Regulatory & Environmental Compliance Manager

ACCIONA is a global company, leading in the development of regenerative infrastructure that creates a positive impact on society. Our workforce consists of more than 65,000 professionals, present in more than 40 countries across the five continents, all contributing in our mission to design a better planet. Are you a passionate individual who wants to make a difference, promote sustainable development, and find solutions to the biggest global challenges including climate change, overpopulation, and water scarcity? Come and join us in building the infrastructure our planet needs to achieve a sustainable future.

Acciona offers a competitive salary, relocation assistance where relocation is required and approved, 401(k) retirement plan, medical, dental, vision, life, short and long-term disability benefits, tuition reimbursement, paid time off, and more. 

 

The Regulatory & Environmental Compliance Manager is responsible for ensuring that all facility across different states operates in full compliance with all applicable federal, state, and local environmental and regulatory requirements. This role oversees permitting, monitoring, reporting, environmental performance, and interactions with regulatory agencies and client representatives, while supporting sustainable, responsible operations.

The position plays a key role in maintaining the water plant facility’s environmental stewardship and ensuring long-term regulatory reliability in compliance with all contract obligations and will require frequent travels (FL, CA, AZ, TX, etc.).

Salary Range: $130,000 - $162,000 annually

Regulatory Compliance & Oversight

• Manage and maintain compliance with all permits and regulatory obligations, as applicable to the facility

• Develop, implement, and maintain compliance tracking systems and documentation.

• Prepare, review, and submit all required regulatory reports and filings on time.

Environmental Monitoring & Performance

• Oversee facility-related monitoring programs (e.g., intake monitoring, brine discharge, process control, etc.)

• Coordinate biological and oceanographic surveys with specialized consultants as needed.

• Ensure proper sampling, data and trend management, process control and other analysis for all process and environmental metrics.

• Conduct periodic environmental audits and internal compliance reviews.

Agency Coordination & Stakeholder Engagement:

• Serve as primary contact for regulatory and environmental topic with client representatives and regulatory agencies.

• Lead regulatory inspections, responses, and corrective actions.

• Support public outreach and stakeholder engagement related to environmental topics.

Permitting & Reporting

• Support all efforts to timely maintain and update all existing environmental permits; coordinate renewals and amendments.

• Prepare technical documentation, impact assessments, and compliance summaries.

• Ensure alignment between operational changes and permit conditions.

Operational Support

• Work with operations, maintenance, engineering, and safety teams to integrate compliance requirements into day-to-day plant activities.

• Provide training to staff on environmental procedures, monitoring requirements, and reporting.

• Identify opportunities to enhance sustainability, reduce environmental impacts, and ensure best-in-class environmental performance.

Incident Response & Risk Management

• Lead investigation and reporting of environmental incidents or non-compliance events.

• Develop mitigation strategies and corrective action plans.

• Support emergency response planning related to spills, storms, earthquakes, and coastal events.

• Bachelor’s degree in Environmental Science, Environmental Engineering, Marine Science, Biology, Chemistry, Regulatory Affairs, related field or 10 years of relevant and applicable experience.

• 5+ years of experience in environmental compliance, regulatory management, or environmental permitting in the water, desalination or wastewater.

• Strong working knowledge of California environmental regulations and state water board processes.

• Demonstrated experience completing and managing complex environmental reporting.

• Excellent communication skills and ability to interface effectively with regulators, consultants, client resources and internal teams.

• Proficiency in data management, environmental monitoring systems, and Microsoft Office tools.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience specifically with seawater desalination facilities, marine environment permits, and/or coastal infrastructure projects.

• Familiarity with seawater intake/discharge systems.

• Experience working with the California Coastal Commission and Regional Water Quality Control Boards.

• Knowledge of RO treatment processes and water facility operations.

• Certification(s) as Water Treatment Operator for Water Facilities (CA license highest preference, other states like FL, AZ and TX are also valuable)

• Demonstrated ability to lead teams, coordinate with client staff, manage consultants, and coordinate multidisciplinary work.

ACCIONA has been given the Top Employer 2022, 2023, 2024 & 2025 certification in US, as well as the Top Employers North America 2022, 2023, 2024 & 2025 seal, which certifies the company's commitment to excellence in human resources management and those who focus on putting their people first through their exceptional HR policies. As a company that values diversity as a source of talent, we work to foster an inclusive environment that promotes respect, belonging and engagement so that all people can participate on an equal opportunity basis. We invite everyone to apply regardless of origin, circumstances, background or condition.