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Environmental Lead Jobs (NOW HIRING)

OpenAI

Environmental Lead

$226K - $285K/yr

About the Role The Environmental & Community Stewardship Lead owns how OpenAI evaluates, governs, and delivers environmental and community performance across its global data center portfolio. This ...

New

Stantec

Environmental Lead Monitor

Los Angeles, CA · On-site

$67K - $97K/yr

Your Opportunity Stantec is seeking a full-time (40 hours per week) Environmental Lead Monitor to support a high-volume environmental services program for a large utility client by providing in-field ...

WGI

Environmental Lead, Remediation

Orlando, FL · On-site

Lead environmental assessment, remediation, and permitting projects on a wide variety of transportation and land development projects. This will include serving as a project manager to plan and ...

Stantec

Environmental Lead Monitor

Bakersfield, CA · On-site

$67K - $97K/yr

Your Opportunity Stantec is seeking a full-time (40 hours per week) Environmental Lead Monitor to support a high-volume environmental services program for a large utility client by providing in-field ...

Stantec

Environmental Lead Monitor

Monrovia, CA · On-site

$62K - $90K/yr

Your Opportunity Stantec is seeking a full-time (40 hours per week) Environmental Lead Monitor to support a high-volume environmental services program for a large utility client by providing in-field ...

WGI

Environmental Lead, Remediation

Orlando, FL · On-site

Lead environmental assessment, remediation, and permitting projects on a wide variety of transportation and land development projects. This will include serving as a project manager to plan and ...

Stantec

Environmental Lead Monitor

Pasadena, CA · On-site

$67K - $97K/yr

Your Opportunity Stantec is seeking a full-time (40 hours per week) Environmental Lead Monitor to support a high-volume environmental services program for a large utility client by providing in-field ...

WGI

Environmental Lead, Remediation

Miami, FL · On-site

Lead environmental assessment, remediation, and permitting projects on a wide variety of transportation and land development projects. This will include serving as a project manager to plan and ...

WGI

Environmental Lead, Remediation

Winter Garden, FL · On-site

Lead environmental assessment, remediation, and permitting projects on a wide variety of transportation and land development projects. This will include serving as a project manager to plan and ...

WGI

Environmental Lead, Remediation

Gainesville, FL · On-site

Lead environmental assessment, remediation, and permitting projects on a wide variety of transportation and land development projects. This will include serving as a project manager to plan and ...

Sargent & Lundy

Senior Environmental Lead

Chicago, IL · Hybrid

As a member of Sargent & Lundy's Environmental and Permitting team, you will utilize your academic ... integration, and lead the industry in carbon capture technologies, managing projects from ...

HDR

Mid-Atlantic Environmental Lead

Glen Allen, VA

In the role of Mid-Atlantic Environmental Lead, we'll count on you to: * Direct and coordinate work of single or multidiscipline teams throughout the project's lifecycle (from development and ...

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All JobsEnvironmental Lead Jobs

Environmental Lead information

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$29.5K

$79.7K

$131.5K

How much do environmental lead jobs pay per year?

As of Jul 15, 2026, the average yearly pay for environmental lead in the United States is $79,677.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $57,500.00 and $97,500.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is the difference between Environmental Lead vs Environmental Technician?

AspectEnvironmental LeadEnvironmental Technician
Required CertificationsEnvironmental certifications (e.g., OSHA HAZWOPER, LEED) often preferredOSHA HAZWOPER certification typically required
Work EnvironmentSupervises projects, manages teams, and oversees compliancePerforms field sampling, data collection, and site assessments
Employer & Industry UsageUsed in construction, consulting, and industrial sectors for project oversightCommon in environmental testing labs, remediation sites, and fieldwork

Environmental Lead roles involve project management, supervision, and ensuring environmental compliance, often requiring certifications and experience. Environmental Technicians focus on field data collection and sampling. Both roles are essential in environmental projects but differ in responsibilities and seniority.

What is the highest paid environmental job?

The highest paid environmental jobs are often executive roles such as Environmental Directors or Chief Sustainability Officers, with salaries exceeding $150,000 annually. These positions typically require extensive experience, advanced degrees, and strong leadership skills in environmental policy, management, or consulting.

What jobs will no longer exist in 2030?

Environmental Lead roles are unlikely to disappear by 2030, but some traditional environmental monitoring jobs may decline due to automation and advances in data analysis tools. Jobs heavily reliant on manual data collection or outdated technologies could be phased out as new sustainable practices and digital solutions become standard in environmental management.

What are some common challenges faced by an Environmental Lead when implementing sustainability initiatives within an organization?

Environmental Leads often encounter challenges such as gaining cross-departmental buy-in, aligning sustainability goals with business objectives, and navigating regulatory requirements. They may need to balance environmental priorities with budget constraints and operational realities, which requires strong communication and negotiation skills. Building a culture of sustainability often involves ongoing education, collaboration, and the ability to adapt strategies based on feedback and new data.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as an Environmental Lead, and why are they important?

To thrive as an Environmental Lead, you generally need a strong background in environmental science or engineering, relevant industry experience, and knowledge of environmental regulations. Familiarity with environmental management systems (e.g., ISO 14001), auditing tools, and data analysis software is typically required, alongside certifications such as Certified Environmental Professional (CEP) being advantageous. Leadership, problem-solving, and effective communication are crucial soft skills for guiding teams and collaborating with stakeholders. These skills ensure compliance, drive sustainability initiatives, and help organizations minimize environmental impact while meeting regulatory requirements.

What is the highest salary for an environmental manager?

The highest salaries for environmental managers can exceed $130,000 annually, especially for those with extensive experience, advanced certifications, and leadership roles in large organizations or industries with strict environmental regulations. Salaries vary based on location, industry, and level of responsibility.

What does an environmental lead do?

An environmental lead oversees environmental compliance, manages sustainability initiatives, and ensures adherence to regulations. They often conduct site inspections, analyze environmental data, and coordinate with regulatory agencies, requiring strong knowledge of environmental laws and relevant certifications. Their role involves leadership in environmental projects and risk management within organizations.

What are Environmental Leads?

Environmental Leads are professionals responsible for overseeing environmental initiatives within an organization or project. They ensure compliance with environmental regulations, manage sustainability efforts, and guide teams in reducing environmental impact. Environmental Leads often conduct risk assessments, develop policies, and work with stakeholders to promote eco-friendly practices. Their work is critical in industries such as construction, manufacturing, and energy, where environmental considerations are a top priority.
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What cities are hiring for Environmental Lead jobs? Cities with the most Environmental Lead job openings:
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Environmental Lead jobs near you
Infographic showing various Environmental Lead job openings in the United States as of July 2026, with employment types broken down into 100% Full Time. Highlights an 100% In-person job distribution, with an average salary of $79,677 per year, or $38.3 per hour.
Environmental Lead

Environmental Lead

OpenAI

Remote

$226K - $285K/yr

Full-time

Posted yesterday

New

Job description

About OpenAI
OpenAI is building the world's most advanced AI infrastructure platform. Through the Industrial program, we are developing a global portfolio of next-generation data center campuses that integrate power, land, water, fiber, and community systems into resilient, long-term AI infrastructure.
The Site Development & Readiness organization ensures that every location we advance is technically buildable, commercially viable, environmentally sound, and supported by the communities in which we operate. Environmental and community performance are treated as first-order constraints, not downstream compliance activities.
About the Role
The Environmental & Community Stewardship Lead owns how OpenAI evaluates, governs, and delivers environmental and community performance across its global data center portfolio.
This role sets OpenAI's environmental standards, oversees third-party developers and consultants, leads early-stage environmental risk screening, and ensures projects meet both regulatory requirements and OpenAI's long-term stewardship commitments. The role plays a central part in determining which sites OpenAI advances, how they are permitted, and how they are received by host communities.
This is an individual contributor lead role and does not have direct reports initially. The role spans the full environmental lifecycle from site selection through permitting, construction, early operations, and long-term stewardship.
Key Responsibilities:
  • You will design and deliver community-aligned environmental programs that improve permitting outcomes, strengthen local trust, and provide high-impact, cost-effective benefits to host communities.
  • You will lead environmental diligence and risk assessment across prospective sites, including wetlands, water supply, floodplains, endangered species, cultural resources, stormwater, air, noise, and construction impacts, translating findings into commercial, schedule, and development decisions.
  • You will manage site-level environmental investigations and liability review, including Phase I / Phase II ESAs, noise studies, archaeological and cultural-resource reviews, and brownfield or acquired-property environmental liability assessment where relevant.
  • You will establish and enforce OpenAI's environmental and community standards across land developers, utilities, EPCs, and joint-venture partners, including auditing third-party studies, mitigation plans, and construction practices to ensure alignment with OpenAI's long-term operating model.
  • You will lead environmental and permitting strategies across federal, state, and local agencies, including NEPA, USACE Section 404, state wetlands, stormwater, air, water, and waste, sequencing approvals to support development schedules and operations.
  • You will oversee environmental compliance during construction and early operations, including stormwater (SWPPP), spill prevention (SPCC), hazardous materials, PFAS, and related field programs.
  • You will partner closely with internal teams across site selection, power, engineering, and community affairs to integrate environmental and community considerations into every stage of project development.

Qualifications:
  • 8+ years of experience in environmental permitting, infrastructure development, energy, or large-scale project delivery, with hands-on experience navigating complex federal and state regulatory frameworks.
  • Managed environmental consultants, developers, and regulators on politically visible, multi-stakeholder projects and are comfortable setting standards, holding partners accountable, and making difficult calls when risks are too high.
  • Understand how environmental risk translates into financial, schedule, and reputational risk, and you know how to design mitigation strategies that are practical, cost-effective, and credible with both regulators and communities.
  • Comfortable operating in ambiguous, fast-moving environments and can balance long-term stewardship with the need to deliver large-scale infrastructure on aggressive timelines.

About OpenAI
OpenAI is an AI research and deployment company dedicated to ensuring that general-purpose artificial intelligence benefits all of humanity. We push the boundaries of the capabilities of AI systems and seek to safely deploy them to the world through our products. AI is an extremely powerful tool that must be created with safety and human needs at its core, and to achieve our mission, we must encompass and value the many different perspectives, voices, and experiences that form the full spectrum of humanity.
We are an equal opportunity employer, and we do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, age, veteran status, disability, genetic information, or other applicable legally protected characteristic.
For additional information, please see OpenAI's Affirmative Action and Equal Employment Opportunity Policy Statement.
Background checks for applicants will be administered in accordance with applicable law, and qualified applicants with arrest or conviction records will be considered for employment consistent with those laws, including the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, the Los Angeles County Fair Chance Ordinance for Employers, and the California Fair Chance Act, for US-based candidates. For unincorporated Los Angeles County workers: we reasonably believe that criminal history may have a direct, adverse and negative relationship with the following job duties, potentially resulting in the withdrawal of a conditional offer of employment: protect computer hardware entrusted to you from theft, loss or damage; return all computer hardware in your possession (including the data contained therein) upon termination of employment or end of assignment; and maintain the confidentiality of proprietary, confidential, and non-public information. In addition, job duties require access to secure and protected information technology systems and related data security obligations.
To notify OpenAI that you believe this job posting is non-compliant, please submit a report through this form. No response will be provided to inquiries unrelated to job posting compliance.
We are committed to providing reasonable accommodations to applicants with disabilities, and requests can be made via this link.
OpenAI Global Applicant Privacy Policy
At OpenAI, we believe artificial intelligence has the potential to help people solve immense global challenges, and we want the upside of AI to be widely shared. Join us in shaping the future of technology.

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