Job Description

Within our Corporate Technical Services team located in Denver – Leprino is seeking a Senior Manager, Environmental Compliance & Strategy to lead environmental compliance strategy across our manufacturing network. This role serves as the enterprise authority on environmental regulations, partners closely with plant and corporate leaders, and ensures our operations remain compliant, resilient, and positioned for long-term growth as the world’s largest mozzarella and dairy ingredient producer.

At Leprino, starting compensation for this role typically ranges between $147,000 and $169,000. This position has an annual target bonus of 15% .

What You’ll Do:

• Serve as Leprino’s enterprise technical authority on environmental compliance across water, wastewater, air emissions, hazardous and non-hazardous waste, and environmental releases, ensuring alignment with all local, state, and federal regulations.
• Own and continuously evolve Leprino’s Environmental Management System, including standards, SOPs, training frameworks, and governance mechanisms across all manufacturing locations and corporate operations.
• Lead companywide environmental compliance strategy, anticipating regulatory changes and operational constraints to protect business continuity, enable growth, and reduce risk.
• Act as the primary environmental compliance partner to plant leadership, providing hands-on support for audits, inspections, agency interactions, and enforcement actions as needed.
• Develop and support engineering studies and capital improvements related to wastewater treatment systems, including biological treatment, land application, and pretreatment operations.
• Conduct enterprise-level environmental risk assessments and provide regular updates, insights, and recommendations to senior leadership.
• Manage and direct external environmental consultants, including scope definition, technical oversight, quality review, and approval of regulatory submittals.
• Lead environmental due diligence and technical evaluation for capital projects, expansions, and process changes, assessing regulatory impact, permitting requirements, and long-term compliance implications.
• Partner cross-functionally with Operations, Engineering, Legal, and Technical Services to identify and reduce environmental risk, waste streams, emissions, and compliance-related operating costs.
• Establish, monitor, and improve environmental performance metrics tied to pretreatment systems, waste reduction, resource conservation, and emissions management.
• Investigate and resolve environmental operational issues using root cause analysis and continuous improvement methodologies.
• Influence and lead cross-functional teams in a matrix environment to drive consistent environmental practices and best-practice sharing across the organization.
• Provide technical leadership for industrial wastewater treatment systems , including biological treatment processes and/or land application systems, ensuring stable operation, compliance, and long-term reliability.

You Have At Least (Required Qualifications):

• A bachelor’s degree in environmental science , environmental or chemical engineering , or a related technical discipline.
• 10+ years of progressive experience leading environmental compliance, environmental engineering, or regulatory operations within complex industrial or manufacturing environments.
• Hands-on experience supporting or leading industrial wastewater treatment operations , including biological treatment systems and/or land application processes.
• Demonstrated expertise across core environmental compliance areas, including air emissions , wastewater and water systems , hazardous and non-hazardous waste , chemical management , and environmental permitting .
• Direct experience interpreting, implementing, and maintaining compliance with federal, state, and local environmental regulations across multiple facilities or operating environments.
• Proven ability to lead environmental programs in a matrix organization, influencing plant leadership and cross-functional partners without direct authority.
• Experience managing external environmental consultants, including defining scopes of work, reviewing technical deliverables, and approving regulatory submittals.
• Willingness and ability to travel regularly to manufacturing facilities to support audits, inspections, projects, and compliance initiatives.

We Hope You Also Have (Preferred Qualifications):

• A master’s degree in environmental science, engineering, or a related technical field.
• Professional Engineering (PE) licensure or equivalent professional certification.
• Hands-on experience with Environmental Management Systems, including development, deployment, and continuous improvement of standards, SOPs, and training programs.
• Specific regulatory experience with one or more of the following: EPCRA, SARA, Tier II, NPDES permitting, NSPS, Criteria Emissions reporting, GHG calculations and reporting, RCRA, SPCC, and RMP (ammonia).
• Experience supporting environmental compliance for capital projects, plant expansions, or major process changes.
• Prior experience operating in highly regulated or enforcement-sensitive environments such as heavy manufacturing, energy, chemicals, food processing, or federal facilities.
• Demonstrated ability to assess environmental risk at an enterprise level and translate technical findings into clear recommendations for senior leadership.

At Leprino, we believe in equal employment opportunity and make employment decisions based on each individual’s unique talents, experience, skills, and knowledge; we do not discriminate on the basis of any personal characteristics. We know we are better together and are committed to creating an inclusive and supportive culture in which all employees can thrive.

Offering You In Return:

A chance to be part of a global team of individuals passionate about producing and delivering high-quality products that help feed and nourish families around the world. Leprino could not be where it is today without our incredible employees. That is why we share in our success together by rewarding you for your hard work. Hiring great people who are in it for the long run is our goal. Through competitive salaries and bonuses, life, medical/dental/vision coverage, voluntary benefits, employee assistance programs, wellness incentives, tuition assistance, vacation, ten paid holidays, sick time, paid parental leave, annual merit increases, as well as the LFC Profit-Sharing & 401(k) plan. Your impact will be noticed and rewarded, as you seek to further our company, our customers, and one another.

Our Story:

Leprino’s history dates back to the 1950s, when Jim Leprino first started making small batches of mozzarella for local markets and eateries in the Little Italy neighborhood of Denver. We’ve grown a bit since then. Today, Leprino is the world’s largest manufacturer of mozzarella and lactose, and a leading producer of whey protein. Still owned by the Leprino family, our sights are set to be the “World’s Best Dairy Food and Ingredient Company.” From a small corner grocery store we have grown to over 5,500 employees throughout the globe. Will you join us on our journey?

While we review LinkedIn Easy Apply submissions and may reach out for an initial conversation, they are considered an inquiry rather than an official application. To be formally considered for this position, please apply directly at c areers.leprino.com

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