Compliance Manager

The Altavista Biomass Power Station is a renewable energy facility located in the Lynchburg, Virginia metro region, in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains near Smith Mountain Lake. The 51 MW facility is equipped with two B&W boilers, a Mitsubishi steam turbine, and an Alstom generator to produce electricity from biomass feedstocks. The station is owned by a regulated electric utility, with which NAES has a long-standing operating relationship. The plant is included in the utility's long-range resource plans and is forecasted to operate for at least the next 20 years, providing reliable renewable generation to the region.

Opportunity Summary

The Compliance Manager is responsible for implementing, coordinating, and executing regulatory support functions for the plant. The role ensures environmental, health, and safety activities are performed safely, efficiently, and in full compliance with applicable laws, regulations, permit conditions, internal policies, and community commitments. The individual will lead the station's Compliance Program and oversee overall EHS compliance, while building and maintaining effective working relationships with plant leadership and employees, regulators, corporate partners, community members, and other key stakeholders.

Primary Duties 

Environmental

• Develop, coordinate, oversee, and implement daily environmental programs, policies, and procedures to ensure compliance with all federal, state, local, and site permit and regulatory requirements, in accordance with Owner direction.

• Ensure day-to-day environmental compliance at the plant, including all required monitoring, recordkeeping, and reporting activities.

• Oversee Continuous Emissions Monitoring System (CEMS) operation, data collection, validation, and reporting in accordance with permit requirements.

• Prepare or oversee the preparation of all routine and non-routine environmental reports submitted to regulatory agencies, ensuring accuracy and timeliness.

• Conduct routine environmental self-assessments using established protocols to ensure ongoing compliance with site requirements, commitments, and procedures.

• Serve as the primary interface with the Owner's environmental group, supporting coordination with local environmental regulators.

• Collaborate with the Owner to prepare for and support regulatory inspections, respond to information requests, and assist with permit renewals, modifications, and regulatory negotiations.

• Manage or support, under Owner guidance, the preparation of permit renewals and modifications and the resolution of environmental enforcement actions.

• Maintain the Environmental Quality, Notification, and Compliance (QNQC) Manual and ensure compliance with all applicable environmental regulatory requirements.

• Select and manage environmental consultants, under Owner guidance, for specialized technical support; define scope, schedule, and budget, and manage deliverables.

• Maintain all environmental records in accordance with Owner-established procedures and regulatory requirements.

• Assess environmental and regulatory impacts associated with changes to plant operations and provide guidance to plant leadership.

• Prepare and manage the annual environmental budget, ensuring expenditures remain within approved limits.

• Identify and propose opportunities to reduce environmental risk and operating costs.

NERC

• Perform the duties of the station's NERC Compliance Manager, overseeing and coordinating all NERC-related compliance requirements for the facility.

• Maintain NERC training records for all plant personnel in accordance with Owner requirements.

• Coordinate with the Maintenance Manager to ensure all NERC-mandated testing and maintenance activities are completed on time and properly documented.

• Update and maintain the NERC compliance calendar, NCAIR reporting documentation, and associated compliance tracking tools.

• Conduct monthly audits of NERC requirements related to operations and maintenance activities.

• Ensure plant NERC procedures, policies, and documentation remain current and compliant with applicable standards.

• Provide NERC-related training and guidance to plant personnel as requirements are updated or revised.

• Support audits and compliance reviews by preparing accurate, technically sound documentation and responses.

NAES Safe

Safety is a core value of NAES and as a condition of employment, all employees are expected to be mentally alert and work safely at all times. All NAES managers and supervisors have a direct and important role in ensuring that all work is performed in a healthy and safe manner. Effectiveness in carrying out this responsibility is part of the evaluation of each Supervisor's performance. This includes, but is not limited to, the following functions:

• Facilitate and support the NAES Safe program, NAES Safe guidelines and NAES Safe core values
• Facilitate and administer the employee safety program and site contractor orientations
• Conduct routine site walk-downs to perform housekeeping inspections, identify potential hazards, and conduct one-on-one contact sessions with workers to discuss safety issues
• Maintain safety data sheets (SDSs) and interpret for safe handling and disposal of chemicals
• Respond to Incidents including, but not limited to, injuries, incidents and near misses; write a report that explains what happened, identify the cause and recommend corrective action; follow-up as necessary to ensure that corrective action is taken.
• Ensure LOTO, confined space, machine guarding, PPE, mechanical integrity programs, management of change programs, and chemical safety compliance are understood, followed, and properly adhered to.
• Act as liaison between plant and regulatory agencies
• Provide safety and compliance guidance to employees and contractors during plant equipment outages.
• Monitor and implement new and changing OSHA regulations
• Interface with Operations and Maintenance Management teams including the I&C and Laboratory Department with their respective regulatory emphasis to ensure that appropriate and adequate documentation is acquired, maintained and reported as required.
• Maintain various facets of the Company's Environmental Management System (EMS) including but not limited to the EHS filing system, the Obligations Tracking System (OTS) and X Files (OSHA & regulatory-mandated training records).
• Perform other duties as assigned

Working Relationships

The Compliance Manager reports to the Plant Manager. Maintains a close working relationship with NAES Corporate Safety, Environmental and NERC Support Services as well as Client Corporate contacts.

Physical Requirements and Working Conditions

Physical requirements include standing for extended periods of time, climbing stairs and ladders, working from elevated platforms and walkways at varying heights, and routinely lifting up to 50 pounds.

Power plant environment that may involve entering confined spaces, crawling through narrow areas, and handling hazardous materials, with exposure to fumes, extreme temperatures, and noise. Work may include high heat near equipment and varying outdoor weather conditions.

Some duties may require the use of protective equipment, which can include hard hats, safety glasses, and eye protection, air masks/respirators, ear protection, chemical suits, flame-resistant clothing (FRC), hot gloves, high-voltage protective gear, and fall protection. Fit testing for respirators may be required. Strict smoking restrictions apply in and around the facility.

Fitness for Duty

All employees will participate in the Fitness for Duty Program. This program includes a post-offer physical examination and drug screening and post-employment random drug screening. 

Work Schedule

Regular workdays are from Monday to Friday, within standard dayshift hours. However, the position may necessitate extended working hours and flexible shifts as needed, including weekends and holidays, in response to schedules, workload demands, and plant conditions. Periodic callouts may also be necessary as part of the role.

Compensation

The starting compensation for this position ranges from $128,000 to $179,000, based on skills, qualifications, and experience. The Altavista Biomass Power Station also offers an annual performance bonus.

Job Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Environmental Sciences or a related field, or comparable experience at responsible levels, required.

• Environmental compliance experience in operating facilities preferred, ideally within a power plant or power-related industry.

• General knowledge of power plant operations, including the relationship between environmental impacts and operations and maintenance activities.

• Working knowledge of major environmental legislation related to air, water, hazardous materials, and waste management, with at least one area of specialized regulatory expertise.

• Strong oral and written communication skills, along with effective planning and organizational abilities.

• Proven ability to work effectively as a team leader with strong interpersonal skills.

• Demonstrated success in building consensus among internal and external stakeholders.

• Ability to manage multiple, varied tasks in an industrial environment and to promptly identify and analyze complex compliance risks.

• Working familiarity with NERC rules and regulations is highly desirable but not required; experience with electrical relay maintenance, IT security, and regulatory reporting is a plus.

• Must possess and maintain a valid Driver's License at all times.

About NAES

NAES Corporation is the leading provider of operations, maintenance, and engineering services for energy facilities. We have established ourselves as a reliable partner for clients in North America and internationally, offering services across power generation, oil and gas, and renewable energy sectors. Additionally, our growing family of companies enables us to address the entire life cycle of power generation and other industrial plants.

NAES is committed to a diverse and inclusive workplace. It is the practice of NAES to seek employees of the highest quality and to select individuals on the basis of merit and competence, without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, disability, military status or affiliation protected under USERRA, or any other basis of discrimination prohibited by applicable local, state and federal law.