Environmental Engineer

Location:

10747 Renner Boulevard, Lenexa, KS, 66219, United States

Employment Type:

FT Exempt

Required_Degreee:

4 Year Degree

Minimum Experience

4 Years

Contact Information:

- Name: Karen King

- Email: kking@waterone.org

Description:

The purpose of this position is to serve as a Sustainability and Environmental Engineer, developing initiatives and leading projects that support the sustainability goals identified by the organization. The individual will serve as a technical resource, identify opportunities to implement sustainable engineering and operational practices, aiming to reduce embedded carbon in infrastructure and decrease greenhouse gas emissions. They will also develop and track organization-wide sustainability metrics. The individual also performs or assists with project management and construction management duties, inspection of work, various levels of field investigations, and review of consulting engineers’ designs. Oversee various environmental and regulatory compliance programs and reporting related to facility operations and maintenance activities, including Spill Prevention Control and Countermeasures (SPCC), air quality, hazardous waste, Tier II, and water use reporting. The Sustainability and Environmental Engineer serves, when assigned, in a consulting capacity to other departments in technical engineering matters.

Essential Functions

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Engineering Projects

- Ensures that projects are properly accomplished by providing, under supervision, technical design and progress assistance based on sound engineering principles.

- Ensures accurate engineering drawings by providing engineering assistance to other staff members.

- Ensures completion of all projects on time by complying with project schedules based on project priorities and target dates. Strive to keep all projects within established budgetary parameters.

- Drafts comprehensive specifications to ensure the best price for materials, services, and equipment. This may include value analysis and recommendations on purchasing.

- Assists other departments by providing technical engineering opinions and data.

- Coordinates assignments with consulting engineers and governmental agencies as applicable. Assist with construction management, inspections, and other fieldwork, and review of consulting engineers’ design work.

- Administers construction contracts through the design, specifications, contract documents, bidding, construction phase, pay estimates, and change order documentation.

- Advises WaterOne crews on technical matters while carrying out projects the engineer may have designed.

- Analyzes and interprets distribution system hydraulic model data. Analyze system pressure records for response to customer inquiries.

- Assists with developing and maintaining design and installation criteria and standards for WaterOne facilities.

- Provides estimates of anticipated costs for improvement projects for annual budgeting purposes.

- Maintains communications with professionals and governmental representatives regarding WaterOne’s facilities and systems.

Sustainability

- Serves as the organization's sustainability expert, acting as a resource and partner to all divisions.

- Develops initiatives that meet the organization’s sustainability goals including improving energy efficiency, renewable energy management, characterizing/reducing carbon footprint and greenhouse gas emissions.

- Develop sustainability metrics such as energy and chemical usage, recycled content, and waste diversion. Track organizational performance with periodic status updates to leadership.

- Uses analytics and reporting mechanisms for monitoring sustainability performance, including forecasting emissions and other established sustainability metrics profiles used for determining and ranking improvement opportunities, goal setting, and benchmarking.

- Plans, administers, and leads in the preparation of third-party sustainability certification applications (e.g., LEED or Envision) for significant capital projects.

- Benchmark water industry peer data related to sustainability and perform a comparative analysis.

- Leads the completion of sustainability reporting, including greenhouse gas emission inventory and reporting.

- Explores opportunities to improve sustainability performance through renewable energy, waste/energy reduction, etc.

- Calculates power requirements for various mechanical, chemical, water process, and pumping systems. Recommend operational and capital improvements to improve energy efficiency.

- Participates in industry groups and develops relationships with industry peers to further the organization’s understanding of the sustainability landscape within the water and energy sector.

Environmental Compliance

- Performs site visits, training, report preparations for various environmental and regulatory compliance programs including Spill Prevention Control and Countermeasures (SPCC), air quality, hazardous waste, Tier II.

- Related to environmental compliance programs, acts as site representative during audits by or other interactions with federal and state environmental agencies and respond to requests or notifications from environmental agencies.

- Maintains a solid understanding of water utility operations and their applicable EPA compliance requirements to permit facilities.

- Maintains communications with professionals and governmental representatives in matters relating to WaterOne’s facilities and systems.

Other Duties- Ensures understanding between WaterOne and outside organizations using objectivity, experience, and communication.

- Performs all duties of hazardous waste operations per all applicable requirements.

- Perform other job duties as assigned.

Customer Service Commitment

WaterOne employees shall continuously strive to meet or exceed the expectations of both their internal and external customers. Questions and concerns shall be acknowledged on the same day whenever possible, but no later than the next business day. Issues shall be resolved as promptly as possible, with the goal of maximizing customer satisfaction.

Required Education & Experience- Bachelor’s degree in Civil or Environmental Engineering or other closely related field.

- Professional Engineering license in the State of Kansas or ability to obtain through reciprocity within six months.

- Four years experience in engineering and technical work, preferably with a water utility.

- One sustainability professional credential such as Envision Sustainability Professional by the Institute of Sustainable Infrastructure, LEED Green Associate by the US Green Building Council, or other relevant sustainability-focus credential.

Required Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities- Knowledge of EPA regulations and KDHE Bureau of Air, Bureau of Waste, and Bureau of Water regulatory programs pertaining to water utilities.

- Ability to learn and apply all applicable requirements of hazardous waste operations.

- Strong knowledge of pumping, water, and power distribution, and building systems.

- Strong communication skills both orally and in writing.

- Thorough knowledge of engineering theory and practice.

- Ability to approach problem-solving in a logical manner.

- Well organized and able to set priorities.

- Ability to work on several projects concurrently.

- Assimilate information from several sources to complete a project.

- Excellent judgment and innovative thinking, with a proactive approach to solving issues.

- Ability to respond to occasional emergencies outside of regular working hours.

- Maintain good working relationships and be teamwork oriented.

- Grasp of current issues affecting water utilities is desired.

- Knowledge of water utility construction standards and Contracting issues in the construction industry is desired.

- An understanding of water utility construction contract document preparation and administration is desired.

- Must have a valid driver's license and meet WaterOne driving standards

- Ability to successfully complete a pre-employment drug screening and background verification in accordance with WaterOne standards.

Preferred Qualifications- Professional Certification in Sustainability or Sustainable Workplace Certification.

- Experience in implementing sustainable practices for a water utility.

- Experience with regulatory programs and agencies in Kansas pertaining to water utilities.

- Experience with energy and chemical optimization in a water utility.

- Experience with Enterprise Resource Planning software such as SAP or SAP S/4HANA.

- Experience with drafting software (Bluebeam or AutoCAD).

- Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite (Excel, Word, Outlook) for daily tasks and communication.

Physical Requirements

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

The employee may occasionally lift/or move up to 40 pounds. The employee must be able to use a computer for several hours a day. They must be able to move from one location to another (outdoor worksites, WaterOne facilities, etc.) occasionally. The employee must be able to use office productivity equipment such as a personal computer, calculator, printer, and copy machine. While performing the duties of this job, the employee must be able to remain in a stationary position for up to several hours a day. Additionally, they must be able to wear personal protective equipment and navigate/inspect construction sites. Lastly, the employee must be willing to work in all kinds of weather extremes.

Work Environment

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

This job operates in both the field and a professional office environment. This role routinely uses standard office equipment such as computers, phones, photocopiers, filing cabinets and fax machines. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate except when in the field on a jobsite.

WaterOne provides a total compensation package that includes:

- Competitive base pay

- Medical, dental, vision, life, AD&D, and LTD insurance

- Flexible spending account

- Company funded Cash Balance Plan

- Company match Defined Contribution Plan

- Comprehensive wellness program

- Educational assistance program

- A variety of other benefit programs and activities

Equal Opportunity Employer

WaterOne is an equal opportunity employer and upholds a non-discrimination policy. We prohibit discrimination on the basis of race, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, religion, disability, age, military status, or marital status in making employment and business decisions. We also prohibit harassment and retaliation in the workplace and in our dealings with the public. We encourage and welcome diversity of backgrounds in our workforce. WaterOne complies with the Immigration Reform and Control Act (IRCA).

Complete job description is available upon request and will be provided during the selection process.