Environmental Manager

The Environmental Manager oversees environmental strategy, permitting execution, and environmental risk management across a portfolio of utility-scale solar and energy storage projects. You will provide leadership for environmental programs, environmental personnel, permitting initiatives, consultant management, and regulatory engagement activities while ensuring environmental considerations are integrated into project development and pre-construction decision making.

• →Lead environmental planning, permitting strategy, and environmental risk management activities across a portfolio of development projects.
• →Manage and prioritize environmental workstreams to support project schedules, development objectives, and portfolio growth targets.
• →Establish environmental permitting strategies and approval pathways that optimize project success and reduce development risk.
• →Provide leadership and oversight to Environmental Specialists, Senior Environmental Specialists, and external environmental consultants.
• →Develop environmental budgets, forecasts, and consultant scopes of work while managing environmental expenditures.
• →Build and maintain strategic relationships with federal, state, and local regulatory agencies, permitting authorities, and environmental stakeholders.
• →Advise senior leadership on environmental risks, permitting challenges, regulatory developments, and project viability considerations.
• →Direct environmental due diligence activities for project acquisitions, market expansions, and new development opportunities.
• →Collaborate with Development, Engineering, Transmission, Land, Legal, and Construction teams to integrate environmental requirements into project planning.
• →Oversee preparation and quality review of environmental studies, permit applications, environmental assessments, and agency submissions.
• →Develop internal standards, processes, and best practices that improve permitting efficiency and environmental risk management across the organization.
• →Escalate and resolve complex environmental issues that could significantly impact project schedules, costs, or development outcomes.
• →Support executive presentations, investment decisions, and project approval processes by providing environmental recommendations and portfolio-level insights.
• →Monitor environmental regulations, policy developments, and industry trends to proactively identify business impacts and opportunities.
• →Collaborate with individual department, as well as cross-functionally with other departments within the organization.
• →Maintain organizational excellence in terms of project timelines and deliverables.
• →Demonstrates the Clēnera Core Values of Caring, Committed, and Courageous.
• →Other duties as assigned.

• Education: Bachelor’s degree in environmental science, environmental planning, biology, ecology, natural resources, geography, or related field.
• Experience: Minimum of 8 years of progressive experience in environmental permitting, environmental consulting, renewable energy development/construction, or related.
• Technology: Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite, and an ability to learn company-specific software programs, tools, processes, and machines.
• Skills/Attributes:
  • Establishes environmental permitting and compliance strategies that support portfolio objectives and long-term project success.
  • Serves as the subject matter expert on environmental regulations and advises leadership on regulatory risks and opportunities.
  • Ability to direct environmental due diligence efforts and integrate environmental risk considerations into business decisions.
  • Proven experience leading all environmental and cultural permitting efforts, not limited to NEPA, CUP, SUP, AQWD, SPCC, FAA and ensure compliance during construction and operations.
  • Experience directing environmental consultants during permitting efforts to create robust and construction sensitive plans to prevent budget and schedule challenges. 
  • Ability to resolve highly complex environmental issues while balancing environmental, business, financial, and schedule considerations.
  • Ability to collect, analyze, and report on EHS data. 
  • Strong ability to communicate environmental strategies, risks, and recommendations to senior leadership and external stakeholders.
  • Develops team capabilities and creates an environment that drives strong environmental performance and continuous improvement.
  • Self-motivated to work through complex problems and competing priorities, including a high level of detail and organization.
  • Effective verbal and written communication skills.