Position Overview
The Environmental Air Manager is responsible for ensuring refinery compliance with all applicable air quality regulations while supporting safe, reliable, and optimized operations. This role bridges regulatory requirements with day-to-day refinery and logistics activities, providing technical expertise on emissions, permitting, monitoring systems, and continuous improvement of environmental performance.
This position requires strong working knowledge of refinery processes, emissions sources, and U.S. EPA and state-level air regulations, along with the ability to influence operations, maintenance, and project teams.
Reporting to this role is the Senior Environmental Technician.
Key Responsibilities
Regulatory Compliance & Reporting
* Ensure compliance with federal, state, and local air regulations (e.g., Clean Air Act, NSPS, NESHAP/MACT, Title V permits).
* Prepare and submit required reports (e.g., emissions inventories, deviation reports, semi-annual/annual compliance certifications).
* Interpret regulatory requirements and translate them into actionable site procedures and controls.
* Interface with regulatory agencies during inspections, audits, and enforcement actions.
Air Permitting
* Lead and support air permit applications, modifications, and renewals (Title V, NSR/PSD etc).
* Evaluate operational or project changes for permitting applicability and impacts for both refining and logistics.
* Develop emissions calculations and air dispersion modeling (as needed).
* Support capital projects by ensuring air compliance requirements are embedded early in design.
Emissions Monitoring & Data Management
* Oversee Continuous Emissions Monitoring Systems (CEMS) and other monitoring programs (LDAR, fence line monitoring, etc.) for refining and logistics.
* Ensure data accuracy, validation, and timely reporting.
* Investigate and resolve emissions exceedances, excursions, and monitoring issues. Support Operations to create solutions.
* Maintain emissions tracking systems and compliance databases.
Operational Support
* Provide day-to-day guidance to operations on air compliance requirements and constraints.
* Participate in incident investigations related to emissions events or permit deviations.
* Support startup, shutdown, and maintenance planning to minimize environmental impact.
* Partner with maintenance and reliability teams to improve performance of emissions control equipment.
Continuous Improvement & Strategy
* Identify opportunities to reduce emissions and improve environmental performance.
* Support implementation of Best Available Control Technologies (BACT) and best operational practices.
* Track and analyze emissions trends to drive proactive compliance strategies.
* Contribute to long-term environmental planning and sustainability initiatives.
Audits & Governance
* Lead or support internal and external environmental audits.
* Ensure readiness for regulatory inspections and corporate reviews.
* Maintain documentation systems to demonstrate compliance.
* Support consent decree or enforcement-related requirements, if applicable.
Qualifications
Required
* Bachelor’s degree in Chemical Engineering or associated degree.
* 5–10 years of environmental experience in refining, petrochemical, or similar industry.
* Strong knowledge of:
o Clean Air Act programs (Title V, NSPS, NESHAP/MACT)
o Emissions calculations and reporting
o Air permitting processes
* Experience working directly with refinery operations and process units.
* Familiarity with CEMS, LDAR programs, and emissions control technologies.
* Strong analytical, problem-solving, and communication skills.
Preferred
* Experience with air dispersion modeling (e.g., AERMOD).
* Knowledge of refinery-specific emission sources (FCCU, boilers, flares, sulfur recovery units).
* Experience with environmental compliance software systems.
* Prior experience supporting regulatory negotiations or enforcement actions.
Key Competencies
* Regulatory Expertise: Deep understanding of complex air regulations and how they apply operationally.
* Operational Awareness: Ability to translate compliance into practical refinery actions.
* Influence & Collaboration: Works effectively with operations, maintenance, and leadership.
* Attention to Detail: Ensures accuracy in reporting and compliance documentation.
* Problem Solving: Proactively identifies and mitigates compliance risks.
Work Environment
* Combination of office and field environment within an operating refinery or pipeline.
* Requires routine field visits, including climbing structures and working around process units.
* May require occasional off-hours support during outages, startups, or environmental events.
