Lead Environmental Compliance Manager (Owner's Advisor) (Field Based)

ERM • Houston, TX

40d • Onsite

About The Position

ERM is hiring a Lead Environmental Compliance Manager (Owner's Advisor) for the construction of hyperscale data centers across multiple U.S. states. This role involves translating permit conditions and environmental requirements into effective construction practices, partnering with project managers, general contractors, subcontractors, consultants, and the EHS team to identify risks, resolve issues, and improve environmental performance. Success requires strong technical judgment, practical construction experience, and the ability to influence outcomes through trusted working relationships. This is a Full-Time (40+ hours per week) limited-term role with a duration of one (1) year, with potential to extend.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Environmental Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Environmental Science, or equivalent experience preferred.
• Minimum of 8 years of environmental experience, including significant experience supporting large construction or capital projects.
• Demonstrated ability to operate as an owner-side environmental leader, balancing field verification with programmatic oversight.
• Strong working knowledge of construction-phase environmental compliance domains such as stormwater, spill prevention, waste management, air and dust controls.
• Extensive hyperscale data center construction experience preferred; substantial experience with large-scale industrial construction is also acceptable.
• Strong working knowledge of U.S. environmental requirements and experience applying permit conditions across multiple state and local jurisdictions.
• Proven ability to translate environmental requirements into practical execution through others.
• Experience influencing CM and contractor performance and driving accountability without direct line authority.
• Strong communication skills, including the ability to deliver concise, executive-level updates using metrics and risk-based insights.
• Experience conducting environmental audits or assessments and verifying effective corrective action closure.
• High standards for documentation quality, data integrity, and compliance reporting.
• Ability to travel extensively based on project location demands.

Nice To Haves

• Familiarity with environmental management system concepts and continuous improvement practices preferred.

Responsibilities

• Provide owner-side environmental compliance leadership across the project, ensuring alignment with applicable local, state, and federal requirements and client expectations.
• Establish and maintain a clear, project-specific environmental compliance framework that defines requirements, roles, and interfaces to guide CM and contractor execution.
• Maintain strong field presence to validate that environmental controls, practices, and behaviors align with approved plans and permit obligations.
• Perform quality checks of contractor and CM environmental inspections and documentation, confirming inspections are occurring at the appropriate cadence and are effective.
• Coach CM and contractor teams on environmental findings, gaps, and emerging risks, driving timely and sustainable corrective actions without direct authority.
• Identify, assess, and prioritize environmental risks through regulatory aspect and gap reviews, recommending risk-based mitigation strategies.
• Support development, review, and continuous improvement of project environmental plans and procedures to ensure they are executable and field-ready.
• Partner with client environmental SMEs and permitting resources to ensure construction activities remain aligned with permit conditions and reporting expectations.
• Develop, track, and communicate environmental performance metrics, trends, and key risks to project and executive leadership.
• Participate in environmental incident and spill investigations, ensuring appropriate containment, root cause identification, and preventive actions.
• Coordinate with waste vendors and site teams to support compliant waste handling, profiling, storage, and disposal practices.
• Support chemical inventory management and applicable regulatory reporting by ensuring data accuracy and clear ownership for updates.
• Serve as a primary point of contact for environmental questions requiring practical judgment related to changing scope, sequencing, or site conditions.
• Support environmental readiness for startup and commissioning by verifying environmental requirements are integrated into transition plans.

Benefits

• ERM welcomes and encourages applications from people with disabilities. Reasonable accommodations are available on request for candidates taking part in all aspects of the selection process.
• ERM is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, religion, color, national origin, sex, age, Indigenous identity, or status as a protected veteran or qualified individual with a disability.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior