Environmental Scientist / Senior Environmental Scientist - Compliance

Company: Hawaiian Electric Industries
Location: Pearl City
Posted on: January 4, 2026

Job Description:

Provides technical and regulatory expertise in permitting and compliance requirements for designated area of environmental responsibility in support of Hawaiian Electric, Maui Electric, and Hawai?i Electric Light. Develops and implements environmental compliance training for electric utility facilities. Provides environmental technical and regulatory knowledge in support of the planning, permitting, design, construction, and operation of electric utility facilities. ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS: • Designs and implements environmental compliance programs in support of Hawaiian Electric, Maui Electric and Hawai?i Electric Light, including environmental review of facilities, to satisfy environmental requirements in cost-effective manner and provides technical support and coordination with regulatory agencies to enable operating departments to comply with environmental regulations and permit conditions in a cost-effective manner. • In consultation with higher level scientists, reviews and interprets existing and proposed regulations and permit conditions in consultation with regulatory agency personnel, and provides training to operating personnel. Assists in tracking and interpreting legislation and preparation of testimony. • Coordinates the gathering, processing, and validation of environmental data and ensures timely preparation and submittal of environmental reports to regulatory agencies and customer requests, including selection and management of consultants and contractors. • Liaise, in coordination with other Environmental Division departments, with environmental regulatory agencies for facility inspections and reporting of deviations when immediate notification is required. Serve as the primary point of contact with the Department of Health Clean Air Branch inspectors. Act as department representative during environmental regulatory tours, inspections, and audits such as Department of Health, EPA, US Coast Guard, etc. • Prepares requests for proposal for consultant services, evaluates proposals and makes recommendations. Manages consultants to insure timely delivery of quality work products. • Functions as project manager for assigned projects within functional area of environmental responsibility. In support of continuous improvement goals and objectives, participates in projects and studies to improve existing practices, procedures, programs, policies, and training curricula and materials. Serves as a role model for continuous improvement behaviors. • In support of continuous improvement goals and objectives, participates in projects, studies, and strategic planning to improve existing practices, procedures, programs, policies, and training curricula and materials. Provides leadership and serves as a role model for continuous improvement behaviors. • Participates in Company emergency response activities as assigned, including any activities required to prepare for such emergency response. BASIC QUALIFICATIONS: Knowledge Requirements • Bachelor’s degree in relevant science, public health, or engineering discipline. Graduate degree strongly preferred. • Thorough knowledge of applicable local, state, and federal environmental laws, regulations, and procedures in various disciplines of environmental responsibilities as related to environmental management of electric utility facilities in the environmental disciplines of air quality, noise, water and waste. • Thorough knowledge of power plant and/or industrial systems and processes. • Working knowledge of systems tools and intermediate to advanced level of computer and software knowledge including word/data processing, spreadsheets, presentation, and database software. • Working knowledge of contract management and contract administration principles, with the ability to learn and apply company-specific policies and procedures. • Familiar with LEAN continuous improvement principles and best practices to achieve operational excellence. • Familiar with or willing to learn SafeStart principles and best practices of support and achieve a safe workplace environment. Skills Requirements • Demonstrated excellent verbal and written skills and must be able to translate complex regulatory terminology into simple terms. • Demonstrated interpersonal and leadership skills and the ability to effectively work with all levels of personnel. • Ability to read and understand highly technical information related to the power plant and environmental matters including engineering drawings, manuals and other power plant documentation. • Must have or be able to qualify for a State of Hawaii driver’s license. Must meet the standards for driving positions stated in the Hiring Standards for Driving Positions policy. These standards may be adjusted periodically to meet business and safety. • Ability to effectively handle difficult and/or sensitive issues while using tact, courtesy, and discretion. • Demonstrated continuous improvement skills including the ability to identify improvement opportunities, lead improvement teams, develop and apply standard work, and improve standard work through structured problem solving. • Ability to remain flexible in a demanding work environment and adapt to rapidly changing priorities. • Ability to become certified to perform EPA Method 9 Visual Emissions Evaluation. Experience Requirements • Several years (3-5) of interpretation and application of environmental regulations and environmental compliance management in the power plant environment or industrial operations. Sr Environmental Scientist JOB FUNCTION: Responsible for air, noise, water and hazardous materials compliance programs, provides regulatory and technical expertise, develops, implements and manages environmental compliance programs, and provides project management and program management in support of environmental compliance and permitting programs of Hawaiian Electric, Maui Electric, and Hawai?i Electric Light. Develops, implements and manages environmental compliance training for electric utility facilities. Provides environmental technical and regulatory knowledge, expertise, and guidance in the planning, permitting, design, construction, and operation of electric utility facilities. ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS: • Provides regulatory and compliance expertise, develops, implements, and manages compliance programs, daily compliance reviews, and corrective actions in support of the environmental compliance programs of Hawaiian Electric, Maui Electric, and Hawai?i Electric Light. • Leads project teams comprised of individuals internal and external to the Department to manage and execute assignments. In consultation with the Manager, Environmental Compliance, develops work plans with scope, schedule, deliverables, and budgets. Procures outside consulting and contracting services as necessary to augment in-house resources to achieve/maintain project and program scope, schedule, deliverables, and budgets. Meets with parties inside and outside the Company to maintain/expedite progress on assigned projects and programs. Facilitates resolution of technical conflicts or issues between stakeholders. Provides clear and comprehensive reports to management. Provides leadership and guidance to less experienced scientists within the Division and in operating areas. • Develops, implements, and manages air, noise, water, and hazardous materials related environmental programs, including the associated training program areas to enable the operating areas to achieve cost effective compliance for the electric utility facilities at Hawaiian Electric, Maui Electric, and Hawai?i Electric Light. Develops solutions to mitigate environmental impacts of electric utility facilities at Hawaiian Electric, Maui Electric, and Hawai?i Electric Light. • Serves as technical and regulatory expert to Hawaiian Electric, Maui Electric, and Hawai?i Electric Light for assigned compliance program areas. Maintains current knowledge of local, state, and federal statutes, regulations, and policies for assigned program areas to determine their impact on present and future company operations. Reviews and interprets existing and proposed air, noise, water, and hazardous materials regulations and permit conditions. In consultation with regulatory personnel, designs and implements compliance programs, and provides training as appropriate to operations personnel. Monitors relevant legal proceedings and court decisions. Incorporates changes in regulatory and legislative requirements as appropriate into policies, programs, and procedures for assigned program areas. Liaise, in coordination with other Environmental Division departments, with environmental regulatory agencies for facility inspections and reporting of deviations when immediate notification is required. Serve as the primary point of contact with the Department of Health Clean Air Branch inspectors. Act as department representative during environmental regulatory tours, inspections, and audits such as Department of Health, EPA, US Coast Guard, etc. • Coordinates the collection, processing, and validation of environmental data and ensures timely preparation and submittal of environmental reports to satisfy regulatory requirements and customer requests. Supports preparation of air, noise, water and hazardous materials permit applications. In support of continuous improvement goals and objectives, participates in projects, studies, and strategic planning to improve existing practices, procedures, programs, policies, and training curricula and materials. Provides leadership and serves as a role model for continuous improvement behavior. • Participates in Company emergency response activities as assigned, including any activities required to prepare for such emergency response. BASIC QUALIFICATIONS: Knowledge Requirements • Bachelor’s degree in relevant science, public health, or engineering discipline. Graduate degree strongly preferred. • Thorough knowledge of applicable local, state, and federal environmental laws, regulations, and procedures in various disciplines of environmental responsibilities as related to environmental management of electric utility facilities in the environmental disciplines of air quality, noise, water and waste. • Thorough knowledge of power plant and/or industrial systems and processes. • Working knowledge of information systems tools and intermediate to advanced level of computer and software knowledge including word/data processing, spreadsheets, presentation, and database software. • Working knowledge of contract management and contract administration principes, with the ability to learn and apply company-specific policies and procedures. • Familiar with LEAN continuous improvement principles and best practices to achieve operational excellence. • Familiar with or willing to learn SafeStart principles and best practices of support and achieve a safe workplace environment. Skills Requirements • Must have excellent verbal and written skills and must be able to translate complex regulatory terminology into simple terms. • Must have excellent interpersonal and leadership skills and the ability to effectively work with all levels of personnel. • Must be able to read and understand highly technical information related to the power plant and environmental matters including engineering drawings, manuals and other power plant documentation. • Must have or be able to qualify for a State of Hawaii driver’s license. Must meet the standards for driving positions stated in the Hiring Standards for Driving Positions policy. These standards may be adjusted periodically to meet business and safety. • Must be able to effectively handle difficult and/or sensitive issues while using tact, courtesy, and discretion. • Ability to remain flexible in a demanding work environment and adapt to rapidly changing priorities. • Ability to become certified to perform EPA Method 9 Visual Emissions Evaluation. Experience Requirements • Multiple years (5-7) of interpretation and application of environmental regulations and environmental compliance management in a power plant or industrial operations

Keywords: Hawaiian Electric Industries, Honolulu , Environmental Scientist / Senior Environmental Scientist - Compliance, Science, Research & Development , Pearl City, Hawaii