Director of Regulatory Compliance
19 hours ago
Carlsbad
Company Description IDE Technologies is a global leader in water treatment solutions, specializing in the development, engineering, construction, and operation of advanced desalination, water reuse, and industrial water treatment plants. Our mission is to deliver sustainable, resilient, and high-quality water infrastructure while protecting public health and the environment. IDE Americas serves clients across the United States, including some of the largest seawater desalination facilities in operation. Position Summary The Director of Regulatory Compliance (DORC) serves as IDE Americas’ senior environmental, occupational health, and safety executive, accountable for establishing and overseeing comprehensive EHS programs across all phases of company operations including project bidding, design, construction, commissioning, and long-term O&M. The DORC provides executive-level leadership and direction for environmental permitting, regulatory compliance, workplace safety, emergency preparedness, and environmental stewardship across all IDE Americas facilities and pilot projects in the continental U.S. This position serves as the primary Legally Responsible Person (LRP) for environmental and occupational health and safety matters, representing IDE before federal, state, and local regulatory agencies, and ensuring company-wide compliance with all applicable environmental laws, permits, safety standards, and operational agreements. The DORC also acts as a key stakeholder and representative in industry forums, government-led regulatory development processes, and enforcement actions (e.g., NOVs, consent orders, hearings, abatement negotiations). Core Responsibilities Environmental Compliance and Regulatory Engagement • Serve as the designated Legally Responsible Person (LRP) representing IDE Americas before federal, state, and local agencies on matters related to environmental permitting, enforcement, and regulatory oversight., • Lead all environmental regulatory strategies, including permitting, negotiation of permit conditions, regulatory response, and policy interpretation across all IDE Americas facilities and projects., • Oversee multi-jurisdictional environmental compliance programs in coordination with agencies such as the State and Regional Water Quality Control Boards (SWRCB/RWQCB), California Environmental Protection Agency (CalEPA), U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, U.S. Coast Guard, California Coastal Commission, CUPAs, APCDs, and other federal, state, and local entities., • Direct preparation and timely submission of required regulatory reports and data, including NPDES Discharge Monitoring Reports (DMRs), CIWQS uploads, CDP filings, CERS entries, eGGRT, EPCRA Tier II, TRI, and SWMP Annual Reports. Executive EHS Program Leadership • Provide strategic leadership for the development, implementation, and ongoing improvement of IDE’s integrated Environmental, Health, and Safety (EHS) program, encompassing permitting, reporting, risk mitigation, and compliance assurance., • Establish company-wide EHS policies and performance metrics in alignment with corporate values, client expectations, and evolving regulatory requirements., • Regularly interface with IDE Technologies (Israel) to coordinate international compliance alignment, support project oversight, and deliver quarterly EHS performance presentations to IDE Technologies’ Board of Directors. Operational Risk Management and Site Leadership • Actively lead field-based audits, inspections, and O&M activity reviews at project sites throughout North America, with a focus on identifying and mitigating environmental and occupational risks., • Serve as IDE’s Project Environmental Coordinator (PEC) for shoreline and offshore infrastructure work, including coordination of marine operations such as intake pump servicing, crane-supported offshore deployment/recovery, diver-assisted inspections, and emergency response activities., • Direct on-site regulatory walkthroughs, contractor coordination, and compliance readiness activities during construction, commissioning, and operational phases of each project. Occupational Health and Safety Oversight • Oversee all aspects of IDE Americas’ occupational health and safety programs, ensuring compliance with State and Federal OSHA, and facility-specific health and safety standards, • Supervise the Occupational Health & Safety Officer and guide the implementation of key safety programs including confined space entry, LOTO, respiratory protection, hazard communication, industrial hygiene, and injury/illness prevention., • Lead internal investigations into safety incidents, near misses, and hazardous conditions, and coordinate regulatory notifications, root cause analyses, and corrective action planning. Organizational Development and Reporting • Recruit and retain a high-performing EHS team and cultivate a culture of excellence, accountability, and proactive risk management across all departments., • Develop and administer the annual EHS departmental budget, including line-item forecasts for environmental monitoring, regulatory consulting, capital safety improvements, training initiatives, and environmental settlements. Knowledge Skills and Abilities (KSAs) • Strategic Regulatory Leadership: Demonstrated ability to lead, manage, and improve regulatory compliance and EHS programs across large, multi-facility operations with complex permitting, legal, and operational components. Must be capable of representing IDE as the Legally Responsible Person (LRP) in regulatory negotiations, permit proceedings, and hearings with federal, state, and local agencies., • Environmental and Occupational Health Proficiency: In-depth understanding of environmental permitting and reporting under NPDES, CIWQS, CDPs, and other federal/state programs, as well as direct oversight experience of occupational safety programs governed by OSHA and Cal/OSHA. Strong working knowledge of field-based risk management, industrial hygiene, confined space programs, and marine/offshore compliance., • Agency and Stakeholder Engagement: Proven ability to build and maintain effective relationships with regulatory bodies (e.g., SWRCB, RWQCB, EPA, CalEPA, CUPAs, APCDs, USCG, Army Corps), city governments, NGOs, clients, and third-party contractors. Able to navigate complex regulatory landscapes and serve on multi-agency technical advisory groups or steering committees., • Communication and Representation: Exceptional written and verbal communication skills, with experience preparing regulatory submittals, enforcement responses, internal reports, and board-level presentations. Must be capable of delivering strategic updates to IDE Technologies (Israel), including quarterly EHS KPI presentations to the Board of Directors. Minimum Requirements • Education: Bachelor’s degree in environmental engineering, Environmental Science, Business Management, or a closely related technical discipline. Equivalent combinations of education and directly relevant experience (e.g., Associate’s degree plus 10 additional years of progressively responsible environmental permitting and regulatory compliance experience) may be considered., • Experience: Minimum of 10 years of direct experience managing environmental permitting, regulatory compliance, and reporting responsibilities as the designated Legally Responsible Person (LRP) or equivalent, within utility, industrial process, or large-scale water/wastewater treatment environments. At least 5 of those years must be in a senior or executive leadership capacity with oversight responsibilities across multiple jurisdictions or sites., • Regulatory Expertise: Deep working knowledge of the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES), California Ocean Plan, and brine/ocean discharge permit frameworks, with hands-on experience navigating marine and coastal environmental regulations, source water protection, and the regulatory landscape governing seawater desalination and potable water production., • Multi-Jurisdictional Oversight: Demonstrated ability to manage compliance obligations across multi-site and multi-state operations involving strict adherence to local, state, and federal environmental statutes—including permitting, inspections, and regulatory reporting across all lifecycle phases (design, construction, commissioning, and operations)., • Technical Proficiency: Strong applied understanding of water quality laboratory analysis, AWWA Standard Methods, and the ability to interpret and extrapolate water quality data to support regulatory compliance and facility operations., • Communication & Analysis: Exceptional technical writing skills, environmental data analytics capability, and the ability to translate compliance data into operational and risk-reduction insights for executive decision-makers. The salary listed is dependent upon qualifications and experience and may be higher or lower than what is listed.