Environmental Trainee

Sims Metal (Sims) is a global leader in metal recycling. With facilities across the globe, Sims plays an intrinsic role in the circular economy by making resources available for future use. As a responsible corporate citizen, we continuously seek new ways to broaden our participation in the environmental sector, ensuring that our future is as bright, safe, and secure as at any time in our long history.

This role represents an opportunity for Sims Metal (NAM) to develop and train an Environmental Professional in support of North American Metal's (NAM's) Environmental Permitting & Compliance Program (EP&C).    The Environmental Program Trainee will immediately be involved in understanding, organizing and improving current environmental management systems (e.g., Velocity Environmental Task Manager), assisting existing Specialists with specified recordkeeping or reporting tasks, and participating in site walks/visits in an attempt to identify environmental performance opportunities.  The role will not only focus on the critical needs of the EP&C Program, but will also receive specific training on all programs and functions within the company/NAM.  This comprehensive training program is intended to prepare the Environmental Program Trainee for a future non-trainee role in the EP&C program (e.g., Environmental Specialist) or similar, within a 18-24 month period.

Principal Accountabilities:

• Provide support to the EP&C Program in the development of environmental tasks for Sims' Environmental Task Manager.  The environmental tasks will be developed based on a combination of permit requirements, regulatory requirements and/or company best practices (or policy).  These responsibilities are intended to provide the Environmental Program Trainee with valuable insight into the different State regulatory programs, the types or requirements to be anticipated from permits for different media types, and how best to maintain compliance with the company's permits and applicable regulation.
• Ensure that Sims' Environmental Task Manager is completely up to date with all applicable permits and regulations.  This includes eliminating duplicative language, removing old language/tasks that are no longer consistent or applicable, and assigning appropriate staff to the applicable tasks.
• Support the Environmental Partner with key programmatic or system based needs as they arise.  Such tasks may involve support in updating existing Environmental Dashboard tools, developing new Dashboards in the PowerBI environment or organizing critical environmental data (e.g., stormwater sampling results).
• Assist EP&C in the development and implementation of program related training classes, tool-box talks, Environmental Learning documents and Facility Self Inspection Questionnaires.  These tools represent some of the mechanisms in continuing to promote positive environmental performance within Sims NAM.
• As regulatory, permit and task awareness is advanced, the Environmental Program Trainee will provide support to the Environmental Specialists within the EP&C group.  This support is intended to provide the Trainee with assignments, tasks and deliverables development consistent with the Specialist roles and responsibilities.  This work will provide valuable insight into the Trainee's capabilities for continued advancement to the Specialist level and beyond.
• The Environmental Program Trainee will be encouraged to attend both announced and unannounced regulatory agency inspections.  The goal is to have the Trainee shadow the Environmental Partner or Specialists during such inspections in an effort to learn about proper agency interaction, the focus of the agencies and how best to follow-up in response to inspections.
• The Environmental Program Trainee will participate in all EP&C program meetings.  The Trainee will also be asked to participate in applicable meetings with Operations, Engineering or others, as dictated by certain project needs and the involvement of the EP&C Program.  The Trainee will be responsible for building trust and understanding within all levels of the organization, inside the EP&C and outside (e.g., with Operations and Engineering).
• Assist the EP&C Partner and Specialists in responding to the needs of the Commercial Program, largely in response to customer requests and environmental questionnaires.
• The Environmental Program Trainee, within 5-6 months of employment, will also begin a program to shadow or follow individuals from other key programs within Sims' (e.g.,  Ferrous Yard Operations, Ship/Barge Loading, Scale Operations, Non-Fe Yard Operations, Shredder Operations, MRP Operations, Heavy Equipment Maintenance, Purchasing, Transportation, Commercial, Engineering/PM and Finance).  The shadow opportunities will typically last from 2-5 days per focus area and will largely be performed during months 5-18 following the start of employment at Sims.

Experience / Qualifications Required:

• Degree in environmental sciences, engineering, or related discipline (or equivalent experience)
• Zero to three (3) years in experience in environmental management, heavy industry experience is preferred but not required.
• Highly detail oriented, fast-learning and a self-starter who isn't afraid to make decisions with supporting logic and justification.
• Highly proficient in utilizing Microsoft products (like Excel, Word, Outlook, Teams, etc.).  Prior experience working with large data or information sets is a plus.
• Environmental Management System knowledge or familiarity with such principles is a plus.

Skills

• Excellent interpersonal, verbal and written communication, and presentation skills
• Ability to work effectively with broad range of individuals at multiple levels
• Ability to work independently
• Exceptional organizational skills
• Ability to prioritize tasks, meet deadlines, manage time and work in a fast-paced environment

A career with Sims provides you with the opportunity to work with an organization whose goal is to be the world’s safest and most responsible recycling company. Our people achieve this by creating a zero-harm workplace, being exemplary members of the communities in which we operate, and being responsible stewards of the environment. We also offer competitive pay and a range of attractive benefits.

Sims is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. We value the diversity of all of our employees and are committed to creating an inclusive working environment where everyone can contribute, advance on merit, and realize their full potential. Sims does not discriminate with regard to race, sex, religion, color, national origin, citizenship status, disability, age, marital or familial status, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, veteran status, housing status, source of income, or any other status protected by federal, state, or local laws. This applies to any employment decision, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation, and training.  qualified applicants with a disability in need of a reasonable accommodation may request such without fear of reprisal or discrimination. 

To achieve our purpose to create a world without waste to preserve our planet, we are guided by our Principles of Purpose: Be Safe + Well, Band Together, Be Accountable + Transparent, Consistently Innovate, Inspire with Purpose, Celebrate + Have Fun.