Environmental Engineer

Company:

Interested in joining a winning team? A team whose employees share in the ownership of the business and are empowered to make a difference?

Organizational Context and Job Purpose

INEOS Organization:

INEOS is a global manufacturer of petrochemicals, specialty chemicals and oil products. It comprises 15 businesses each with a major chemical company heritage. Its production network spans 65 manufacturing facilities in 16 countries throughout the world. INEOS products make a significant contribution to saving life, improving health and enhancing standards of living for people around the world. Its businesses produce the raw materials that are essential in the manufacture of a wide variety of goods: from paints to plastics, textiles to technology, and medicines to mobile phones - chemicals manufactured by INEOS enhance almost every aspect of modern life.

BUSINESS CONTEXT:

Ethylene oxide (EO) is an important building block for the preparation of a wide variety of EO derivatives (EODs), including various surfactants, as well as a host of other chemical intermediates including Glycol Ethers, Polyethlene Glycols, Ethanolamines, and Alkyl Alkanolamines. 

INEOS Oxide is one of the world’s leading producers of Ethylene Oxide (EO) and Ethylene Oxide Derivatives (EODs).  We currently have a total EO and EOD capacity of 920 kta spread across five different production units throughout Europe and the US. These units have leading cost economics, due to economies of scale, state-of-the-art technology, strategic locations, etc. Our EO project in the US is targeting the fast-growing merchant EO market, building on our experience and leadership position in Europe.

Purpose of the Job:

The Environmental Engineering Role provides regulatory expertise, coaching and hands-on support to drive environmental compliance. The position delivers regulatory and company environmental training and applies requirements site-wide. It works and liaises with all levels of INEOS Oxides employees, external agencies and peers throughout the Company to improve environmental performance.  The position has site-wide programmatic scope and influences INEOS Oxide personnel, contractors and incident investigation teams.  The Environmental Engineer provides air regulatory expertise, compliance permitting, program development, agency interface and reporting for the Plaquemine and Bayport Sites.  This position is a champion for site environmental compliance processes and actively engages all levels of the workforce across the Operations, Maintenance, and Projects teams to enable continuous improvement.

The employee is to deliver value added consultation and risk assessments assigned by the business to grow the EO portfolio and future site development for collocated EO consumers.  The employee mentors and leads teams of engineers, HSE specialists, and third-party employees to execute the Environmental business plans and projects.  The employee is responsible for managing a good working relationship with key environmental agency personnel. The employee also works with peers in the Oxide Business.

The employee represents INEOS Oxide in the public arena and through industry groups.

Responsibilities and Accountabilities

Environmental

• Identifies informational requirements necessary to develop site strategies to address sensitive or complex environmental issues.
• Strong experience and working knowledge base of Texas air state permitting and state regulatory requirements and federal environmental regulations related to SOCMI and chemical sector applicable regulations (Title V/MSS/NSPS/NESHAP/MACT/MON/30 TAC 101 through 122/LDAR/New Source Review).
• Drive continuous development of environmental knowledge and skills among employees onsite, along with implementation of systems and processes to drive efficiency and improved performance.
• Lead the environmental performance testing of control devices while working with other disciplines.  This effort includes the development of performance testing scope, bid package, preparing and submitting performance testing notifications to the TCEQ, successfully completing the performance testing, and submitting final test reports to the TCEQ for approval.
• Liaise with all levels of INEOS Oxides employees, external agencies and peers to achieve goals and outcomes favorable to the site.
• Develop strategies, present information, and negotiate with the TCEQ and other agencies to achieve successful resolution of complex issues affecting the site such as compliance schedules and extensions, site score appeals, and air permit special conditions.  
• Networks with peers across the corporation to ensure consistency of interpretation of regulatory requirements and shares best practices.
• Strong experience and working knowledge of emission event regulations and reporting requirements to regulatory agencies.
• Complete regulatory reports as required (NSR, Title V, NSPS, NESHAP, MACT, Cap and Trade Program, GHG).
• Perform field walkthroughs and support HSES responsibilities
• Knowledge of air dispersion modeling and MERA.
• Multi-media environmental working knowledge including TPDES permitting, waster regulations, wastewater regulations, Discharge Monitoring Reporting (DMR), Toxic Release Inventory (TRI), SARA Tier 2, and Emission Inventory.  Support as needed.
• Develops innovative permit/compliance strategies for major regulations to minimize financial and operational impact on the Corporation and implements compliance/program initiatives and environmental assessments across business and operating functions.
• Develops unique and in-depth approaches to solving complex issues and provides technical evaluations of pending legislation to lobby efforts.
• Provide a variety of environmental engineering services to the facilities including permit development/strategy, agency negotiation, engineering calculations, design reviews, training etc.
• Responsible for all aspects of Air Permitting and Regulatory Support of multiple operating units. (e.g. LDAR, NSR and MSS Permits)
• Interpret and implement new and revised requirements for state and federal regulations as well as compliance programs at the unit and site levels.
• Prepare permits and calculations for NSR, Title V, Pollution Control Permits and Permits By Rule
• Coordinating and performing environmental audits at both the Plaquemine and Bayport manufacturing facilities and at vendor locations which provide specialized services to the company under the state audit act provisions.
• Direct and manage environmental consultants to accomplish environmental Corporate or plant projects.
• Engage, train, and motivate facility professionals responsible for carrying out environmental compliance, capital project support, and sustainable development at the Plaquemine and Bayport INEOS facilities.
• Support governmental lobbying, communication, implementation and related activities concerning federal and state environmental regulatory actions and/or proposals.
• Tracking, addressing, and reporting environmental performance metrics and criteria (i.e. permit excursions, fines, penalties, deficiency notifications, corrective actions, etc.) at the facility.
• Coordinate/support negotiations with Federal, State, Local agencies and community organizations regarding environmental requirements at the Plaquemine and Bayport INEOS facilities in order to achieve reasonable and justifiable results which are consistent with the corporate strategy. This may be accomplished utilizing support from other senior management personnel within INEOS such as the Legal, Technology, and Public Affairs Departments.
• Represent INEOS in organizations such as American Chemical Council and other relevant associations.
• Maintains safety as the highest priority by driving the INEOS 20 Principles.

• Leads environmental support for turnaround planning and execution including the training of employees, leading team during TA execution, and ensuring compliance with all environmental regulatory requirements. 
• Leads and supports the incident reporting and formal investigation systems.
• Supports and collaborates with the US Environmental Manager to deliver site compliance to TX, LA, and US Federal regulations.
• Review MOCs to determine regulatory and permitting impacts to scope, timing, and compliance systems. 
• Support project teams to ensure environmental compliance.
• Responsibilities include on-call and emergency support for the plant in the EOC.
• Assist in reviewing incidents, calculating emissions, and documenting information required for emission event documentation and reporting; Report events as required to regulatory agencies, as needed.
• Lead TCEQ and EPA audits and investigations including follow-up responses and actions, as needed for Title V deviation report audits, incident investigations, and other audits as needed.

Air, Waste, and Water Compliance

• Responsible for development and execution of facility Waste Management programs, including but not limited to RCRA Hazardous Waste Management and Treatment, Recycling and Waste Minimization efforts
• Interpret and implement state and federal regulations and determine applicability for the site
• Air quality modeling when necessary to support permitting activities
• Review and collaborate to implement process changes as necessary for permit compliance
• Evaluation of current performance trends to provide feedback and direction in correction of deviations

Manufacturing Excellence

• Maintain safety and environmental as the highest priorities of the plant.
• Maintain the 20 Principles of Safety and Life Saving Principles.
• Adhere to and uphold all safety policies and standards.
• Complaint with training requirements.
• Participate on teams that solve complicated issues involving HSE, operations, technical, and others.
• Seeks out opportunities to help LAO and other sites while collaborating with those same sites to improve performance.
• Champions change and continuous improvement.
• Knowledgeable of community concerns and local priorities.  
• Support capital projects as the Environmental representative.

Skills/Competencies

Level of Education & Experience

• BS in Chemical Engineering, Environmental Engineering or other appropriate engineering degree
• 7 plus years manufacturing experience in a chemical facility or refinery.
• A combination of the following preferred certifications/training:
  • Trained & Formal Investigation Lead;
  • DOT HAZMAT 49 CFR 172.704;
  • Industrial Emergency Response;
  • RCRA Hazardous Waste Management
  • Incident Management
  • Media non-spokesman (minimum)
  • Software training with Toxchem and Breeze; and
  • Proficient with Microsoft suite of software.

Technical Skills

• Training experience necessary for communicating compliance requirements to facility personnel is an essential element of the position.
• Experience demonstrated at a minimum for Federal and Texas environmental programs but must have broad enough skills to quickly learn requirements in other locations for assigned facilities.
• Experience with defining and securing environmental permits, approvals, and regulatory requirements for facilities in Texas is required.
• Experience in the environmental engineering field along with a strong familiarity with the chemical and related industries.
• Position requires a Chemical Engineering or Environmental Engineering (or related) bachelor’s degree.
• Advanced auditing skills in manufacturing setting preferred.
• Requires comprehensive technical, regulatory and program expertise in all aspects of environmental management associated with complex chemical manufacturing and treatment/control technologies.
• Advanced skills in spreadsheets, illustrating data and utilizing environmental software.

Behavioral Skills

• Strong environmental role model
• Experience in directly interfacing with state or federal regulatory agencies
• Exceptional/advanced written and oral communication skills to develop concise reports and presentations on complex technical matters and major program initiatives.
• Advanced auditing, problem solving, and analytical skills
• Ability to multi-task, along with the capability to work independently and in a team environment.
• Strong interpersonal skills to effectively negotiate with regulatory agency officials, and while conducting audits and relaying audit findings.
• Collaborate with, motivate and influence variety of internal and external stakeholders across multiple groups (internal and external).

ADA Physical requirements, visual acuity requirements and environmental conditions

Outside

Light Work:  Exerting up to 20 pounds of force occasionally, and/or up to 10 pounds of force frequently, and/or a negligible amount of force constantly to move objects

• The worker is subject to inside environmental conditions:  Protection from weather conditions, but not necessarily from temperature changes.
• The worker is subject to outside environmental conditions:  No effective protection from the weather.
• The worker is subject to both environmental conditions:  Activities occur inside and outside.
• The worker is subject to extreme cold:  Temperatures below 32 degrees F for periods of more than one hour.
• The worker is subject to extreme heat:  Temperatures above 100 degrees F for periods of more than one hour.
• The worker is subject to noise:  There is sufficient noise to cause the worker to shout to be heard above the ambient noise level.
• The worker is subject to hazards:  Includes a variety of physical conditions, such as proximity to moving mechanical parts, electrical current, working on scaffolding and high places, exposure to high heat or exposure to chemicals.
• The worker is subject to atmospheric conditions:  One or more of the following conditions that affect the respiratory system or the skin:  fumes, Odors, dusts, mists, gases, or poor ventilation.

Inside:

Sedentary Work:  Exerting up to 10 pounds of force occasionally and/or a negligible amount of force frequently or constantly to lift, carry, push, pull or otherwise move objects, including the human body.  Sedentary work involves sitting most of the time.

• Subject to inside environmental conditions:  Protection from weather conditions, but not necessarily from temperature changes.
• The employee must have the ability to see written documents, computer screens, and to adjust focus.
• Hearing: Perceiving the nature of sounds at normal speaking levels with or without correction.   Ability to receive detailed information through oral communication and make discriminations in sound.

PERFORMANCE INDICATORS

• Achieve SHEQ metric targets for safety, environmental, and quality incidents
• Timely and accurate completion of all regulatory reports and responses to regulatory agencies
• Successfully support sustainability metrics and companywide goals
• Asset Care and 20P goals achieved
• Timely completion of assigned action items
• Support and improve environmental compliance through permitting, project support, and communications with regulatory agencies as well as site leadership
• Improvement in site environmental compliance.

Our culture is one of honesty and integrity with an emphasis on safety, health and environmental performance.On our team, people are acknowledged for embracing new practices that help create real value for customers.