Senior Associate, HSSE
Job Type: Exempt Salaried, Full-Time
Location: Virginia or North Carolina (Remote/Field-Based)
Reports To: VP Associate, HSSE
Department: Health, Safety, Security & Environment (HSSE)
About Us
TerraForm Power is a leading owner, operator, and producer of renewable energy across North America. As a portfolio company of Brookfield Renewable, we own and operate approximately 2,200 MW of utility-scale wind, solar, and battery energy storage facilities across 15 U.S. states and Ontario, Canada.
Headquartered in New York City, TerraForm Power is committed to delivering reliable, innovative renewable energy solutions that help customers achieve their clean energy goals. Our experienced team manages every aspect of our operations – from power generation and asset management to commercial energy solutions – ensuring the safe, reliable, and efficient performance of our renewable energy facilities.
At TerraForm Power, our people are at the heart of our success. We foster a culture built on safety, integrity, collaboration, innovation, and continuous improvement, while investing in the development of our employees and supporting the communities where we operate through environmental stewardship, charitable giving, and meaningful local partnerships.
If you're passionate about renewable energy and want to make a lasting impact on the future of clean power, we invite you to join our team.
Job Summary
Reporting to the VP, HSSE, the Senior Associate, HSSE serves as the senior regional Health, Safety, Security & Environmental (HSSE) subject matter expert supporting TerraForm Power's operating and development assets. This role provides strategic technical leadership across multiple wind, solar, battery energy storage (BESS), and construction projects by developing, implementing, and continuously improving HSSE programs that strengthen organizational safety culture, ensure regulatory compliance, and reduce operational risk.
The Senior Associate partners directly with Operations, Engineering, Development, Construction, and Executive Leadership to influence business decisions, improve operational performance, and drive enterprise-wide continuous improvement initiatives. The role independently leads complex investigations, develops regional HSSE strategies, mentors other HSSE professionals, and serves as the primary technical advisor on regulatory, environmental, and occupational safety matters.
Key Responsibilities
- Strategic Leadership
- Serve as the senior regional HSSE advisor supporting Operations leadership across multiple renewable energy facilities and construction projects.
- Lead the regional implementation, governance, and continuous improvement of TerraForm's HSSE Management System.
- Develop regional HSSE improvement strategies that align with corporate objectives while addressing operational risks unique to assigned business units.
- Translate regulatory requirements into practical operational standards and provide guidance on emerging regulatory developments.
- Operational Excellence
- Lead complex HSSE audits, compliance assessments, operational reviews, and management system evaluations across operating facilities.
- Analyze leading and lagging safety indicators, audit findings, near misses, and incident trends to identify systemic risks and develop proactive mitigation strategies.
- Design, implement, and evaluate corrective and preventive action programs to improve overall organizational safety performance.
- Conduct enterprise-level operational risk assessments for maintenance activities, capital projects, and new asset integration.
- Incident Investigation & Risk Management
- Lead investigations involving serious injuries, high-potential events, environmental incidents, regulatory matters, and significant property damage.
- Facilitate root cause analyses using recognized investigation methodologies and ensure corrective actions are effectively implemented.
- Recommend long-term improvements that address systemic organizational risks rather than isolated incidents.
- Technical Leadership
- Serve as the recognized technical resource for OSHA regulations, environmental compliance, contractor safety, and renewable energy industry best practices.
- Develop and maintain regional HSSE standards, procedures, guidance documents, and operational best practices.
- Provide technical consultation to Operations, Engineering, Construction, Procurement, and Development teams throughout the project lifecycle.
- Leadership & Collaboration
- Mentor HSSE Specialists and provide technical coaching to operational leaders, supervisors, and project teams.
- Lead cross-functional initiatives to improve organizational safety culture, operational excellence, and contractor performance.
- Build collaborative relationships with regulatory agencies, external consultants, contractors, and industry organizations.
- Represent TerraForm during regulatory inspections, customer audits, and external HSSE assessments.
- Continuous Improvement
- Identify opportunities to improve organizational HSSE maturity through process optimization, technology adoption, and operational best practices.
- Develop business cases supporting new safety initiatives, technologies, and capital investments.
- Measure effectiveness of HSSE initiatives and present recommendations to senior leadership.
Qualifications
- Bachelor's degree in Occupational Safety, Environmental Science, Engineering, Industrial Hygiene, or a related field.
- Minimum 8 years of progressive HSSE experience supporting renewable energy, utility, construction, or heavy industrial operations.
- Demonstrated experience leading regional HSSE programs, conducting complex incident investigations, and implementing risk management and continuous improvement initiatives.
- Strong working knowledge of OSHA regulations, environmental compliance requirements, and HSSE management systems.
- Proven ability to influence cross-functional leaders, manage multiple priorities, and communicate effectively with all levels of the organization.
- Professional safety certification (e.g., CSP, ASP, CIH, CHMM) is preferred.
Physical Requirements
- Ability to travel up to 60% of the time.
- Ability to work in active construction and operating facility environments.
- Ability to wear required PPE and perform field inspections in varying weather conditions.
- Valid driver's license and ability to travel throughout the assigned territory.
Recruitment Agency Notice:
TerraForm Power Human Resources team does not accept unsolicited resumes from third party recruiters, staffing firms, or related agencies. The Human Resources team coordinates all recruiting and hiring at our company. We do not accept resumes from third-party recruiters unless authorized by the Human Resources team and if a signed agreement is in place. Any unsolicited resumes will be considered property of TerraForm Power and we are not responsible for any related fees. All communication related to recruiting partnerships should ONLY be directed to the Human Resources team.
Equal Opportunity Employer
This employer is required to notify all applicants of their rights pursuant to federal employment laws. For further information, please review the Know Your Rights (https://www.eeoc.gov/poster) notice from the Department of Labor.
