Senior Associate, HSSE
About The Position
Reporting to the VP, HSSE, the Senior Associate, HSSE serves as the senior regional Health, Safety, Security & Environmental (HSSE) subject matter expert supporting TerraForm Power's operating and development assets. This role provides strategic technical leadership across multiple wind, solar, battery energy storage (BESS), and construction projects by developing, implementing, and continuously improving HSSE programs that strengthen organizational safety culture, ensure regulatory compliance, and reduce operational risk. The Senior Associate partners directly with Operations, Engineering, Development, Construction, and Executive Leadership to influence business decisions, improve operational performance, and drive enterprise-wide continuous improvement initiatives. The role independently leads complex investigations, develops regional HSSE strategies, mentors other HSSE professionals, and serves as the primary technical advisor on regulatory, environmental, and occupational safety matters.
Requirements
- Bachelor's degree in Occupational Safety, Environmental Science, Engineering, Industrial Hygiene, or a related field.
- Minimum 8 years of progressive HSSE experience supporting renewable energy, utility, construction, or heavy industrial operations.
- Demonstrated experience leading regional HSSE programs, conducting complex incident investigations, and implementing risk management and continuous improvement initiatives.
- Strong working knowledge of OSHA regulations, environmental compliance requirements, and HSSE management systems.
- Proven ability to influence cross-functional leaders, manage multiple priorities, and communicate effectively with all levels of the organization.
- Valid driver's license and ability to travel throughout the assigned territory.
Nice To Haves
- Professional safety certification (e.g., CSP, ASP, CIH, CHMM) is preferred.
Responsibilities
- Serve as the senior regional HSSE advisor supporting Operations leadership across multiple renewable energy facilities and construction projects.
- Lead the regional implementation, governance, and continuous improvement of TerraForm's HSSE Management System.
- Develop regional HSSE improvement strategies that align with corporate objectives while addressing operational risks unique to assigned business units.
- Translate regulatory requirements into practical operational standards and provide guidance on emerging regulatory developments.
- Lead complex HSSE audits, compliance assessments, operational reviews, and management system evaluations across operating facilities.
- Analyze leading and lagging safety indicators, audit findings, near misses, and incident trends to identify systemic risks and develop proactive mitigation strategies.
- Design, implement, and evaluate corrective and preventive action programs to improve overall organizational safety performance.
- Conduct enterprise-level operational risk assessments for maintenance activities, capital projects, and new asset integration.
- Lead investigations involving serious injuries, high-potential events, environmental incidents, regulatory matters, and significant property damage.
- Facilitate root cause analyses using recognized investigation methodologies and ensure corrective actions are effectively implemented.
- Recommend long-term improvements that address systemic organizational risks rather than isolated incidents.
- Serve as the recognized technical resource for OSHA regulations, environmental compliance, contractor safety, and renewable energy industry best practices.
- Develop and maintain regional HSSE standards, procedures, guidance documents, and operational best practices.
- Provide technical consultation to Operations, Engineering, Construction, Procurement, and Development teams throughout the project lifecycle.
- Mentor HSSE Specialists and provide technical coaching to operational leaders, supervisors, and project teams.
- Lead cross-functional initiatives to improve organizational safety culture, operational excellence, and contractor performance.
- Build collaborative relationships with regulatory agencies, external consultants, contractors, and industry organizations.
- Represent TerraForm during regulatory inspections, customer audits, and external HSSE assessments.
- Identify opportunities to improve organizational HSSE maturity through process optimization, technology adoption, and operational best practices.
- Develop business cases supporting new safety initiatives, technologies, and capital investments.
- Measure effectiveness of HSSE initiatives and present recommendations to senior leadership.
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Senior
