Director Environmental Affairs

Position Summary

The Director of Environmental Affairs provides port-wide leadership and direction of the environmental programs by:

• Championing the Port’s Environmental Policy;
• Ensuring compliance with federal, state, and local environmental laws and mandates;
• Overseeing tenant audit compliance for stormwater, wastewater, drinking water, waste management, air permitting, energy use;
• Advising senior leadership in the planning;
• Formulating and executing mid- and long-term objectives to reduce the Port’s environmental footprint in sustainable ways; and,
• Aligning environmental efforts across Port Houston’s divisions to provide a holistic, cross-functional approach to environmental stewardship.

• Strategic Leadership & Department Management
• Provide leadership, direction, and oversight of the Environmental Affairs Department (EAD); develop vision, goals, policies, procedures, and performance standards that align with Port Houston’s Environmental Policy and strategic plan.
• Prepare, manage, and monitor the department’s budget using cost-benefit and risk analyses to prioritize initiatives, while ensuring fiscal discipline.
• Mentor and develop staff; conduct performance reviews; identify professional development needs and succession planning.
• Regulatory Compliance & Environmental Programs
• Maintain up-to-date knowledge of federal, state, and local environmental regulations (e.g., Clean Water Act, Clean Air Act, RCRA, Endangered Species Act, Oil Pollution Act, etc.).
• Develop, implement, and maintain systems, processes, and procedures to sustain full compliance across all environmental media (stormwater, wastewater, air, waste, energy, etc.).
• Lead the acquisition, renewal, amendment, and compliance of all environmental permits; act as primary liaison with regulatory agencies (e.g., TCEQ, EPA, DOE, USACE).
• Oversee and interpret internal and tenant environmental audits, inspections, and observations; ensure corrective actions and continuous improvement.
• Develop proactive strategies to foresee and mitigate environmental risks associated with Port Houston’s operations, capital projects, and expansion activities.
• Cross Divisional & Programmatic Support
• Provide integral, cross-functional technical and analytical support to PSEO, Infrastructure, Port Operations, Strategy, Maintenance, and other Port divisions.
• Conduct short- and long-range plans to strengthen the environmental posture of Port Houston.
• Maintain working relationships with multiple external government agencies to coordinate permitting, studies, operations, and construction activities.
• Ensure alignment among Port Houston, tenants, contractors, and regulatory agencies via clear communication, oversight of permitting and compliance processes, and shared best practices.
• Engage internal and external stakeholders and consultants in environmental affairs planning, implementation, and reporting.
• Incident Response & Risk Management
• Coordinate with Terminal Managers, Port Operations, and relevant stakeholders to ensure environmental incident response plans are adequate and current.
• Serve as liaison with oversight agencies during environmental events (e.g., oil spills, releases).
• Advise Port leadership and legal counsel on environmental liability, risk mitigation, and response strategies.
• Strategic Planning & Sustainability Initiatives
• Develop and maintain 5- and 10-year environmental strategic initiatives to align with the organization’s strategic plan, including quantitative metrics, targets, and annual progress assessments.
• Collaborate cross functionally to help drive sustainability initiatives such as energy efficiency, emissions reduction, climate resiliency, green infrastructure, and habitat enhancement.
• Identify opportunities for grants, incentives, or partnerships to support environmental improvements.
• Represent the Port in external forums to advocate sustainability goals and collaboration.
• Communication, Training & Culture Building
• Promote environmental awareness across the organization; deliver training and workshops for employees, tenants, and contractors.
• Advise and communicate environmental requirements, trends, and issues to senior management and Port…