Senior Environmental Professional Engineer
Senior Environmental Professional – Commercial Real Estate Due Diligence Company: SafeGuard AEC Represented Exclusively By: Luxus Group Recruiting Location: Remote – Anywhere in the United States Travel: Required for On-Site Property Assessments and Field Investigations Employment Type: Full-Time, Permanent Base Salary: $170,000–$220,000 Annually Benefits: Comprehensive Employee Benefits Offered Experience: 15+ Years Preferred Professional Licensure: Professional Engineer (PE) Preferred Specialties: Phase I Environmental Site Assessments (ESAs), Commercial Real Estate Due Diligence, Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, Property Condition Assessments (PCAs) About the Opportunity $170K–$220K | Remote Nationwide | Senior Technical Leadership | Commercial Real Estate Due Diligence Luxus Group Recruiting is partnering with SafeGuard AEC to recruit an accomplished Senior Environmental Professional to help launch and establish the company's new Commercial Real Estate Due Diligence Practice. This is an opportunity for an experienced environmental consulting professional to take a leading role in building a specialized practice serving commercial real estate lenders, financial institutions, investors, and property owners across the United States. SafeGuard AEC is seeking a seasoned technical expert with extensive experience preparing, reviewing, and signing Phase I Environmental Site Assessment (ESA) reports , particularly for commercial real estate transactions involving Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac lending programs. The successful candidate will provide senior technical oversight, serve as a qualified Environmental Professional, manage environmental due diligence assignments, and help develop the operational and technical infrastructure of a growing consulting practice. This is a fully remote position open to qualified candidates anywhere in the United States, with travel required for on-site property assessments, field investigations, and occasional business-related activities. The ideal candidate has spent much of their career in commercial real estate consulting, environmental due diligence, and lender-focused environmental assessment services.
Key Responsibilities
Phase I Environmental Site Assessments & Environmental Due Diligence - Lead, perform, review, and approve Phase I Environmental Site Assessments for commercial real estate transactions throughout the United States. - Serve as the designated Environmental Professional responsible for signing and providing technical oversight of qualifying Phase I ESA reports. - Ensure Phase I ESA reports comply with ASTM E1527-21, EPA All Appropriate Inquiries (AAI) requirements, and applicable client-specific standards. - Conduct and oversee environmental site reconnaissance, historical property research, regulatory database reviews, and environmental risk evaluations. - Identify and evaluate Recognized Environmental Conditions (RECs), Controlled Recognized Environmental Conditions (CRECs), and Historical Recognized Environmental Conditions (HRECs). - Prepare technically defensible environmental findings and recommendations for commercial real estate lenders and investors. - Review environmental concerns involving historical industrial uses, underground storage tanks, hazardous substances, petroleum contamination, and other potential environmental liabilities. - Recommend Phase II Environmental Site Assessments or additional investigations when warranted. - Maintain high standards for technical accuracy, report quality, regulatory compliance, and project turnaround times. Fannie Mae & Freddie Mac Due Diligence - Lead environmental due diligence assignments associated with Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac commercial and multifamily lending transactions. - Prepare, review, and approve environmental assessment reports that satisfy applicable agency-specific lender requirements. - Apply knowledge of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac environmental due diligence guidelines, reporting standards, and risk assessment expectations. - Coordinate with lenders, designated underwriting representatives, mortgage brokers, and commercial real estate transaction teams. - Evaluate environmental findings that may affect financing eligibility, underwriting, transaction timelines, or lender risk exposure. - Respond to lender technical questions, report revision requests, and environmental due diligence concerns. - Help establish internal procedures to consistently meet applicable agency lending and environmental reporting standards. - Support transactions involving multifamily housing, commercial properties, mixed-use developments, and other institutional real estate assets. Property Condition Assessments - Provide technical oversight and coordinate Property Condition Assessments (PCAs) for commercial real estate lending and investment transactions. - Support compliance with ASTM E2018-24 and applicable lender-specific property assessment requirements. - Coordinate with qualified building assessment professionals to evaluate property systems, physical deficiencies, deferred maintenance, and capital improvement needs. - Review PCA findings, repair recommendations, and cost estimates. - Help establish consistent reporting procedures for environmental and property condition due diligence assignments. Practice Development & Technical Leadership - Play a foundational role in launching SafeGuard AEC's commercial real estate due diligence practice. - Establish technical standards, quality assurance procedures, report templates, and project execution workflows. - Provide senior-level technical direction for environmental assessment projects nationwide. - Assist leadership in developing scalable systems for project management, report production, and client delivery. - Help identify future staffing needs and mentor environmental consultants and field assessment professionals. - Contribute to the development of the practice's service offerings, operational capabilities, and long-term growth strategy. - Support business development efforts through technical expertise and relationships within the commercial real estate lending industry. Field Work & Travel - Travel to commercial real estate properties throughout the United States to conduct environmental site assessments and property inspections. - Perform site reconnaissance, document property conditions, interview appropriate property representatives, and evaluate potential environmental concerns. - Coordinate field investigations and third-party assessment activities as needed. - Maintain the flexibility to support time-sensitive lender transactions and project deadlines. - Work remotely when not conducting field assessments or attending business-related meetings. Required Qualifications - Extensive professional experience in environmental consulting, commercial real estate due diligence, or environmental assessment services, with 15+ years strongly preferred. - Demonstrated experience conducting, preparing, reviewing, and signing Phase I Environmental Site Assessment reports. - Must meet the definition of an Environmental Professional under 40 CFR § 312.10, including the applicable education, licensure, and relevant professional experience requirements. - Strong understanding of ASTM E1527-21 and EPA All Appropriate Inquiries regulations. - Direct experience performing environmental due diligence for commercial real estate lending, financing, acquisitions, or refinancing transactions. - Working knowledge of Fannie Mae and/or Freddie Mac environmental due diligence requirements. - Experience evaluating environmental risk and communicating findings to lenders, investors, and commercial real estate professionals. - Ability to independently manage technical assignments and provide professional oversight of environmental reports. - Excellent technical writing, report review, and quality assurance skills. - Strong organizational skills and the ability to manage multiple projects with demanding transaction deadlines. - Ability and willingness to travel throughout the United States for required field work. - Ability to work independently in a remote environment while collaborating with clients and internal teams. Preferred Qualifications - Active Professional Engineer (PE) license. - 15–20+ years of environmental consulting or real estate due diligence experience. - Extensive experience with Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac multifamily lending transactions. - Previous experience serving as a Senior Environmental Professional, Principal Environmental Consultant, Technical Director, or Environmental Due Diligence Practice Leader. - Bachelor's or master's degree in Environmental Engineering, Civil Engineering, Geology, Environmental Science, or a related field. - Experience performing environmental assessments for national commercial real estate due diligence consulting firms. - Familiarity with Property Condition Assessments and ASTM E2018-24. - Experience working with institutional lenders, mortgage banking organizations, commercial real estate investors, or real estate investment firms. - Experience developing environmental due diligence service lines or managing technical consulting teams. - Established relationships within the commercial real estate lending and environmental consulting industries. - Knowledge of applicable HUD, SBA, or other institutional lender environmental due diligence requirements. Compensation & Benefits - SafeGuard AEC offers a competitive compensation package designed to attract an accomplished senior environmental consulting professional. - Annual Base Salary: $170,000–$200,000 - Additional employment highlights include: - Full-time, permanent employment. - Remote work flexibility from anywhere in the United States. - Employee benefits package. - Nationwide project exposure. - Senior-level technical leadership responsibilities. - Opportunity to help establish and grow a new consulting practice. - Direct involvement in shaping technical standards, service delivery, and future organizational growth. - Long-term professional development and advancement potential. - Specific benefit plan details and travel arrangements will be discussed during the interview process. Why Consider SafeGuard AEC? - Help Build a New Practice This is not simply another environmental consulting position. You will have the opportunity to help establish a commercial real estate due diligence practice from its early stages, contributing to its technical direction, operational standards, and future growth. - Competitive Senior-Level Compensation Earn a base salary of $170,000–$200,000 annually, reflecting the importance of your technical expertise, industry experience, and leadership responsibilities. - Work Remotely Anywhere in the United States Maintain a remote home-office arrangement while supporting commercial real estate transactions nationwide. Travel is required for property assessments and field assignments. - Apply Your Fannie Mae & Freddie Mac Expertise Leverage your experience with agency lending requirements, commercial real estate transactions, and environmental reporting to support a specialized consulting practice. - Serve as a Trusted Technical Authority Take ownership of technical quality, environmental risk evaluations, report review, and professional sign-off responsibilities while helping establish a strong reputation among lender clients. Who Is the Ideal Candidate? - The ideal candidate is a highly experienced Environmental Professional who has built a successful career in commercial real estate consulting and environmental due diligence