Environmental Compliance and Hazardous Materials Manager

Cornell University•Ithaca, MI

22h•$112,825 - $137,897•Onsite

About The Position

Cornell University’s Department of Environment, Health and Safety (EHS) provides programs and services supporting healthy, safe, and environmentally responsible practices for the university community. The Environmental Compliance and Hazardous Materials Manager leads university-wide hazardous waste handling and disposal, including staff and contractor services, and provides strategic operational and technical oversight to ensure chemical, biological, and radiological waste is managed legally and safely. The role oversees contracts, regulatory submissions, documentation, compliance metrics, staffing, waste facilities, and emergency response. It also provides backup support for hazardous materials technicians and waste operations. The manager provides engineering and operational oversight for chemical and radiological remediation sites in the Town of Lansing, including closed disposal sites and groundwater remediation systems. The role coordinates operations and maintenance to meet regulatory requirements, budgets, and site objectives; works with regulatory agencies; manages consultant scopes, fees, and schedules; and serves as Engineer of Record, providing engineering oversight and signatory support or coordinating required professional engineering sign-off. The position supervises hazardous waste staff, an inactive hazardous waste site manager, and an environmental program specialist responsible for chemical and petroleum bulk storage. Supervisory duties include assigning and advising on work, coaching, staff development, encouraging teamwork, and completing annual performance and development processes. The manager provides timely environmental technical and regulatory support to project teams, assessing project designs and approvals, waste hazards, storm-water design, sanitary discharges, air impacts, and compliance at university facilities and operations. The role develops and leads the University Solid and Hazardous Waste and Petroleum and Chemical Storage compliance programs, including policies, procedures, training, and education. It works with university stakeholders and external agencies to maintain compliance, anticipate regulatory changes, and promote environmental, health, and safety stewardship. The position serves on Cornell EHS incident response and hazardous materials spill response teams, providing subject-matter expertise during and outside normal work hours, participating in drills, and responding to hazardous materials releases. The role requires the ability to serve as a Hazmat Technician/Specialist and to complete required HAZWOPER training. The position is based onsite in Ithaca, New York. Visa sponsorship and relocation assistance are not available.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in engineering with an environmental focus.
Five to seven years of experience, or an equivalent combination with an applicable advanced degree, including demonstrated experience in site remediation, wastewater and industrial pretreatment programs, storm-water permitting and inspections, and project management.
At least two years of supervisory experience.
Demonstrated proficiency with Microsoft Office, at minimum Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.
Excellent written and oral communication skills.
A record of completing work on time and within budget.
Experience working directly with external agencies.
Strong working knowledge of applicable environmental regulations, including EPA, NYSDEC, DOT, OSHA, and NFPA regulations.
Valid New York State driver’s license and ability to maintain it. Out-of-state employees must obtain and provide proof of a New York State license within 30 days of starting employment.
Ability to obtain a valid New York State commercial driver’s license with hazardous materials endorsement.
Ability to pass a pre-employment physical and be medically cleared to wear respiratory protection and other personal protective equipment for hazardous materials responder work.
OSHA 40-hour HAZWOPER certification, annual 8-hour HAZWOPER refresher training, and 8-hour HAZWOPER supervisor training.
RCRA hazardous waste training.
DOT hazardous materials transportation and shipping training.
Ability to understand cultural differences.
Ability to serve as a Hazmat Technician/Specialist, mitigate hazardous materials releases, and complete HAZWOPER supervisor training.

Nice To Haves

New York State-registered Professional Engineer, or ability to obtain registration within six months.
Experience working for a corporate environmental office, environmental consulting firm, or regulatory agency.
Experience leading teams and managing projects involving environmental compliance activities.
Ability to write corrective action plans.
Experience interpreting environmental regulations and applying them to compliance assurance at university facilities.
Specific interest and demonstrated experience in environmental projects, with the ability to produce technically sound documentation and communicate results concerning complex environmental assessments.
Interest in developing a stewardship relationship with the Cornell campus and community.
Experience with computation programs for air emissions and storm-water calculations.

Responsibilities

Supervise and manage staff and contractors who handle and dispose of hazardous waste across the university and outlying facilities.
Develop, implement, and oversee safe and legally compliant management processes for chemical, biological, and radiological waste.
Select and manage hazardous waste disposition contracts.
Oversee regulatory submissions, including permits, renewals, and compliance reports, and maintain documentation for compliance, audit readiness, and accountability.
Collect and compile operational and compliance metrics; schedule staff to meet program and legal requirements; and ensure handling and storage facilities are available and maintained.
Provide backup support for hazardous materials technicians and waste operations.
Provide engineering and operational oversight for chemical and radiological remediation sites and closed waste disposal sites and groundwater remediation systems in the Town of Lansing.
Coordinate with operations and maintenance personnel to meet regulatory requirements, budgets, and annual site goals.
Work with external regulatory agencies to determine ongoing requirements and meet remediation site objectives.
Manage consultant scopes, fees, and schedules, and coordinate professional agreements with Cornell offices or Procurement.
Serve as Engineer of Record for remediation sites, provide engineering oversight and signatory support, or coordinate professional engineer sign-off as required.
Serve as backup to site operations and maintenance personnel.
Supervise hazardous waste staff, the inactive hazardous waste site manager, and the environmental program specialist for chemical and petroleum bulk storage; delegate assignments, coach staff, support staff development, and promote teamwork.
Conduct annual Personal Dialogues and prepare Individual Development Plans.
Provide project support and technical and regulatory analysis for environmental design and approvals, including waste hazard assessments, storm-water calculations, sanitary discharge calculations, and air impact analyses.
Review proposed projects for environmental and EHS requirements; assess environmental aspects and compliance status of facilities, projects, and operations; and document assessments in a timely manner.
Develop and lead university solid and hazardous waste and petroleum and chemical storage compliance programs, including policies, procedures, training, and education initiatives.
Collaborate with university stakeholders and external agencies to maintain compliance, anticipate regulatory changes, integrate policies, and promote environmental, health, and safety stewardship.
Respond to and oversee hazardous materials emergencies and serve as an EHS incident response subject-matter expert during and outside normal work hours.
Participate in hazardous materials drills and training and serve on the hazardous materials emergency spill response team as a Hazmat Technician/Specialist.
Attend staff development training and participate in Cornell’s performance evaluation process.