Founded in 1920, Eastman is a global specialty materials company that produces a broad range of products found in items people use every day. With the purpose of enhancing the quality of life in a material way, Eastman works with customers to deliver innovative products and solutions while maintaining a commitment to safety and sustainability. The company’s innovation-driven growth model takes advantage of world-class technology platforms, deep customer engagement, and differentiated application development to grow its leading positions in attractive end markets such as transportation, building and construction, and consumables. As a globally inclusive and diverse company, Eastman employs approximately 14,000 people around the world and serves customers in more than 100 countries. The company had 2023 revenue of approximately $9.2 billion and is headquartered in Kingsport, Tennessee, USA. For more information, visit www.eastman.com.
Responsibilities
The Senior Health, Safety, and Environmental (HSE) Attorney is responsible for providing legal counsel and guidance on a broad array of HSE issues with a specific focus on waste and water matters.
Solid/Hazardous Waste, Water Resources, Wastewater Management & other HSE-related Compliance Counseling and Enforcement Defense:
o Detailed knowledge of, a willingness to maintain continued competency in, and the ability to provide day-to-day counseling across regions and businesses for water and waste statutes, regulations, and policies, including specifically the federal Clean Water Act, Resource Conservation and Recovery Act, Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act, Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act and U.S. state and local corollaries. The role will help ensure compliance with these and other HSE laws and regulations.
o Legal research regarding waste management and water resources and other HSE-related legal requirements and advising management and the Global HSE technical staff on the enterprise’s legal obligations, compliance options, and practical solutions.
o Serve as a member of the due diligence team on mergers, acquisitions and divestitures and post-closing integrations or trailing liabilities to assess and ensure compliance with water, waste, land and other HSE laws and regulations of the merger, acquisition or divestiture.
o Recommend, draft, review and implement waste management, water resources and other HSE law compliance policies and procedures.
o Lead or support the investigation and reporting of environmental regulatory and other HSE-related incidents and defend enforcement actions globally.
o Monitor, prepare, and review written comments on, and advise management and the Global HSE technical staff regarding new and amended waste management and water resources-related laws and regulations, including those related to emerging contaminants.
o Act as HSE Legal Services representative on internal Eastman subject matter expert teams and provide input to corporate sustainability reporting and related initiatives.
Training & Education
o Oversee development and delivery of waste management and water resources and other HSE-related training content for client audiences.
o Maintain effective and proactive communications across the Company on water, waste, land and other HSE-related regulatory legal risks legal and policy issues.
Partnering and Collaboration
o Develop and maintain effective relationships with other Eastman Law Department legal professionals to meet HSE legal support needs, align processes, and support broader initiatives.
o Collaborate with Eastman Law Department attorneys and legal professionals supporting businesses and staff functions to enable effective cross-functional relationships and partnering on waste management, water resources and land-related regulatory matters.
o Collaborate with Eastman’s Global Health, Safety, and Environmental technical organization and outside counsel in connection with the enterprises’ compliance with water, waste and land-related regulatory laws and regulations.
o Collaborate with Eastman’s Government Affairs, Marketing Communications, Corporate Communications, Global Public and Community Affairs, and internal other groups regarding all aspects of HSE-related laws and regulations.
o Represent Eastman in HSE-related trade groups, including specifically the American Chemistry Council.
• A J.D. with high academic achievement from an ABA accredited U.S. law school.
• Bachelor’s degree or higher with high academic achievement from a highly regarded college or university.
• Licensure by the Tennessee bar is required. Candidates must be a member of the Tennessee bar, able to waive into that bar or willing to sit for the Tennessee bar exam within 6 months of employment.
• A minimum of five to ten (5-10) years’ experience with environmental laws and regulations (e.g., federal Clean Water Act, Resource Conservation and Control Act, CERCLA/EPCRA, U.S. state corollaries, and similar laws in other jurisdictions) with a depth and breadth of understanding that demonstrate clear subject matter expertise.
• Experience with other areas of environmental, health, and safety laws and regulations in the U.S. (e.g., Clean Air Act, the Occupational Health and Safety Act, Toxic Substances Control Act, Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, Rodenticide Act) and abroad (e.g., Regulation for Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals), will be a significant plus.
• Strong law firm training and/or prior in-house experience strongly preferred. Prior government experience or interactions will be an advantage.
• Highly developed sense of judgment, risk management, and ability to balance business needs, regulatory obligations and reputational risks in an objective, practical way that both grasps the “big picture” and attends to details.
• Highly effective written and verbal communications skills, including the ability to communicate and relate at all levels of the organization from legal and technical experts to senior executives to the Board of Directors.
• Strong legal counseling and interpersonal skills such that the candidate’s counsel and judgment are actively sought by clients and legal peers.
• The ability to travel as necessary to represent and protect Eastman’s interests.
• Unquestioned integrity and ethics in business and personal conduct.
Business Travel
o Periodic business travel, including some international travel, is required to meet the job expectations.
This role will be based at Eastman's Corporate Headquarters in Kingsport, TN.
Eastman Chemical Company is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, pregnancy, veteran status or any other protected classes as designated by law.
Eastman is committed to creating a powerfully diverse workforce and a broadly inclusive workplace, where everyone can contribute to their fullest potential each day.