Karpel Associates offers environmental and ESG executive search for renewable developers, utilities, energy manufacturers, investors and foundations across the US. We recruit chief sustainability officers, permitting directors, EHS leaders and climate disclosure specialists for organizations that need serious environmental leadership, then narrow the field to a few people ready to make an impact.
Environmental leadership in the energy sector
Every energy project touches the environment, and the scrutiny keeps rising. A utility-scale solar site needs biological surveys and stormwater plans. An offshore wind farm undergoes years of federal environmental review. A biofuel plant reports carbon intensity scores that determine its revenue. A public company faces investor questions about Scope 1, 2 and 3 emissions and climate risk.
Those pressures have created distinct career paths. Some leaders specialize in site-level permitting and compliance. Others focus on corporate disclosure and sustainability strategy. A third group works in philanthropy and policy, shaping how the energy transition is funded. We recruit for all three and know which one your organization needs.
The employers vary as much as the roles. We hear from developers that need a first permitting hire before a large portfolio reaches the agencies, from utilities assembling enterprise sustainability teams, from manufacturers facing customer audits of their supply chains, and from private equity firms that want portfolio-wide emissions reporting. Each of those situations calls for a different profile, and we write the search around it.
Three kinds of environmental roles we fill
Permitting and natural resources
These leaders take projects through NEPA, the Endangered Species Act, Clean Water Act Section 404 and state siting processes. They manage consultants, coordinate with agencies and tribes, and spot fatal flaws early. In renewable development, a great permitting director can save months on the critical path.
Compliance and EHS
Operating assets need leaders who maintain air, water and waste permits, run inspections and build safety cultures. This applies to manufacturing plants, generating facilities and field service organizations alike.
Sustainability, ESG and disclosure
Enterprise sustainability leaders manage greenhouse gas inventories, align reporting with frameworks investors expect, respond to state climate disclosure laws, and set credible targets. They often partner closely with the CFO and general counsel.
How we evaluate environmental executives
| Candidate type | Signs of a strong leader |
|---|---|
| Permitting director | Projects permitted on schedule, constructive agency relationships, early risk identification |
| EHS vice president | Measurable safety improvement, audit readiness, clear accountability across sites |
| Chief sustainability officer | Board-level credibility, data-backed disclosure, targets tied to business strategy |
| Foundation program director | Policy fluency, grantmaking judgment, coalition building |
We present only candidates who meet 90% or more of your defined requirements, and we narrow the list to the strongest three to five. Because environmental work spans science, law and operations, we involve the hiring manager closely in defining which of those disciplines matters most.
Why organizations choose Karpel Associates
Our founder, Stacey Karpel, has more than 20 years in executive search and has worked solely in renewable energy for the past 15+. We have long relationships with energy companies such as Engie and with philanthropic clients including the Energy Foundation and the David and Lucile Packard Foundation, which gives us a broad view of environmental leadership across corporate and mission-driven settings. Our searches average under 28 days, and 94% of placed candidates stay. Learn about retained, contingency and interim options on our services page.
Environmental leaders are in demand across the sectors we cover. Offshore programs rely on permitting talent from our wind power recruiting practice, and carbon intensity specialists often move between ESG roles and the biofuels companies we recruit for.
Find your next environmental leader
If you need someone to lead permitting, compliance or sustainability strategy, we are ready to help. Reach out to Karpel Associates to set up a discovery call.