Air Sustainability Scientist

Summary

Involves developing, implementing, and monitoring environmental and safety programs and policies to ensure compliance with federal, state, and local environmental, health, and safety regulations, and to ensure a safe and sustainable workplace.

Responsible for the  research, collection, analyses of scientific data, development and implementation of procedures and techniques to meet environmental regulatory obligations and permitting requirements. Applies scientific theories to develop new and/or improved products, processes, or technologies and sustainability.

Responsibilities

• Supports Authority staff to ensure that the Authority meets its environmental regulatory obligations and licensing commitments in a sound and cost-efficient manner.  
• Ensures coordination of all attributes of environmental compliance associated with Authority projects and programs 
• Apply advanced knowledge and practice to proposing methodologies for answering regulatory concerns.  Provide sound direction that can be applied in an operating and/or construction environment.
• Responsible for planning own work while coordinating end products with larger, more complex undertakings. 
• Seek out and work with the Law Department, Licensing, Energy Services, Engineering, Project Management and others as appropriate to provide support to accomplish specific tasks within one or more areas of expertise.
• Work independently and must show sufficient initiative to move projects along to completion.  Supervisor guidance is limited to overall objectives and policy issues.
• Maintain currency with evolving state and federal agency regulatory requirements regarding environmental issues and hydropower licensing so as to communicate complex regulations and related environmental management issues to Authority management that could impact Authority operations and/or budgets

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Knowledge of state and federal agency regulations regarding environmental issues, hydropower plants, and fossil fuel plants is required.
• Ability to write concise analyses of alternatives, present the results of deliberation in a concise fashion, and develop consensus within a group of varying disciplines.
• Ability to make independent decisions through the extension of a highest technical understanding of one or more specific facets of environmental management.
• Strong project management and planning skills; ability to manage contractual matters and consultant work efforts, develop and implement work plans, coordinate the activities of all persons involved in projects to ensure on-time products that meet goals.
• Ability to work with colleagues to coordinate environmental compliance efforts related to issues from Authority Operating Facilities, Business Units, the regulatory community  and Authority customers as required.
• Substantial knowledge of other disciplines; capable of representing technical issues associated with the Authority’s interests at senior-level meetings and outside groups.
• Ability to influence decision-making by other disciplines through technical understanding and interpersonal skills.  Leadership is exercised through depth of knowledge.

Education, Experience and Certifications

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent combination of education, training, and experience required.
• Minimum 7 years of experience in Geosciences, Biological Science, Environmental Science, or comparable field .
• Experience in a variety of utility industry issues and environmental permitting with particular expertise in one or more specific environmental area.

Physical Requirements

Up to 30% travel primarily within NY State.