Senior Environmental Professional Engineer - Commercial Real Estate Due Diligence

Luxus • New York, NY

1d • Remote

About The Position

SafeGuard AEC is hiring a senior environmental professional to help launch and establish its commercial real estate due diligence practice. The role provides senior technical leadership for environmental due diligence assignments serving commercial real estate lenders, financial institutions, investors, and property owners across the United States. The successful candidate will lead, perform, review, approve, and sign Phase I Environmental Site Assessment (ESA) reports, particularly for transactions involving Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac lending programs, and will serve as a qualified Environmental Professional responsible for report quality and technical oversight.

The position also provides technical oversight and coordination for Property Condition Assessments (PCAs), helps develop technical standards and operating procedures, and contributes to scalable project management and report-delivery systems. The role includes mentoring consultants and field professionals, helping identify future staffing needs, contributing to service development and business growth, and supporting client relationships through technical expertise.

This is a full-time, permanent, remote position open to candidates anywhere in the United States. Travel is required for property assessments, field investigations, and occasional business activities. The posting lists annual base compensation as $170,000–$220,000 in its overview and $170,000–$200,000 in its compensation details. Employee benefits are offered; specific plan details and travel arrangements will be discussed during the interview process.

Requirements

• Extensive professional experience in environmental consulting, commercial real estate due diligence, or environmental assessment services; 15+ years is strongly preferred.
• Demonstrated experience conducting, preparing, reviewing, and signing Phase I Environmental Site Assessment reports.
• Must meet the Environmental Professional definition under 40 CFR § 312.10, including applicable education, licensure, and relevant professional experience requirements.
• Strong understanding of ASTM E1527-21 and EPA All Appropriate Inquiries regulations.
• Direct experience performing environmental due diligence for commercial real estate lending, financing, acquisitions, or refinancing transactions.
• Working knowledge of Fannie Mae and/or Freddie Mac environmental due diligence requirements.
• Experience evaluating environmental risk and communicating findings to lenders, investors, and commercial real estate professionals.
• Ability to independently manage technical assignments and provide professional oversight of environmental reports.
• Excellent technical writing, report review, and quality assurance skills.
• Strong organizational skills and ability to manage multiple projects with demanding transaction deadlines.
• Ability and willingness to travel throughout the United States for field work.
• Ability to work independently in a remote environment while collaborating with clients and internal teams.

Nice To Haves

• Active Professional Engineer (PE) license.
• 15–20+ years of environmental consulting or real estate due diligence experience.
• Extensive experience with Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac multifamily lending transactions.
• Previous experience as a Senior Environmental Professional, Principal Environmental Consultant, Technical Director, or Environmental Due Diligence Practice Leader.
• Bachelor's or master's degree in Environmental Engineering, Civil Engineering, Geology, Environmental Science, or a related field.
• Experience performing environmental assessments for national commercial real estate due diligence consulting firms.
• Familiarity with Property Condition Assessments and ASTM E2018-24.
• Experience working with institutional lenders, mortgage banking organizations, commercial real estate investors, or real estate investment firms.
• Experience developing environmental due diligence service lines or managing technical consulting teams.
• Established relationships within the commercial real estate lending and environmental consulting industries.
• Knowledge of applicable HUD, SBA, or other institutional lender environmental due diligence requirements.

Responsibilities

• Lead, perform, review, approve, and sign Phase I Environmental Site Assessments for commercial real estate transactions nationwide.
• Serve as the designated Environmental Professional providing technical oversight of qualifying Phase I ESA reports.
• Ensure reports comply with ASTM E1527-21, EPA All Appropriate Inquiries requirements, and applicable client standards.
• Conduct and oversee site reconnaissance, historical property research, regulatory database reviews, and environmental risk evaluations.
• Identify and evaluate Recognized Environmental Conditions (RECs), Controlled Recognized Environmental Conditions (CRECs), and Historical Recognized Environmental Conditions (HRECs).
• Prepare technically defensible environmental findings and recommendations for commercial real estate lenders and investors.
• Review environmental concerns involving historical industrial uses, underground storage tanks, hazardous substances, petroleum contamination, and other potential liabilities.
• Recommend Phase II Environmental Site Assessments or additional investigations when warranted.
• Maintain technical accuracy, report quality, regulatory compliance, and project turnaround times.
• Lead environmental due diligence assignments for Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac commercial and multifamily lending transactions.
• Prepare, review, and approve environmental assessment reports that meet applicable agency-specific lender requirements.
• Coordinate with lenders, underwriting representatives, mortgage brokers, and commercial real estate transaction teams.
• Evaluate environmental findings that may affect financing eligibility, underwriting, transaction timelines, or lender risk exposure.
• Respond to lender technical questions, report revision requests, and due diligence concerns.
• Help establish procedures for meeting agency lending and environmental reporting standards.
• Support transactions involving multifamily housing, commercial properties, mixed-use developments, and other institutional real estate assets.
• Provide technical oversight and coordinate Property Condition Assessments for commercial real estate lending and investment transactions.
• Support compliance with ASTM E2018-24 and applicable lender-specific property assessment requirements.
• Coordinate with building assessment professionals and review PCA findings, repair recommendations, and cost estimates.
• Establish technical standards, quality assurance procedures, report templates, and project execution workflows for the new practice.
• Provide senior-level technical direction for environmental assessment projects nationwide.
• Assist leadership in developing scalable project management, report production, and client delivery systems.
• Help identify future staffing needs and mentor environmental consultants and field assessment professionals.
• Contribute to service offerings, operational capabilities, and long-term practice growth strategy.
• Support business development through technical expertise and relationships in the commercial real estate lending industry.
• Travel to properties nationwide to conduct environmental site assessments and property inspections.
• Perform site reconnaissance, document property conditions, interview property representatives, and evaluate potential environmental concerns.
• Coordinate field investigations and third-party assessment activities as needed.
• Work remotely when not conducting field assessments or attending business-related meetings, while supporting time-sensitive transactions and deadlines.

Benefits

• Employee benefits package; specific benefit plan details will be discussed during the interview process.
• Remote work flexibility from anywhere in the United States.
• Long-term professional development and advancement potential.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior
• Education Level: No Education Listed