Environmental Affairs Manager- Birmingham
Southern Company
- Location
- Birmingham, AL, United States
- Work model
- On-Site
- Level
- Mid
- Posted
- Aug 13, 2026
About this role
Environmental Affairs Manager Location: Birmingham, Alabama | Approximately 25% travel Join Southern Nuclear in a strategic leadership role responsible for environmental governance, multi state permitting, regulatory policy and strategy, National Environmental Policy Act/nuclear licensing support, and stakeholder engagement. This position provides fleet-level oversight for operating facilities advancing environmental compliance, stewardship, risk management, and long-term business objectives.
Job Summary
The Environmental Affairs Manager leads fleet environmental compliance, governance, permitting, Environmental Management System (EMS) implementation, nuclear licensing support, and stakeholder engagement. The role advises senior leadership and serves as a key interface among Southern Nuclear, owner companies, Southern Company, and environmental regulatory agencies. Key Responsibilities • Lead permitting strategies and manage environmental permits, approvals, certifications, and commitments. • Serve as the primary environmental liaison with agencies, owner companies, industry organizations, and internal stakeholders. • Monitor performance, emerging requirements, and compliance risks; direct mitigation and corrective actions. • Support NRC licensing and communicate environmental issues, risks, and priorities. • Interface with the Chemistry Corporate Functional Area Manager to provide fleet governance, regulatory interpretation, and strategic direction for environmental compliance. • Advocate for environmental issue resolution through peer team engagement and cross functional teamwork.
Education
Requirements • Bachelor’s degree in environmental science, engineering, biology, chemistry, natural resources, or a related technical field. • Professional Engineer (PE), Certified Environmental Professional (CEP), or a comparable credential is also preferred.
Experience
Required • Leadership experience managing environmental programs, teams, or cross-functional initiatives across multiple facilities or jurisdictions. • Experience working with federal and state agencies and managing complex permits, inspections, negotiations, or compliance matters. • Commercial nuclear experience, including environmental monitoring, NRC licensing, or NEPA reviews, strongly preferred. Knowledge, Skills & Abilities • Strong knowledge of environmental laws, permitting, compliance assurance, EMS, and regulatory policy. • Understanding of commercial nuclear operations, licensing, power generation, and project development. • Ability to translate complex technical, legal, and regulatory information into clear strategies and decisions. • Strong communication, negotiation, stakeholder-management, and regulator-relations skills. • Ability to lead multidisciplinary teams and manage competing priorities across organizations. • Strategic judgment and disciplined use of performance data to identify risk and drive improvement. Leadership Expectations • Champion environmental compliance, stewardship, proactive risk recognition, and timely escalation. • Set clear expectations and accountability while developing staff and providing timely feedback. • Build collaborative teams and effective partnerships with sites, owner companies, regulators, and industry peers. • Balance compliance, operational reliability, stakeholder expectations, and business objectives while keeping senior leadership informed.