Corporate Environmental Manager

Ascend Elements is seeking a full-time Corporate Environmental Manager based in Covington, GA. The role involves leading environmental programs, ensuring compliance with regulations, and developing pollution control strategies. Responsibilities include overseeing environmental data collection, managing projects, and collaborating with regulators. The ideal candidate should have a passion for environmental conservation and problem-solving skills to support the company's sustainable battery production initiatives.
Ascend Elements is revolutionizing the production of lithium-ion battery materials by establishing a clean and sustainable supply chain using recycled feedstock. Its patented Hydro-to-Cathode™ technology directly synthesizes new cathode materials from spent lithium-ion cells more efficiently than traditional methods, resulting in reduced cost, improved performance, and lowered GHG emissions. The results are lower cost, better performance batteries with fewer discarded in landfill, a cleaner manufacturing process, and a truly sustainable closed-loop circular battery economy. Ascend Elements is taking the lithium-ion battery industry to a higher level.

Ascend Elements is looking forward to adding a new Corporate Environmental Manager based in Covington, Georgia to our excellent Operations team. This position will be a full-time corporate Environmental Manager position and will have the opportunity to shape and lead a rapidly growing company. We are looking for creative problem solvers with an affinity for environmental conservation for the role of Environmental Manager. Ascend is looking for an Environmental Manager that will be responsible for designing technology to assist in environmental permitting, conservation, assessing the impact of our commercial activities, and advising policymakers on environmental best practices, among other duties.

Responsibilities include but not limited to:

The key component of this role will be to develop, lead, and facilitate the environmental programs to maintain compliance with the environmental rules and regulations from local, state and federal agencies. Responsibilities will include:
• Lead team of internal and 3rd party efforts in the design and execution of pollution control and waste management strategies for new lines and facilities in the US and Europe.
• Oversee the collection, review, and assess environmental data to maintain company compliance with environmental permits, licenses, and regulations.
• Lead and collaborate with corporate and local AE staff to maintain company-specific electronic report tracking requirements (e.g., DOT, testing, SDS database, injury reporting, Tier II, waste records, air and wastewater, etc.).
• Develop and maintain rapport with regulators and government agencies to foster a working relationship.
• Lead, design, and implement an environmental conservation management program.
• Assess design projects to comply with environmental and health regulations.
• Coordinate and manage environmental projects, including contractor and consultant activities.
• Participate in departmental and company goals in short- and long-range planning activities.
• Support all aspects of permitting and compliance with multiple operating units and potential multi-media responsibilities (e.g. coordination with water/wastewater, hazardous waste, air).
• Interpret and implement state and federal regulations and compliance programs at the unit and site levels.
• Provide guidance and advice for specific manufacturing lines during process design to comply with air, water and waste permit limits and regulations.
• Integrate new permit and regulatory changes across assigned units.
• Oversee the completion of regulatory reports as required (Title V, City, SPDES, NPDES); Federal reporting responsibilities; potentially support some multi-media reports including Discharge Monitoring Reports (DMR) and SARA Tier 2.
• Perform field walkthroughs and support EHS responsibilities.
• Collaborate with unit operational personnel on projects and improvements.
• Responsible for on-call and emergency support for all manufacturing plants.
• Travel (up to 50%) is expected to fulfill this role.
• Perform other duties as identified.

Education and Other Qualifications:
• Degree in Environmental or Chemical Engineering. Master's degree preferred. Will consider a bachelor's degree in other Engineering specialties as well, or 20+ years of experience.
• PE (Professional Engineering) license, preferred.
• Strong, and proven, experience in working with state and local regulatory agencies.
• Strong, and proven, experience in obtaining federal, state and local permits.
• Analytical mindset and good problem-solving skills.
• Excellent written communication and proficiency with technical reports.
• At least three years of chemical plant experience with a focus on air and wastewater compliance.
• 5+ years of direct environmental permitting and regulatory compliance experience.
• Strong experience and working knowledge base of air, water and wastewater state permitting and state regulatory requirements and federal environmental regulations.
• Strong experience and working knowledge of emission event regulations and reporting requirements to regulatory agencies.
• Strong experience and working knowledge of wastewater permitting and recordkeeping requirements, effluent exceedance events and reporting requirements to regulatory agencies.
• Strong leadership skills.
• Must possess strong Microsoft Excel specifically, Microsoft suite and overall computer skills.
• Effective interpersonal and communication skills.
• Ability to work in a plant environment in multiple states and countries and wear required PPE including an air-purifying respirator, as needed.

Considered A Plus:
• Experience in chemical batch processing
• Knowledge of air dispersion modeling and Modeling and Effects Review Applicability (MERA) .
• Wastewater operator certified

Ascend Elements is an equal opportunity employer, and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.