What are the responsibilities and job description for the Environmental Specialist position at VLS Environmental Solutions, LLC?
About VLS!
VLS Environmental Solutions, LLC, is a recognized leader in providing sustainability solutions, with three divisions providing industry-leading services. With a mission to innovate solutions to meet clients' sustainability goals, VLS has over 1,200 employees in 40 locations across North America.
Waste Services
VLS Waste Services provides customized waste processing solutions for hazardous and non-hazardous industrial and commercial waste, including landfill diversion and sustainability programs, solidification of liquid waste, recycling, wastewater treatment, and waste sequestration.
Railcar Services
VLS Railcar Cleaning and Repair Services division provides specialty cleaning services for difficult-to-clean products, including chemicals, hardened materials, and pressurized gases, and comprehensive repair services for certified full-service repairs, tank car qualifications, and maintenance.
Marine Services
VLS Marine Services division offers state-of-the-art barge cleaning, repair, and gas-free facilities for various chemical solvents and downstream petroleum products.
Job Summary
Under the direction of the Rail Environmental Manager, the Rail Environmental Specialist will support all environmental disciplines with a large focus on compliance tasks and Industrial Hazardous Waste (IHW) Management. The main portion of compliance tasks will be related to ensuring adherence to Air Permits and IHW Regulations. The Environmental Specialist will be responsible over four Rail facilities at varying capacities depending on permit requirements.
Responsibilities
Air Permit Compliance (50%)
At VLS our employees are the core of our business. As such, we value our employees' physical, mental, and financial wellbeing by providing first class, high value benefits and resources that are centered around a proper work-life balance.
Physical and Mental Wellbeing: VLS is committed to supporting our employees' physical and mental health by providing:
Medical, Dental and Vision Insurance - Based on each employee's need, we offer various high quality, low-premium medical, dental and vision plans, which include our first-in-class concierge service (available in Spanish) and 2nd MD Offering.
Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA) and Healthcare Saving Accounts (HSA) -- Set aside pre-tax money to use toward your health care spending. VLS provides an employer contribution to all HSA accounts.
Time Off - We offer 11 (eleven) company-paid holidays, in addition to our paid time off and voluntary time off plans.
Employee Assistance Program -- 24/7 assistance and counseling services that are 100% confidential and free to all employees and their dependents.
Telemedicine -- All employees and dependents receive free virtual visits by licensed practitioners any time, any day...including holidays!
Financial and Retirement Planning: At VLS we offer the following to assist our employees with planning around their finances and saving for retirement:
401(k) - Generous 401(k) matching program after 90 days of employment. VLS will match up to 5% of your pay every pay period. Matching contributions are 100% vested immediately.
Life and Disability Insurance -- Employer-paid life insurance, along with short-term and long-term disability coverage provided to all full-time employees.
Voluntary Life Protection Plans -- Employees and their dependents can elect coverage in our voluntary life/add, critical illness, hospital indemnity and accident plans.
Rewards and Recognition Programs -- We celebrate our employees! From birthdays to anniversaries and other various milestones/achievements, we have programs in place to recognize our employees.
Financial Planning - Free One on One financial planning with a certified Financial Planner/Coach.
Employee Discount - Employee Discount Program for savings on everyday goods and services at various retailers throughout the US.
VLS Environmental Solutions, LLC, is a recognized leader in providing sustainability solutions, with three divisions providing industry-leading services. With a mission to innovate solutions to meet clients' sustainability goals, VLS has over 1,200 employees in 40 locations across North America.
Waste Services
VLS Waste Services provides customized waste processing solutions for hazardous and non-hazardous industrial and commercial waste, including landfill diversion and sustainability programs, solidification of liquid waste, recycling, wastewater treatment, and waste sequestration.
Railcar Services
VLS Railcar Cleaning and Repair Services division provides specialty cleaning services for difficult-to-clean products, including chemicals, hardened materials, and pressurized gases, and comprehensive repair services for certified full-service repairs, tank car qualifications, and maintenance.
Marine Services
VLS Marine Services division offers state-of-the-art barge cleaning, repair, and gas-free facilities for various chemical solvents and downstream petroleum products.
Job Summary
Under the direction of the Rail Environmental Manager, the Rail Environmental Specialist will support all environmental disciplines with a large focus on compliance tasks and Industrial Hazardous Waste (IHW) Management. The main portion of compliance tasks will be related to ensuring adherence to Air Permits and IHW Regulations. The Environmental Specialist will be responsible over four Rail facilities at varying capacities depending on permit requirements.
Responsibilities
Air Permit Compliance (50%)
- Use established spreadsheets to calculate monthly emissions.
- Approval of new paints/coatings used on railcars.
- Approval of new commodities for cleaning.
- Tracking and review of other permit conditions (e.g. Daily/Monthly forms filled out by operations to comply with permit conditions).
- Annual air emission inventory submittals and fee applications.
- Logistics for IHW shipments, including ordering transportation, ensuring shipments meet regulatory requirements, and following up when things do not go as planned. Duties can include:Printing and filling out manifests accurately, labeling/placarding containers before shipments, ensuring all outbound shipments are compliant with disposal facility profiles, addressing manifest discrepancies, Administrative tasks around waste handling.
- Updating each facility's electronic waste inventory twice a week. One of those updates should come about three days before the end of the month, physically locating each container listed on the electronic waste inventory to ensure accurate waste accruals.
- Use spreadsheets to track waste shipments for Annual Waste Summaries.
- Organize invoices received from TSDFs via AP.
- Create Waste Determinations for waste streams generated.
- Maintain Compliance Calendars and ensure the team is aware of upcoming submittal dates.
- Sample different media (e.g. stormwater, waste) and delivery to labs as needed.
- Monthly DMR Reporting.
- Annual water usage summaries.
- Review SPCC and SWPP inspections and enforce documented BMPs.
- Assist with client and regulatory audits/inquiries.
- Conduct facility walks for all locations to ensure all locations are following regulatory requirements.
- One to five years’ experience in the Environmental field, with an emphasis in the areas of air compliance and waste management through either on-the-job training. Manifesting and profiling hazardous and non-hazardous waste experience required;
- Bachelor of Science degree with significant coursework in Chemistry, Bioenvironmental Science, Environmental Engineering, or other engineering/science discipline;
- In lieu of a Bachelor of Science degree, an Associate degree along with significant (7-10 years) and relevant work experience in the EHS field;
- RCRA Hazardous Waste and DOT Hazmat regulatory compliance training/experience required;
- HAZWOPER 40-hour initial/ and 8 - hour refresher;
- Intermediate to expert level knowledge of Microsoft Office products (Outlook, Word, Excel);
- Ability to successfully complete pre-employment drug & alcohol screen, pre-employment physical examination, and background check upon receiving an offer of employment;
- Maintain a valid driver’s license and driving history satisfactory with VLS standards, and its insurer;
- Some travel and will be required in order to satisfy the requirements of the position – 35% or less.
At VLS our employees are the core of our business. As such, we value our employees' physical, mental, and financial wellbeing by providing first class, high value benefits and resources that are centered around a proper work-life balance.
Physical and Mental Wellbeing: VLS is committed to supporting our employees' physical and mental health by providing:
Medical, Dental and Vision Insurance - Based on each employee's need, we offer various high quality, low-premium medical, dental and vision plans, which include our first-in-class concierge service (available in Spanish) and 2nd MD Offering.
Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA) and Healthcare Saving Accounts (HSA) -- Set aside pre-tax money to use toward your health care spending. VLS provides an employer contribution to all HSA accounts.
Time Off - We offer 11 (eleven) company-paid holidays, in addition to our paid time off and voluntary time off plans.
Employee Assistance Program -- 24/7 assistance and counseling services that are 100% confidential and free to all employees and their dependents.
Telemedicine -- All employees and dependents receive free virtual visits by licensed practitioners any time, any day...including holidays!
Financial and Retirement Planning: At VLS we offer the following to assist our employees with planning around their finances and saving for retirement:
401(k) - Generous 401(k) matching program after 90 days of employment. VLS will match up to 5% of your pay every pay period. Matching contributions are 100% vested immediately.
Life and Disability Insurance -- Employer-paid life insurance, along with short-term and long-term disability coverage provided to all full-time employees.
Voluntary Life Protection Plans -- Employees and their dependents can elect coverage in our voluntary life/add, critical illness, hospital indemnity and accident plans.
Rewards and Recognition Programs -- We celebrate our employees! From birthdays to anniversaries and other various milestones/achievements, we have programs in place to recognize our employees.
Financial Planning - Free One on One financial planning with a certified Financial Planner/Coach.
Employee Discount - Employee Discount Program for savings on everyday goods and services at various retailers throughout the US.