Environmental Manager

Overview

The Environmental Manager role is a senior leadership position responsible for ensuring environmental compliance and mitigating impacts for the King Salman International Airport Terminal 6 Substructure project in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Reporting directly to the Project Manager, this role guarantees adherence to Saudi environmental regulations including those from the National Center for Environmental Compliance (NCEC), the Saudi Building Code (SBC 601), and Bechtel’s internal environmental policies. The Environmental Manager serves as the key authority on regulatory compliance, pollution control, and ecosystem protection, particularly important given the large-scale excavations and concrete work near an operational airport.

Key Responsibilities

• Act as the main contact for NCEC and local municipalities, securing and maintaining environmental permits such as air quality, noise, wastewater discharge, and hazardous materials handling.
• Interpret and apply Saudi environmental legislation including Royal Decrees and Ministerial Resolutions, ensuring project activities comply with the approved Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA).
• Implement Bechtel’s Environmental Management System (EMS) and project-specific environmental plans for full site compliance.
• Oversee air quality controls by monitoring particulate matter and ensuring effective dust suppression during construction tasks.
• Manage noise and vibration monitoring to protect nearby airport infrastructure and sensitive receptors.
• Supervise water pollution prevention, managing stormwater runoff, concrete washout, dewatering effluents, and sanitary waste to avoid soil and groundwater contamination.
• Handle hazardous material storage, use, and disposal while auditing spill prevention and control measures.
• Direct waste management strategies emphasizing reduce, reuse, recycle, and disposal with comprehensive waste tracking and segregation.
• Supervise soil handling, testing, and remediation, particularly if contaminated or protected topsoil is encountered.
• Lead site remediation efforts to restore any disturbed areas in compliance with client and regulatory requirements.
• Implement a thorough environmental monitoring program covering air, noise, water, and soil, partnering with accredited labs for sample analysis.
• Investigate environmental incidents, perform root cause analysis, and develop corrective action plans in collaboration with Bechtel and client teams.
• Prepare and submit monthly environmental performance reports to the Project Manager, Bechtel, and statutory authorities including NCEC.

Qualifications and Skills

• Bachelor’s degree in Environmental Engineering, Environmental Science, or a related field; a Master’s degree is highly preferred.
• Mandatory ISO 14001 Lead Auditor certification; Certified Environmental Professional (CEP) or similar credentials like REM or CHMM preferred.
• LEED AP certification is advantageous for collaboration with Sustainability Management.
• NEBOSH Environmental Certificate or Diploma is a significant asset.
• 10 to 12 years of advancing experience in environmental management for heavy civil infrastructure or large-scale construction projects.
• Experience working on international airport projects under active aviation conditions, including noise abatement and bird hazard management.
• Strong knowledge and proven ability to comply with complex environmental laws and procedures within Saudi Arabia and GCC, including effective liaison with NCEC.
• Experience working for or with Tier-1 PMCs such as Bechtel, familiarity with their EMS frameworks and reporting systems.
• Proficiency in environmental monitoring equipment, data interpretation, and environmental software including MS Office, GIS, and data management tools.
• Expert knowledge of SBC 601, NCEC standards, US EPA guidelines, and ISO 14001.
• Excellent regulatory insight, risk management capabilities, leadership skills to guide environmental teams, and strong communication skills in English (Arabic highly preferred).

Performance Metrics

• Maintain zero violations, fines, or work stoppages from regulatory bodies.
• Ensure no major environmental spills or incidents and close all corrective actions promptly.
• Achieve full compliance with environmental monitoring limits on air, noise, and water quality.
• Target over 75% diversion of non-hazardous construction waste from landfill disposal.
• Submit all required regulatory and project environmental reports on time.