Environmental and Regulatory Affairs Coordinator - RPU

POSITION DESCRIPTION

The City of Rochester invites applications for :

Environmental and Regulatory Affairs Coordinator

Rochester Public Utilities

RPU, a division of the City of Rochester, MN, is the largest municipal utility in the State of Minnesota. RPU serves over 57,000 electric customers and 42,000 water customers in a 60 square mile service area and has revenues nearing $161 million annually.

Vision- "We Will Set the Standard for Service"

The City of Rochester is committed to a community where all members feel a sense of belonging. We commit to recognizing the diversity of our community members, listening to ALL voices and providing equitable services to create an inclusive place to live, play and work.

We believe  EQUITY should be at the center of all our work. We strive to represent our community in our teammates, as we know that diverse and inclusive teams are more innovative, and have an empowering impact on the work, progress and culture of our community.

It takes us all working together

Nature of Work

Under limited supervision, the Environmental and Regulatory Affairs Coordinator is responsible for direction, reporting, and coordination of environmental regulatory activities at Rochester Public Utilities (RPU), primarily within the Power Resources and Power Delivery divisions. Primary duties include maintaining environmental compliance programs, coordinating activities of hazardous materials, managing data and reporting functions, and serving as the utility’s liaison and expert by engaging with local, state and federal regulatory agencies. This position ensures compliance with environmental regulations established by outside entities such as the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the Occupational Safety and Health Agency, the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, and others as they apply to RPU.

Pay :   2025 starting salary range is $110,988 to $130,573 depending on qualifications, with advancement to $163,217.

Schedule and Location :   This role will be a majority in-person role with flexibility to work remotely up to two days a week when able. The hours are 8 : 00 AM to 5 PM Monday through Friday.

To have your application considered in the first round of review, please apply before October 27th, 2025

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

The work below is representative of the scope of work performed within this job classification.

• Environmental Compliance Programs
• Establish, implement, and maintain comprehensive environmental compliance programs across multiple areas including air quality, stormwater, solid waste management, and hazardous waste management.
• Develop and oversee plans and procedures related to hazardous materials handling, Spill Prevention Control and Countermeasures (SPCC), pollution prevention, and emergency response.
• Ensure compliance with regulatory activities such as SARA, EPCRA, RCRA, NESHAP, and other relevant laws.
• Review and interpret federal, state, and local environmental laws, regulations, and policies, providing guidance to ensure adherence.
• Hazardous Materials and Regulated Substances
• Lead the management and proper disposal of hazardous materials, such as PCBs, transformer oils, SF6, asbestos, lead, and other regulated substances.
• Coordinate and supervise hazardous materials programs including applications and compliance related to Superfund Amendments and Reauthorization Act (SARA), Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act (EPCRA), Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA), National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants (NESHAP), and others.
• Support safety requirements by contributing to the Safety Data Sheet database, employee right-to-know programs, or response and labeling of hazardous materials.
• Oversee spill response efforts and supervise cleanup operations, ensuring safety and compliance.
• Environmental Data Management, Reporting, and Projects
• Collect, manage, and submit environmental data required by federal and state agencies.
• Maintain emission data quality assurance and control plans, ensure accurate real-time data acquisition, and submit timely emission reports.
• Respond promptly to environmental violations, deviations, and inquiries.
• Manage environmental projects requiring application and permit preparation, ongoing testing, and adherence to regulations.
• Investigate pollution issues, develop remediation strategies, and coordinate sampling for special projects.
• Serve as project manager and liaison between RPU and consultants, engineers, and regulatory agencies.
• Audits, Inspections, and Compliance Monitoring
• Conduct and oversee compliance audits, inspections, and drills of RPU facilities.
• Develop procedures and guidelines for personnel to ensure proper response to permit violations, equipment failure, and field activities.
• Monitor and maintain records of underground and above-ground storage tanks.
• Oversee environmental review, assessments, and remedial actions, ensuring proper sampling and testing.
• Regulatory Relations and Community Engagement
• Represent RPU in meetings, hearings, and forums with local, state, or federal regulatory agencies, community groups, and the public.
• Coordinate and communicate with agencies during inspections or enforcement actions.
• Lead efforts in submitting comments on proposed regulations and investigate complaints or non-compliance issues.
• Collaborate with legal and regulatory teams on enforcement activities, prepare reports for agencies, and review proposed regulations for utility impact.
• Administrative and Management Duties
• Manage the Environmental and Regulatory division's activities, budget, and priorities.
• Prepare reports for management and the RPU Board on environmental compliance and initiatives.
• Maintain accurate environmental records, testing data, and compliance documentation.
• Foster relationships with environmental consultants, testing labs, and equipment manufacturers, and oversee interagency communications.
• Develop Request for Proposals, Statements of Qualifications, and manage procurement for environmental services and equipment.
• Prepare and monitor budgets, recommend vendor contracts, and oversee interagency communication.

Perform other duties as assigned.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

Education and Experience

A Bachelors degree in earth sciences, biological sciences, environmental engineering or closely related field, AND five (5) years’ experience in environmental matters, including federal / state regulatory processes, air quality permitting, and pollution testing and monitoring,

OR

An equivalent combination of education and work experience sufficient to successfully perform the essential duties of the job may also be considered at the discretion of the hiring manager

Licenses & Certifications

Valid Minnesota driver's license

Desirable Qualifications

An education in environmental studies

Experience in air permitting for steam and electrical generation facilities

Experience with instrumentation, control systems and databases

Experience in environmental areas such as regulation compliance, regulatory agency report preparation, permit application, environmental assessments and field investigation

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES

Knowledge of : local, state, and federal regulations, ordinances, policies, and procedures for air quality; written plans, specifications, presentations, and correspondence; environmental compliance sampling and testing standards and procedures; software programs including Emissions Monitoring Software, Microsoft programs, GIS, and Work Order Systems.

Skill in : oral and written communication, public relations and the ability to provide responsive and tactful customer service; independent problem solving; data management for regulatory compliance reporting and analysis requirements; managing competing priorities, variable workloads, and scheduling conflicts.

Ability to : convey technical and legal issues to nontechnical, technical, and regulatory audiences; accurately document operational conditions and response actions, establish and maintain effective working relationships with a wide cross-section of people to develop, operation, and maintain an air quality compliance program; correctly interpret, convey, and consistently apply regulations; exercise discretion and make effective decisions and independent judgements.

PHYSICAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL CRITERIA

In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, the following represents the physical and environmental demands for this position. The employee must be able to perform the essential functions with or without accommodation.

In consideration of the overall amount of physical effort required to perform this position, the work is best described as Sedentary Work : Exerting up to 10 pounds of force occasionally and / or a negligible amount of force frequently or constantly to lift, carry, push, pull or otherwise move objects, including the human body. Sedentary work involves sitting most of the time. Jobs are sedentary if walking and standing are required only occasionally and all other sedentary criteria are met.

Physical demands  that may be required continuously (2 / 3 or more of the time), frequently (1 / 3 to 2 / 3 of the time), and occasionally (up to 1 / 3 of the time) are noted below :

Frequent demands :  standing, sitting

Occasional demands :  walking, lifting, carrying, pushing / pulling, reaching, handling, fine dexterity, kneeling, crouching, bending, climbing

Sensory requirements  necessary in the performance of the essential functions of this position include : sight, hearing, touch, taste, and smell.