WHAT DOES AN ENVIRONMENTAL COORDINATOR DO?

Published: Feb 14, 2025 - The Environmental Coordinator plays a crucial role in overseeing and managing the compliance of the Environmental Services Department with all relevant local, state, and federal regulations, focusing on maintaining high standards in housekeeping and laundry operations. This position is responsible for the effective supervision and coordination of staff, ensuring all safety and sanitation standards are met, and updating policies and procedures as needed. Additionally, the Coordinator supports the department by participating in quality assurance, budget planning, and staff training, as well as assisting with state and federal surveys and the development of corrective plans.

A Review of Professional Skills and Functions for Environmental Coordinator

1. Environmental Coordinator Duties

  • Technical Support: Provide daily technical support and assistance to the Environmental Manager directly related to construction supervision and other contractors/consultants in planning and execution of field activities in accordance with environmental project requirements and mitigation measures.
  • Environmental Monitoring: Monitor all activities at the mine site that are potentially harmful to the environment and seek ways to improve them.
  • Permitting Coordination: Coordinate the implementation of and provide direction with regard to ongoing environmental permitting initiatives as they pertain to on and off-site contractors, consultants, and site staff and personnel.
  • Report Preparation: Prepare environmental field reports/memos, compliance reports, and online reporting functions as they pertain to regulatory and permit requirements.
  • Compliance Management: Maintain field environmental compliance files.
  • Regulatory Collaboration: Participate in meetings and field inspections with the company, companies' consultants, and regulatory agency personnel, as required.
  • Process Improvement: Implement, develop, and continuously improve environment-related processes and procedures.
  • Project Assessment: Assist in the assessment of new projects for potential environmental/legislative conflicts.
  • Legislative Awareness: Stay abreast of environmental legislation.
  • Procedure Development: Assist in the development and implementation of procedures and scopes of work to satisfy provincial and federal government regulatory requirements.
  • Government Liaison: Stand in for the Environmental Manager to liaise with Government Agency personnel regarding permits, permit violations, permit amendments, etc.
  • Policy Implementation: Implement procedures and policies, proactive measures, and studies to prevent permit violations and further project development at the operational level.
  • Employee Training: Provide environmental information and training to employees.
  • Staff Supervision: Supervise the Environmental Staff (Env. Technologists/Technicians and Env. Database/compliance).

2. Environmental Coordinator Details

  • Staff Coordination: Assist with the supervision, coordination, direction, and monitoring of the staffing of the Environmental Services Department.
  • Regulatory Knowledge: Maintain and apply a practical knowledge base regarding issues and regulations affecting the campus and the Environmental Services department, as well as individual residents/tenants.
  • Resource Management: Maintain, update, and access current resource base while staying informed of regulations, trends, and developments in housekeeping and laundry areas.
  • Quality Oversight: Assist with oversight, monitoring, inspection, maintenance, and supervision of housekeeping and laundry duties to ensure compliance with campus, federal, state, and local quality, safety, and sanitation standards and regulations.
  • Safety Management: Resolve and/or report safety concerns to appropriate personnel such as the Director of Environmental Services, Administrator, Maintenance department, or Safety Committee.
  • Complaint Resolution: Assist with investigation and resolution of housekeeping and laundry-related quality and service complaints/concerns.
  • Policy Development: Assist with development, maintenance, review, monitoring, and updating of housekeeping and laundry-related policies, procedures, and job descriptions.
  • Survey Support: Provide assistance and consultation during state and federal survey processes and assist with developing Plans of Correction as needed.
  • Budget Planning: Assist with the preparation and planning of department budgets for equipment, supplies, labor, capital expenditures, and other housekeeping and laundry areas for administrator review and approval.
  • Meeting Participation: Participate and, when appointed, direct or coordinate regularly scheduled meetings such as QA, department supervisor, team member, TSP/care plan meetings, discharge planning, and Safety Committee meetings.
  • Team Member Training: Assist with coordination of new team member orientation and training.

3. Environmental Coordinator Responsibilities

  • Environmental Management: Manage the environmental aspects of major projects throughout the scheme development and delivery process, including environmental scoping, coordination of all environmental disciplines, and preparation of environmental impact assessments and statements for funding and planning applications.
  • Technical Excellence: Deliver high-quality technical work and develop staff skills through project delivery.
  • Bidding Support: Manage and support bidding for new opportunities.
  • Team Leadership: Lead, manage, and develop the environment team staff in conjunction with the Discipline Lead.
  • Client Advisory: Provide high-quality advice to clients and internal teams.
  • Technical Reporting: Prepare technical reports, strategies, and environmental solutions.
  • Stakeholder Engagement: Engage with environmental stakeholders and collaborate with clients and the delivery team to address environmental issues.
  • Consultant Development: Develop a community of trusted environmental sub-consultants.
  • Strategic Contribution: Contribute to the Company Environmental Strategy.
  • Problem Resolution: Resolve issues to support the environmental delivery of projects or design objectives.
  • Health & Safety Compliance: Ensure compliance with relevant health and safety legislation in working practices.
  • Records Management: Maintain and organize environmental records.
  • Strategy Implementation: Collaborate with Environmental Management to implement a comprehensive and practical environmental strategy.

4. Environmental Coordinator Job Summary

  • Environmental Management: Manage all environmental and energy matters concerning the facility.
  • Impact Control: Oversee and control environmental effects, risks, costs, and energy consumption.
  • Compliance Oversight: Handle an effective management system for the environment and compliance with legislation and regulations.
  • Permit and Reporting: Initiate, prepare, and process permit applications, environmental reports, and management assessments.
  • Performance Supervision: Supervise refinery performance, report results, initiate preventive actions, and guarantee corrective measures.
  • Stakeholder Engagement: Build and maintain constructive relationships with external parties, including local administrations, environmental agencies, and services.
  • Training Facilitation: Organize and facilitate internal training and courses on environmental matters.
  • Cross-Department Collaboration: Work closely with Operations, Maintenance, and Quality departments.
  • Managerial Reporting: Report and advise directly to the Plant Manager.
  • Project Communication: Maintain communication with project environmental representatives and obtain monthly environmental reports.
  • Data Compilation: Summarize environmental data from projects for inclusion in corporate reports and presentations.
  • Inspection and Auditing: Conduct office and project environmental inspections and prepare inspection, monthly, quarterly, and annual reports.
  • Management System Support: Support the environmental manager in maintaining the environmental management system by identifying risks, opportunities, aspects, and compliance obligations, as well as monitoring and internal auditing.
  • Data Tracking: Update registers and trackers.
  • Staff Training: Conduct environmental training and toolbox talks for staff.
  • Vendor Liaison: Liaise with vendors on environmental requirements during procurement.

5. Environmental Coordinator Accountabilities

  • WWT Operations Management: Coordinate and oversee the operation of Wastewater Treatment (WWT) and related systems with WWT Operator Technicians.
  • Compliance Program Development: Design, implement, and coordinate plant-wide environmental compliance programs.
  • Training Facilitation: Develop, schedule, and conduct training to comply with environmental and Department of Transportation laws.
  • Stakeholder Collaboration: Interface with internal and external resources to build constructive and cooperative relationships.
  • Program Assistance: Support plant programs such as hazard communication, waste minimization, and operating processes.
  • Environmental Auditing: Develop and conduct environmental audits and inspections to assess conditions and create remedial plans.
  • Emergency Response Guidance: Provide guidance and ensure compliance during emergency or spill response events.
  • Corporate Assistance: Assist other Bekaert facilities with environmental issues as directed by corporate or in-house management.
  • Influence and Communication: Influence and gain support for plant environmental programs through effective communication.
  • Managerial Reporting: Report to the Plant Manager or Top Management for direction and goal setting.
  • Independent Operations: Operate independently to establish short-term priorities and activities.
  • Permit Compliance: Review active projects weekly for compliance with environmental permits such as SWPPP, Air Quality, and EPA Hazardous Materials.
  • SWPPP Inspections: Conduct and document SWPPP inspections and sampling for active construction projects.
  • Technical Review: Assist in reviewing and gathering technical information.
  • Permit Preparation: Assist in the preparation of environmental plans and permits.
  • Staff Training: Provide environmental training to staff as needed.
  • Problem Solving: Solve technical problems and develop solutions to meet environmental requirements.