Sr Environmental Specialist (Columbia, MD, US, 21044)

Job Description

W.R. Grace is hiring a Sr. Environmental Specialist based in Columbia, MD who will report to the Corporate, Senior Environmental Manager. The Environmental Specialist will serve as the site's primary environmental resource, partnering closely with Research & Development, Engineering, and Corporate leadership to ensure compliance with federal, state, and local environmental regulations while driving environmental stewardship and operational excellence programs for the Corporate Headquarters in Columbia, MD.  

Responsibilities (1 of 2)

• Maintain compliance with all applicable federal, state, and local environmental regulations and permit requirements, including Clean Air Act (CAA), Clean Water Act (CWA), Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA), and applicable Maryland Department of the Environment (MDE) requirements.
• Manage environmental permits and associated reporting requirements, including Air Permits, Industrial and Stormwater Water Permits, Hazardous Waste programs, Spill Prevention, Control and Countermeasure (SPCC) plans, and other site-specific environmental programs.
• Prepare, submit, and maintain regulatory reports, emissions inventories, hazardous waste reports, permit renewals/modifications, chemical reporting requirements (e.g., TRI, Tier II), certifications, and agency correspondence in a timely and accurate manner.
• Serve as the site's environmental subject matter expert, providing technical guidance on air permitting, waste characterization, waste labeling and classification, wastewater compliance, environmental impact assessments, and regulatory requirements applicable to facility operations and research activities.
• Lead implementation, maintenance, and continuous improvement of environmental management systems, including ISO 14001 elements, compliance assurance programs, and environmental performance metrics.
• Support and participate in Management of Change (MOC) processes to ensure environmental impacts, permitting requirements, regulatory obligations, and sustainability considerations are appropriately evaluated and addressed prior to implementation.

Responsibilities (2 of 2)

• Collaborate with Research & Development, laboratory personnel and engineering to ensure environmental compliance associated with laboratory activities, pilot-scale operations, new processes, and product development initiatives.
• Conduct environmental reviews for new projects, process modifications, and capital investments to identify compliance obligations and environmental risks.
• Coordinate and conduct environmental inspections, compliance assessments, and regulatory audits, ensuring appropriate preparation, response, corrective actions, and closure of findings.
• Establish and maintain positive working relationships with regulatory agencies, consultants, and external stakeholders.
• Support corporate environmental sustainability and ESG initiatives, including greenhouse gas (GHG) tracking, waste reduction, recycling programs, resource conservation initiatives, and environmental performance reporting.
• Develop, monitor, and communicate environmental key performance indicators (KPIs) and compliance metrics to support business objectives and continuous improvement efforts.
• Participate in business continuity planning, emergency response activities, environmental incident investigations, root cause analyses, and corrective action implementation.
• Manage environmental consultants and contractors as needed to support permitting, compliance, remediation, sustainability, and environmental improvement projects.
• Perform other duties and special projects as assigned.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Environmental Science, Chemistry, Chemical Engineering, or a related technical discipline. Equivalent combinations of education and relevant experience may be considered.
• 5+ years of environmental compliance experience in a chemical manufacturing, research and development, specialty chemicals, pharmaceutical, or industrial manufacturing environment.
• Demonstrated experience managing environmental permitting programs, regulatory reporting, and agency interactions.
• Working knowledge of RCRA hazardous waste regulations, air permitting, water permitting, stormwater compliance, and environmental auditing practices.
• Experience participating in or leading Management of Change (MOC) processes.
• Ability to work independently, prioritize multiple projects, and effectively communicate across all levels of the organization.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience supporting Process Safety Management Programs
• Knowledge of ISO 14001 Environmental Management Systems
• Experience with SharePoint and enterprise EHS management systems.

Benefits

• Medical, Dental, Vision Insurance
• Life Insurance and Disability
• Grace Wellness Program
• Flexible Workplace
• Retirement Plans 
• 401(k) Company Match
• Paid Vacation and Holidays
• Parental Leave
• Tuition Reimbursement
• Company Donation Match Program