Senior Environmental Resources Manager
Duke Energy · Charlotte
Important Application Submission Information
In order to ensure your application is successfully received before the job posting expires, please submit your application by 11:59 PM on Monday, October 26, 2026More than a career - a chance to make a difference in people's lives.
Build an exciting, rewarding career with us – help us make a difference for millions of people every day. Consider joining the Duke Energy team, where you'll find a friendly work environment, opportunities for growth and development, recognition for your work, and competitive pay and benefits.
Duke Energy is seeking an accomplished environmental and regulatory leader to advance the company’s environmental stewardship, hydropower licensing, stakeholder relationships, and strategic business objectives.
This position leads complex environmental and natural resource programs associated with Duke Energy’s reservoirs and federally licensed hydropower projects. The role serves as a trusted technical advisor and primary science communicator, translating scientific, regulatory, engineering, and operational matters into clear, actionable information for business leaders, regulators, community partners, and other stakeholders.
The successful candidate will combine technical credibility, strategic business thinking, and strong relationship-building skills. This individual will represent Duke Energy in high-profile interactions with regulators, elected officials, local and state government staff, environmental organizations, consultants, community leaders, and industry groups; build consensus; resolve conflicts; and advance long-term organizational objectives.
The role requires comfort working across organizational boundaries and developing practical solutions that balance environmental stewardship, regulatory obligations, operational needs, stakeholder interests, and business objectives.
The position is based in Charlotte, North Carolina and reports to the Senior Project Manager of Hydro Licensing East.
Responsibilities
- Represent Duke Energy in strategic interactions, public meetings, regulatory discussions, technical forums, and negotiations with agencies, elected officials, local and state government staff, environmental and industry groups, community leaders, property owners, and other stakeholders.
- Develop and lead environmental and natural resource strategies, programs, protocols, and initiatives for Duke Energy reservoirs and hydropower projects.
- Advise company leaders and project teams on complex environmental, regulatory, stakeholder, policy, permitting, and business matters.
- Build and maintain productive, trust-based relationships with external stakeholders and facilitate durable solutions among parties with differing interests.
- Serve as the primary environmental science communicator for Water Strategy, Hydro Licensing and Lake Services, translating complex scientific, regulatory, licensing, engineering, and operational information for technical and non-technical audiences.
- Develop, review, and edit technical reports, regulatory filings, executive communications, presentations, public-facing materials, and environmental or licensing documents.
- Lead science-based studies, technical analyses, and problem-solving related to reservoir operations, shoreline management, environmental permitting, habitat protection, fish passage, and hydropower licensing.
- Anticipate emerging environmental, regulatory, stakeholder, and business issues and develop forward-looking strategies that support organizational objectives.
- Lead contractors, consultants, and multidisciplinary teams responsible for technical studies, regulatory deliverables, environmental programs, budgets, and work products.
- Support Lake Services in Shoreline Management Plan determinations and future plan updates.
- Lead environmental and permitting support associated with Mayo Lake and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers permit requirements.
- Serving as the Habitat Enhancement Program Coordinator for selected hydro projects
- Providing leadership for the conduct of technical studies
- Developing Project Funding Authorization requests
- Developing relicensing project budgets and tracking budget status
- Developing training programs to support new license and stakeholder agreement implementation
- Auditing compliance with hydro project licenses and stakeholder agreements
- Serve as program owner for Habitat Enhancement Programs in the Catawba-Wateree and Keowee-Toxaway systems, fill mitigation initiatives associated with large public infrastructure projects, and fish passage initiatives at Wateree and Blewett Falls.
- Coordinate updates to applicable FERC license exhibits, including Exhibits F and G.
- Maintain and enhance the organization’s web presence and Lake Data Sheets, coordinate information across internal organizations, and prepare annual hydropower generation reports used to calculate FERC annual fees.
- Serve as the Water Strategy, Hydro Licensing and Lake Services Team Business Leader, supporting business planning, organizational effectiveness, and implementation of team priorities.
- Perform additional duties and leadership assignments based on organizational needs and the successful candidate’s experience and expertise
Required Qualifications
- Bachelors Degree in Engineering, Science or Other Technical
- 5 years minimum of related experience
Additional Preferred Qualifications
- Masters’ degree in Environmental Science, Natural Resources, Biological Sciences, Engineering, Water Resources, or a related technical field
- Minimum of eight years of related professional experience, including one or more years leading a project team or program.
- Demonstrated ability to interpret, follow, and instruct others on the requirements of licenses and state and federal regulations
- Experience in dealing directly with regulators, environmental organizations, local governments and homeowners organizations concerning complex issues
- Demonstrated experience working with federal and state agencies, local governments, environmental and non-governmental organizations, elected officials, local and state government staff, consultants, and other external stakeholders
- Proven ability to build trust, influence decisions, develop consensus, and navigate challenging issues among stakeholders with diverse or competing interests.
- Understanding of hydro operational issues
- Experience in preparing and delivering presentations to large groups
- Excellent communications skills (verbal, listening, technical writing, business writing) with relevant writing samples pre-dating this JOBS posting
- Self-starter with relevant examples of the ability to manage large numbers of tasks efficiently with minimal direct supervision
- Excellent computer skills (Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint) and the demonstrated ability to become proficient with Adobe Publisher and SharePoint
- Exceptional written, verbal, and presentation skills, including the ability to prepare executive-level communications and explain complex scientific, technical, regulatory, or operational matters to audiences with varying levels of expertise.
- Demonstrated strategic thinking and business acumen, including the ability to align environmental and regulatory initiatives with broader organizational objectives.
- Experience managing complex projects, programs, technical studies, or multidisciplinary teams.
- Proven ability to manage multiple priorities and deliver results with limited supervision.
- Knowledge of FERC regulations and the Clean Water Act and 401 water quality certifications
- Knowledge of Federal Power Act Section 18 regulations and experience in design and/or operation of fish passage facilities
- Knowledge of Endangered Species Act Section 7 requirements and experience in design and/or implementation of species protection plans
- Significant experience managing consultants
- Demonstrated ability to negotiate and reach balanced agreements with a wide range of diverse stakeholders
- Demonstrated ability to deal effectively with conflict and to remain calm in intense or emotional situations
- Experience managing technical projects
Working Conditions
- Field Mobility Classification - Work location is highly mobile, working at various facilities or field locations with occasional onsite meetings after the onboarding period. Employee must live within a reasonable commute to the posted reporting location, not greater than 50 miles one way.
- Office environment including extensive computer use
- Weekly day trips to company locations and occasional overnight travel (both on- and off-system)
- Occasional work in a hydro plant or field environment with exposure to all types of weather
- Occasional mildly strenuous physical activity (environmental sampling, walking on uneven surfaces, climbing stairs/ladders, lifting boxes, moving tables, etc.)
- Some over-time and weekend work
Key Competencies
- Strategic and Business Leadership
- Environmental and Regulatory Expertise
- Stakeholder Engagement and Relationship Management
- Executive and Technical Communication
- Negotiation and Conflict Resolution
- Cross-Functional Program and Project Leadership
- Sound Judgment, Adaptability, and Initiative
Travel Requirements
15-25%