Robert Shibatani’s Post

You're an environmental consultant. How do you make sure your clients are satisfied with your work? ================================ When I provide them with feasible solutions to environmental problems that are easy to implement with minimal expertise and tools, low cost, and require little time to execute, and when their impact is quick and noticeable, the client does not have to frequently come back to me with recurring problems or new issues arising during the implementation process. The client feels satisfied when I do not employ a large number of specialists and experts, and my work does not disrupt the project or cause financial and time losses

It has been three months since I switched jobs from a #contracting firm to a #consulting firm. I have always wanted to know how things worked on the other side - what goes into the making of an EIA and how serious are the environmental considerations at the beginning of a project. Since then, several people have asked about my experience and which role I would recommend. While it’s still too early to give an answer, I thought I would document my journey. I hope this helps those who are struggling with the decision and also serves as a reflection for myself. #Projects - Consulting involves juggling multiple large-scale projects at the same time. You are engaged in the project execution but from an advisory/supervisory role. While on my previous job, I was involved in one or at most two projects at a time allowing me to develop a close bond with a project. A good thing about being in a consultancy firm is that you could be involved in multiple disciplines within environmental field. This is good for those who are still discovering their interests. And later on, once you have identified your calling, you could of course specialize on that discipline. #Sitework - You don’t get to be on site as much as you would with a contracting firm and there is no denying the fact that I miss that part and the opportunity to see the project in full execution. Adapting to #change is always difficult, there is an initial struggle to get used to the new work atmosphere. I would advise not to give up during this phase. It is not as effortless as how those LinkedIn posts make it seem and not all just excitement. Fortunately, for me I remain mostly involved in marine projects, including reclamation projects. This definitely helped in the switch! To answer the question which role is better- it truly depends on the person you are and what do you want from your career. As for me, I am still figuring it out. But embracing the journey and definitely learning a lot. One thing that never changed and remained constant (if not grown) throughout- the love for the subject! #environmentalengineering #newjob #careerjourney

The “we just want someone to manage approvals” statement from my last post is often paired with “we’re sick of paying for consultants”. Or in one case "I f***ing hate consultants." I have some bad news. If you’re a small mining or oil and gas company, and hire a team-of-one environmental manager, you’ll still need consultants. It probably won’t even reduce your consultant spend, at least not significantly. Almost all approval applications, bar the most simple administrative amendments, require a level of assessment of environmental values and impacts - ecology, groundwater, surface water and flooding, noise, air quality, etc. No single in-house environmental manager can do all this work - either technically or logistically. Despite what you hope, you’re not hiring an environment manager to do this work. You’re hiring an environmental manager to: - Increase efficiencies by taking the approvals project management workload off other company leaders, so they can focus on their core responsibilities - Bring the technical background and expertise to be able to speak the environmental assessment and approvals language with consultants, lawyers, regulators and other stakeholders - Scope environmental assessment studies, manage consultants and review technical reports - On top of this, provide all the other value that I mentioned in my last post This is where you might save some of the money that you’ve been spending on consultants. Having an experienced environmental professional to scope environmental assessment projects, more closely manage your consultants, and look after the relationship with your regulators and stakeholders might curb some of the spend if you’ve previously relied on a consultant to manage this aspect of your approvals work. But a single in-house enviro manager will never remove the need to use consultants.

#hiring Environmental Permit Specialist III, Austin, United States, fulltime #jobs #jobseekers #careers #Austinjobs #Texasjobs #TradesServices Apply: https://lnkd.in/gyi94kvB Job Description Prepare, conduct, and document on-site audits of routine to moderately-complex approved pretreatment programs for compliance with TPDES permit requirements and state and federal statutes, rules, policies, and guidelines. Draft audit reports. Assist in preparing, conducting and documenting on-site audits of politically-sensitive pretreatment programs. Review and evaluate pretreatment program substantial and non-substantial modifications for compliance with TPDES permit requirements and state and federal statues, rules, policies, and guidelines. Conduct numerical analyses of local limits and incorporates the results into program modifications. Incorporate approved substantial modifications into TPDES permits. Prepare pretreatment sections of routine to moderately-complex TPDES permits. Evaluate pretreatment program annual reports; complete industrial waste surveys and TexTox reports; and make categorical determinations for industrial users. Participate in the resolution of contested permit applications, attend alternative dispute resolutions and public meetings, and prepare expert testimony for public hearings before an Administrative Law Judge or the Commission. Provide basic training to new or less experienced staff; respond to inquiries on assigned permits, audits, and modifications to approved pretreatment programs; communicate information to control authorities, industrial users, agency staff and the public.

#hiring Environmental Permit Specialist III, Austin, United States, fulltime #jobs #jobseekers #careers #Austinjobs #Texasjobs #TradesServices Apply: https://lnkd.in/gyi94kvB Job Description Prepare, conduct, and document on-site audits of routine to moderately-complex approved pretreatment programs for compliance with TPDES permit requirements and state and federal statutes, rules, policies, and guidelines. Draft audit reports. Assist in preparing, conducting and documenting on-site audits of politically-sensitive pretreatment programs. Review and evaluate pretreatment program substantial and non-substantial modifications for compliance with TPDES permit requirements and state and federal statues, rules, policies, and guidelines. Conduct numerical analyses of local limits and incorporates the results into program modifications. Incorporate approved substantial modifications into TPDES permits. Prepare pretreatment sections of routine to moderately-complex TPDES permits. Evaluate pretreatment program annual reports; complete industrial waste surveys and TexTox reports; and make categorical determinations for industrial users. Participate in the resolution of contested permit applications, attend alternative dispute resolutions and public meetings, and prepare expert testimony for public hearings before an Administrative Law Judge or the Commission. Provide basic training to new or less experienced staff; respond to inquiries on assigned permits, audits, and modifications to approved pretreatment programs; communicate information to control authorities, industrial users, agency staff and the public.

#hiring Environmental Permit Specialist III, Austin, United States, fulltime #jobs #jobseekers #careers #Austinjobs #Texasjobs #TradesServices Apply: https://lnkd.in/gyi94kvB Job Description Prepare, conduct, and document on-site audits of routine to moderately-complex approved pretreatment programs for compliance with TPDES permit requirements and state and federal statutes, rules, policies, and guidelines. Draft audit reports. Assist in preparing, conducting and documenting on-site audits of politically-sensitive pretreatment programs. Review and evaluate pretreatment program substantial and non-substantial modifications for compliance with TPDES permit requirements and state and federal statues, rules, policies, and guidelines. Conduct numerical analyses of local limits and incorporates the results into program modifications. Incorporate approved substantial modifications into TPDES permits. Prepare pretreatment sections of routine to moderately-complex TPDES permits. Evaluate pretreatment program annual reports; complete industrial waste surveys and TexTox reports; and make categorical determinations for industrial users. Participate in the resolution of contested permit applications, attend alternative dispute resolutions and public meetings, and prepare expert testimony for public hearings before an Administrative Law Judge or the Commission. Provide basic training to new or less experienced staff; respond to inquiries on assigned permits, audits, and modifications to approved pretreatment programs; communicate information to control authorities, industrial users, agency staff and the public.

#hiring Environmental Permit Specialist III, Austin, United States, fulltime #jobs #jobseekers #careers #Austinjobs #Texasjobs #TradesServices Apply: https://lnkd.in/gqBXjFHf Job Description Prepare, conduct, and document on-site audits of routine to moderately-complex approved pretreatment programs for compliance with TPDES permit requirements and state and federal statutes, rules, policies, and guidelines. Draft audit reports. Assist in preparing, conducting and documenting on-site audits of politically-sensitive pretreatment programs. Review and evaluate pretreatment program substantial and non-substantial modifications for compliance with TPDES permit requirements and state and federal statues, rules, policies, and guidelines. Conduct numerical analyses of local limits and incorporates the results into program modifications. Incorporate approved substantial modifications into TPDES permits. Prepare pretreatment sections of routine to moderately-complex TPDES permits. Evaluate pretreatment program annual reports; complete industrial waste surveys and TexTox reports; and make categorical determinations for industrial users. Participate in the resolution of contested permit applications, attend alternative dispute resolutions and public meetings, and prepare expert testimony for public hearings before an Administrative Law Judge or the Commission. Provide basic training to new or less experienced staff; respond to inquiries on assigned permits, audits, and modifications to approved pretreatment programs; communicate information to control authorities, industrial users, agency staff and the public.

🌍 Defining the Role of an Environmental Superintendent: Is This Position Necessary? 🛠️🌱 In today’s rapidly evolving regulatory landscape, effective environmental management is critical for project success. Enter the Environmental Superintendent — a senior role responsible for bridging strategic environmental goals and on-site execution. But is this position truly essential? 🔎 Who is an Environmental Superintendent? 🧠📑 An Environmental Superintendent oversees on-site environmental performance on complex or high-risk projects, ensuring compliance and sustainable practices are maintained across all phases. Key Responsibilities Include: ✅ Strategic Oversight: Aligning environmental goals with project objectives. 📊 ✅ Compliance Management: Enforcing Environmental Management Plans (EMPs). ⚖️ ✅ Leadership: Managing and guiding Environmental Officers. 👥 ✅ Incident Management: Addressing and mitigating environmental risks. 🚨 ✅ Stakeholder Engagement: Communicating with authorities and project managers. 🤝 Is This Role Necessary? The necessity of an Environmental Superintendent depends on project scale, complexity, and risk level. However, their value becomes clear in: ✅ Large-scale projects with high environmental risks. 🏗️ ✅ Industries with strict regulations like mining and energy. ⚠️ ✅ Projects requiring centralized oversight for multiple subcontractors. 📋 They ensure proactive compliance, reduce financial risks, and maintain operational efficiency. 📊 Environmental Superintendent vs. Environmental Site Officer (ESO) While an ESO focuses on day-to-day monitoring and compliance, the Superintendent provides: ✅ Strategic leadership 🧭 ✅ High-level coordination 🤝 ✅ Team oversight and accountability 👥 Simply put, Superintendents set the vision, and ESOs execute it. 🚀 When Should You Appoint an Environmental Superintendent? 🔹 On large, complex projects with significant environmental risks. 🔹 In industries with high regulatory scrutiny. 🔹 For projects requiring long-term oversight and coordination. Conclusion: Beyond Compliance An Environmental Superintendent isn’t just about ticking regulatory boxes—they drive proactive environmental management, reduce risks, and ensure long-term sustainability goals are met. For large-scale projects, this role isn’t optional—it’s essential. Does your project have the leadership it needs for environmental success? 🌍 #EnvironmentalManagement #Sustainability #EnvironmentalCompliance #Leadership #ESG #ProjectManagement #EnvironmentalSuperintendent #SustainableDevelopment

Roles and responsibilities of an Environmental Coordinator: 1. Environmental Compliance and Audits: Ensure that all operations comply with environmental regulations through the coordination of audits, inspections, and site visits, while maintaining updated documentation. 2. Environmental Project Management: Assist in designing, implementing, and maintaining environmental project plans, focusing on pollution control, waste management, and conservation of natural resources. 3. Risk Mitigation and Improvement: Identify potential environmental risks, determine root causes, and develop mitigation strategies to reduce environmental impact, including contamination control and hazard reduction programs. 4. Training and Team Coordination: Provide training and support to team members, work with cross-functional groups to maintain environmental management systems, and ensure industrial operations adapt to changing regulations. 5. Documentation and Regulatory Compliance: Maintain clear, complete, and updated documentation on environmental policies and regulations, ensuring permit renewals and ongoing compliance with state and local requirements. #Environmental #EnvironmentalEngineer #EnvironmentalCoordinator

Embedded Environmental Services by ME: We understand that from time to time teams experience unexpected change, your needs may evolve over time, with increasing time / project pressures and possible skills gaps. At ME, we can support with our embedded environmental consulting services. We care about your specific requirements and way of working, so you have confidence in our service. Examples include short term fast turnaround reporting, on-site consultancy services and longer term roles such as mentoring or data management. Please contact us if you would like to know more #ServicesatME #environmentalconsultant #valuesled