Environmental Specialist/Engineer

About the position

This position within Southern Company Services (SCS) Research, Environment & Sustainability (RE&S) organization provides support to the Air and Climate team within the Air, Climate and Land Policy group and assists Southern Company's engagement in environmental rulemaking and legislation involving greenhouse gas, air, clean air act regulatory issues and renewable energy policy developments. The Environmental Specialist/Engineer will support Southern Company's operating companies (OPCOs) environmental affairs organizations in specific issues related to air and climate policy, permitting and compliance. Responsibilities will include monitoring and participating in the regulatory development process for environmental rules affecting air and climate compliance activities, communicating new developments/interpretations to operating company personnel and assisting in environmental compliance efforts, and supporting a coordinated system strategy with regard to EPA's rulemaking agenda. In addition, this position may be called upon to represent the Company in national industry groups and forums and to engage employees across numerous functional areas, including planning, fuels, permitting, technical shared services, research and development, commercial operations and external affairs.

Responsibilities

• Provide support and expertise related to air and climate policy and compliance to internal and external customers
• Support the Company's engagement in federal air and climate policy development
• Support Company's advocacy efforts for federal policy in conjunction with the Washington office
• Actively participate in appropriate industry, research and policy advocacy associations
• Support leadership efforts to ensure adequate and appropriate customer communications across all levels of the Company and OPCOs

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in engineering or relevant scientific discipline from an accredited 4-year college required
• 5 years of work experience in Environmental Consulting, Regulatory, Environmental Affairs, External Affairs, Ethics and Compliance, Legal, Trade Associations, or Operations
• Experience in environmental policy, permitting or compliance required
• Knowledge of federal/state environmental regulatory and legislative processes related to air and climate media
• Ability to effectively communicate, both verbally and in writing, complex topics to internal and external audiences
• Ability to read, comprehend and summarize complex environmental regulations
• Ability to influence people with facts and reasoning
• Demonstrate technical and business writing skills
• Strong analytical, problem solving and decision-making abilities
• Ability to work independently without day-to-day direction
• Proficient in computer and software packages (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook)
• Ability to think strategically and display customer focus
• Ability to work in a team environment with diverse disciplines and backgrounds

Nice-to-haves

• Master's degree and professional certificates in related field desired
• Knowledge of electric utility industry, electric generation and transmission and distribution desired
• Experience with OPCOs and interface with regulatory agencies desired
• Demonstrate strong initiative and interpersonal skills
• Demonstrate strong project management and organizational skills

Benefits

• Competitive base salary
• Annual incentive awards for eligible employees
• Health, welfare and retirement benefits designed to support physical, financial, and emotional/social well-being