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.
Southern Nuclear , a subsidiary of Southern Company (NYSE: SO), is a leader among the nation’s nuclear energy facility operators and an innovator in advanced nuclear technologies. Southern Nuclear is an essential part of Southern Company’s energy portfolio, operating over 8,200 MW across eight nuclear energy units in Alabama and Georgia at the Joseph M. Farley Nuclear Plant near Dothan, Ala., the Edwin I. Hatch Nuclear Plant near Baxley, Ga., and the Alvin W. Vogtle Electric Generating Plant near Waynesboro, Ga.
The company recently achieved commercial operation on Vogtle Units 3&4, representing an historic achievement for the nuclear industry and the country. Vogtle Units 3&4 are the first new nuclear units to reach commercial operation and be built in the United States in the last three decades. Southern Nuclear is a recognized leader in the industry in nuclear and fuel innovation, having been the first to deploy Accident Tolerant Fuels and winning over 10 consecutive Top Innovative Practice (TIP) Awards and eight EPRI awards.
For more than 40 years, Southern Nuclear has operated nuclear energy facilities at the highest levels of safety and reliability, generating carbon-free electricity for millions of homes and businesses. The company’s headquarters is in Birmingham, Ala.
Twitter: @SouthernNuclear; Facebook: facebook.com/southernnuclear; www.southernnuclear.com
Southern Company (NYSE: SO ) is a leading energy provider serving 9 million customers across the Southeast and beyond through its family of companies. Providing clean, safe, reliable and affordable energy with excellent service is our mission. The company has electric operating companies in three states, natural gas distribution companies in four states, a competitive generation company, a leading distributed energy solutions provider with national capabilities, a fiber optics network and telecommunications services. Through an industry-leading commitment to innovation, resilience and sustainability, we are taking action to meet customers' and communities' needs while advancing our goal of net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. Our uncompromising values ensure we put the needs of those we serve at the center of everything we do and are the key to our sustained success. We are transforming energy into economic, environmental and social progress for tomorrow. Our corporate culture has been recognized by a variety of organizations, earning the company awards and recognitions that reflect Our Values and dedication to service. To learn more, visit www.southerncompany.com .
Southern Company invests in the well-being of its employees and their families through a comprehensive total rewards strategy that includes competitive base salary, annual incentive awards for eligible employees and health, welfare and retirement benefits designed to support physical, financial, and emotional/social well-being. This position may also be eligible for additional compensation, such as an incentive program, with the amount of any bonus/awards subject to the terms and conditions of the applicable incentive plan(s). A summary of the benefits offered for this position can be found here https://seo.nlx.org/southernco/pdf/SOCO-Benefits.pdf . Additional and specific details about total compensation and benefits will also be provided during the hiring process.
Southern Company is an equal opportunity employer where an applicant's qualifications are considered without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, genetic information, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other basis prohibited by law.
