Manager - Permitting

Location: Paducah, Kentucky, USA
Employment Type: Full-Time, Permanent

Role Summary

The Manager - Permitting is a senior leadership position responsible for defining, governing, and advancing the environmental sustainability agenda of the company's integrated steel manufacturing operations, with a strong emphasis on Direct Reduced Iron (DRI).

This role provides strategic oversight for air quality management, water stewardship, wastewater treatment, and noise control while ensuring environmental excellence across mining, DRI, steelmaking, rolling, and related operations. The incumbent serves as the central authority for environmental evaluation, approvals, and compliance for all DRI and integrated steel plant projects, aligning environmental performance with business growth, decarbonization goals, and long-term sustainability commitments. [Job Descri...Permitting | PDF]

Key Responsibilities

• Define and lead the environmental and sustainability strategy for integrated steel plants and DRI operations.
• Serve as the single point of authority for environmental review, approval, and governance of all DRI-based steelmaking projects.
• Integrate sustainability and environmental objectives into project design, engineering, construction, commissioning, and lifecycle management.
• Review and approve environmental designs, technologies, pollution control systems, and mitigation plans.
• Establish and enforce company-wide environmental standards and performance benchmarks.
• Collaborate with engineering, operations, EHS, metallurgy, utilities, and external consultants.
• Ensure compliance with EPA, state, local, and international environmental regulations.
• Lead Environmental Impact Assessments (EIA), permitting strategies, regulatory submissions, and stakeholder engagement activities.
• Monitor environmental performance and proactively mitigate environmental and regulatory risks.
• Develop and track KPIs for emissions, water consumption, wastewater discharge, noise, and resource efficiency.
• Oversee ESG reporting, sustainability disclosures, environmental audits, and certifications.
• Present environmental performance and compliance updates to executive leadership.
• Evaluate and implement innovative technologies for pollution control, water recycling, waste reduction, and energy efficiency.
• Drive continuous improvement initiatives supporting sustainability and decarbonization objectives.
• Develop environmental awareness and training programs across operations. [Job Descri...Permitting | PDF]

Qualifications

Education

• Bachelor's degree in Environmental Engineering, Environmental Science, Chemical Engineering, Civil Engineering, or related field.
• Master's degree in Environmental Engineering, Sustainability, or Business Management preferred.

Experience

• Approximately 20 years of progressive environmental management, sustainability, or regulatory compliance experience.
• Experience within integrated steel plants, DRI projects, metals, mining, or heavy industrial environments.
• Proven leadership managing environmental programs and compliance initiatives. [Job Descri...Permitting | PDF]

Technical Skills

• Expertise in water treatment systems, recycling technologies, and permitting.
• Knowledge of air emissions monitoring, reporting, and compliance programs.
• Experience with ESG reporting frameworks and environmental audits.
• Understanding of environmental pollution control technologies. [Job Descri...Permitting | PDF]

Soft Skills

• Strong leadership and communication skills.
• Excellent stakeholder management abilities.
• Strategic thinking and problem-solving capabilities.
• Strong analytical and decision-making skills. [Job Descri...Permitting | PDF]

Preferred Certifications

• Certified Environmental Professional
• Project Management Professional (PMP)
• Certified Environmental Systems Manager

Working Conditions

• Requires frequent travel and extended site stays.
• Must be willing to relocate as business needs require.