters a strong workplace culture, recognized in Great Place to Work™ rankings, and has been named one of the World’s Most Ethical Companies for 13 consecutive years. AES is a seven-time winner of the Edison Electric Institute’s Edison Awards, honoring leadership in advancing the electric power industry.

About the Role

The Lead Environmental Specialist will provide leadership and management of environmental compliance activities for AES Harding Street and AES Georgetown generating stations. This role ensures all site environmental obligations are completed accurately, fully, and on time, including compliance with air, water, waste, and other regulatory requirements. The position collaborates with site Operations & Maintenance teams, plant leadership, Environmental Affairs, and other internal stakeholders to serve as a key environmental compliance resource.

Responsibilities

• Ensure compliance with all applicable environmental regulations, permit conditions, corporate environmental requirements, and site-specific obligations.
• Collect, compile, verify, manage, and analyze environmental data to prepare, review, submit, and maintain accurate environmental compliance and regulatory reports, permits, inspections, and program documentation.
• Ensure required inspections, tests, records, reports, submittals, and environmental compliance deliverables are completed in a timely manner.
• Manage and maintain the AES Environmental Management System for assigned generating stations, including development and tracking of site-specific environmental objectives, audit activities, and corrective action closure.
• Provide environmental compliance guidance, coaching, and training to Operations, Maintenance, leadership, contractors, and other stakeholders to improve environmental awareness.
• Review operational and environmental data to identify potential permit deviations, compliance trends, deficiencies, or regulatory concerns, and communicate issues promptly.
• Report, support, and provide management direction for correction, mitigation, and prevention of environmental deficiencies, excursions, regulatory violations, and audit findings.
• Support routine permitting efforts and coordinate with Environmental Affairs subject matter experts on regulatory changes, permit issues, and impact evaluations.
• Provide change management support for new or changing environmental priorities, methodologies, policies, rules, and regulations.
• Support environmental audits, lead or assist with internal auditing activities, and ensure findings and corrective action plans are addressed timely.
• Develop, track, and support site-specific environmental budgets, including proactive communication of budget deviations.
• Implement and maintain environmental compliance processes, operating procedures, data management practices, and continuous improvement initiatives.
• Participate in environmental inspections, EHS walks, sustainability initiatives, and environmental performance activities.
• Work collaboratively with plant personnel to respond to environmental questions, concerns, permit requirements, regulatory issues, inspections, and compliance needs.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Environmental Science, Environmental Management, or a closely related technical or science-based field.
• Minimum of six years of professional environmental compliance experience in industrial, processing, manufacturing, utility, or power generation environments.
• Strong working knowledge of Indiana environmental regulations and applicable federal, state, and local environmental regulatory requirements.
• Experience with Clean Air Act, Title V air permitting and compliance, Clean Water Act, NPDES permitting and compliance, hazardous waste permitting, and multi-media environmental compliance requirements.
• Demonstrated ability to collect, review, verify, analyze, and report environmental operating data accurately and on time.
• Excellent verbal, written, interpersonal, and computer skills, with the ability to communicate environmental requirements clearly to technical and non-technical stakeholders.
• Strong organizational skills, attention to detail, commitment to deadlines, and ability to manage multiple priorities while producing high-quality work.
• Strong analytical, problem-solving, and decision-support skills, including identifying environmental trends, permit concerns, compliance risks, and improvement opportunities.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office applications (Word, Excel, PowerPoint).
• Ability to work flexible hours occasionally in response to emergencies, environmental incidents, agency needs, or plant operational requirements.
• Ability to travel occasionally to other AES facilities as business needs require.
• Valid Indiana driver’s license.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience in the electric utility, energy, or power generation industry.
• Demonstrated leadership experience and ability to function effectively with limited supervision in a team-oriented environment.
• Advanced knowledge or direct experience with Title V major source compliance, air emissions reporting, continuous emissions monitoring systems, and related EPA compliance requirements.
• Knowledge and experience with NPDES permits, stormwater compliance, wastewater discharge requirements, point discharges, water sampling, inspections, and reporting.
• Experience with spill remediation, SPCC planning, FRP spill training, DOT regulations, PCB waste disposal, asbestos supervisor training, waste sampling, oil testing procedures, environmental inspections, and audits.
• Experience implementing or maintaining environmental compliance systems, training matrices, audit programs, corrective action tracking, budget management, and performance goals.