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Senior Environmental Manager Jobs in Iowa (NOW HIRING)

Senior Environmental Scientist

Des Moines, IA · On-site

$81K - $109K/yr

Our Central Environmental business is looking for a Senior Environmental Scientist to join their ... The position also involves managing client relationships, preparing reports and proposals ...

Our Central Environmental business is looking for a Senior Environmental Scientist to join their ... The position also involves managing client relationships, preparing reports and proposals ...

Promptly advises senior management of findings of noncompliance. Summarizes and reports all audit ... Maintains a working knowledge of environmental regulations for all media. Maintains a specialized ...

Senior EHS Manager

Denison, IA · On-site

$77K - $105K/yr

As the Senior EHS Manager, you will lead regulatory requirements in areas such as Worker Safety ... This role manages Environmental, Health, and Safety programs and management systems for the ...

Senior EHS Manager

Denison, IA · On-site

$77K - $105K/yr

As the Senior EHS Manager, you will lead regulatory requirements in areas such as Worker Safety ... This role manages Environmental, Health, and Safety programs and management systems for the ...

Senior Project Manager The Senior Project Manager reports to the Project Lead and is responsible ... Work Environment This position operates in a hybrid work environment, with in-office presence ...

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Showing results 1-20

Senior Environmental Manager information

See Iowa salary details

$21.1K

$111.1K

$197.2K

How much do senior environmental manager jobs pay per year?

As of Aug 23, 2026, the average yearly pay for senior environmental manager in Iowa is $111,076.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $79,400.00 and $136,200.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What does a senior environmental manager do?

A Senior Environmental Manager oversees an organization's environmental programs, ensuring compliance with environmental laws and regulations. They develop and implement sustainability initiatives, manage environmental risks, and often lead a team of specialists. Their role involves conducting environmental impact assessments, liaising with regulatory agencies, and advising senior leadership on environmental policy. They play a critical part in helping organizations minimize their environmental footprint and achieve sustainability goals.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a senior environmental manager?

A Senior Environmental Manager typically needs expertise in environmental regulations, sustainability practices, and project management, often supported by a relevant degree and several years of experience. Familiarity with environmental management systems (EMS), regulatory compliance tools, and certifications like ISO 14001 is commonly required. Strong leadership, communication, and analytical skills help them effectively guide teams and collaborate with stakeholders. These abilities are crucial for ensuring environmental compliance, minimizing risks, and driving organizational sustainability initiatives.

What are some common challenges a senior environmental manager faces when implementing sustainability initiatives across multiple departments?

A Senior Environmental Manager often encounters challenges such as aligning diverse departmental goals with overarching sustainability objectives, securing buy-in from stakeholders, and navigating regulatory complexities. Building consensus and fostering collaboration among teams with different priorities—such as operations, procurement, and compliance—requires strong communication and negotiation skills. Additionally, tracking progress and demonstrating the tangible impact of initiatives can be complex, especially when dealing with large organizations or multi-site operations.

What is the difference between Senior Environmental Manager vs Environmental Specialist?

AspectSenior Environmental ManagerEnvironmental Specialist
CredentialsBachelor's/Master's in Environmental Science or related field, certifications like LEED, ISO 14001Bachelor's in Environmental Science, certifications like OSHA, EPA training
Work EnvironmentLeads teams, manages projects, oversees compliance in corporate or industrial settingsConducts assessments, data collection, and reporting, often in field or laboratory settings
Employer & Industry UsageUsed in corporations, consulting firms, government agencies for leadership rolesCommonly employed in environmental consulting, research, and regulatory agencies

The main difference is that a Senior Environmental Manager oversees environmental programs and manages teams, while an Environmental Specialist focuses on technical assessments and data analysis. The manager role involves strategic planning and compliance oversight, whereas the specialist role is more hands-on and detail-oriented.

What are popular job titles related to Senior Environmental Manager jobs in Iowa?

For Senior Environmental Manager jobs in Iowa, the most frequently searched job titles are:

What job categories do people searching Senior Environmental Manager jobs in Iowa look for?

The top searched job categories for Senior Environmental Manager jobs in Iowa are:

What cities in Iowa are hiring for Senior Environmental Manager jobs?

Cities in Iowa with the most Senior Environmental Manager job openings:

Infographic showing various Senior Environmental Manager job openings in Iowa as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 90% Full Time, 9% Part Time, and 1% Contract. Highlights an 80% Physical, 2% Hybrid, and 18% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $111,076 per year, or $53.4 per hour.

Senior Environmental Scientist

GHD Group

Des Moines, IA • On-site

$81K - $109K/yr

Full-time

Re-posted 29 days ago


Job description


There's no pledge more important than the one we make to look after our environment, and we're committed to helping you do exactly that.
Join us as we strive to ensure a sustainable future for our communities and the world we live in.
Become part of our global network of skilled engineers, scientists, auditors, planners and environmental specialists, all working together to leave this world better than we found it.
Who are we looking for?
Our Central Environmental business is looking for a Senior Environmental Scientist to join their team, based out of Des Moines, IA.
This role is responsible for supporting a wide range of environmental consulting activities, including collecting and analyzing data to identify key trends, coordinating environmental impact assessments, and overseeing environmental risk management efforts. You'll monitor HSE performance, support compliance improvements, and contribute to climate adaptation strategies across diverse projects. The position also involves managing client relationships, preparing reports and proposals, documenting process improvements, and delivering small- to medium-scale projects. Ongoing professional development, knowledge-sharing within communities of practice, and staying current with industry standards are essential to success in this role.
Working with an energetic and high performing team, this position offers a variety of work and will see you involved in:
  • Data Collection and Analysis: Conduct research using primary data sources, and select information needed for the analysis of key themes and trends.
  • Health, Safety, and Environment: Monitor and review performance against health, safety, and environment (HSE) key performance indicators (KPIs) and patterns of behavior within the area of responsibility. Take action to improve performance and to resolve noncompliance with the organization's HSE policies, procedures, and mandatory instructions.
  • Personal Capability Building: Develop own capabilities by participating in assessment and development planning activities as well as formal and informal training and coaching; gain or maintain external professional accreditation, where relevant, to improve performance and fulfill personal potential. Maintain an in-depth understanding of technology, external regulation, and industry best practices through ongoing education, attending conferences, and reading specialist media.
  • Client & Customer Management (External): Manage important client relationships with guidance from senior colleagues, or oversee relationship management with a group of more transactional clients and customers.
  • Environmental Impact Assessment: Coordinate and deliver environmental impact assessment projects, maintaining accuracy and adherence to project timelines.
  • Solutions Analysis: Analyze specific problems and issues to find the best solutions. Solutions could be technical or professional in nature.
  • Project Management: Deliver small- or medium-scale projects while working within an established program management plan.
  • Insights and Reporting: Prepare and coordinate the completion of various data and analytics reports.
  • Analysis of "As Is" and "To Be": Document "as is" and "to be" processes and describe the changes required to migrate to the "to be" capability to record accurately the change required.
  • Environmental Risk Management: Oversee the environmental risk management processes, ensuring the organization's operations have minimal detrimental impact on the environment.
  • Request for Bid Solicitation/Proposal/Tender Response: Gather information and resources, draft and complete proposals, and fulfill all process requirements (in terms of deadlines, documentation, etc.) in response to bid solicitations, request for proposal, and request for tender to create the best chance of being awarded the contract.
  • Climate Adaptation Strategy: Lead the development and execution of climate adaptation strategies for multiple large-scale projects or geographic locations, focusing on sustainability and resilience.
  • Community of Practice Management: Participate in and contribute to a community of practice in a defined area of expertise or consulting to build own capability and develop innovative practice among colleagues.

Education
  • Bachelor's and/or Master's degree in Environmental Engineering, Geology, Environmental Science or related field
  • PE or PG will be highly regarded

Experience
  • 10+ years of experience in environmental consulting including environmental permitting & compliance, remediation & design, site assessments, report writing, data management & interpretation, project coordination, and managing clients
  • Experience in coordinating and simultaneously managing multiple tasks while maintaining a high degree of attention to detail in a consulting environment is preferred
  • Strong written and verbal communication skills with the ability to work both within a team and independently
  • Ability work in a fast-paced environment
  • OSHA 40-hour HAZWOPER certification a plus
  • Ability and willingness to travel client meetings is required

#LI-JS1
As a multicultural organization, we encourage individual achievement and recognize the strength of a diverse workforce. GHD is an equal opportunity employer. We provide equal employment opportunities to all qualified employees and applicants without regard to race, color, religion, genetic information, national origin, sex (including same sex), sexual orientation, gender identity, pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions, age, disability or handicap, citizenship status, service member status, or any other category protected by federal, state, or local law.