Environmental manager
An environmental manager is responsible for overseeing the environmental performance of private, public and voluntary sector organisations. They also develop, implement and monitor environmental strategies, policies and programmes that promote sustainable development.
Environmental managers examine corporate activities to establish where improvements can be made and ensure compliance with environmental legislation across the organisation.
Environmental managers have a wide remit and will review the whole operation, carrying out environmental audits and assessments, identifying and resolving environmental problems and acting as agents of change. An important element of the role is to ensure staff are trained at all levels and that the workforce recognises their own contributions to improved environmental performance.
Environmental managers have an extremely varied workload, which usually entails working at a corporate and strategic level to identify significant environmental effects. Typical work activities include:
Although this is a career open to all graduates, it would be useful to posses a degree or HND in one of the following subjects:
A relevant degree or postgraduate qualification provides the necessary skills for employment in this field. However, depending upon the nature of the company, relevant qualifications in business and experience of their core business activities may be considered as important as knowledge of environmental aspects.
There are plenty of postgraduate qualifications in the sector, but some can be quite specialised. Care should be taken to ensure there are plenty of opportunities in the chosen field. Once employed, postgraduate diplomas offer the chance to develop particular interests. For students, the equivalent length of practical experience is viewed on a comparable level.
Candidates also need to show evidence of their ability to:
Most employers look for candidates with work experience - even at junior levels - so relevant work experience, gained through vacation or sandwich placements, is advantageous. Experience gained through voluntary work can also be very helpful.
Becoming a student member of relevant societies, institutes or charities will not only increase knowledge of the sector and show commitment to potential employers, it will also provide essential opportunities to network and make useful contacts. It is also important to keep track of developments and changes in the sector.
Not all new positions are advertised, and it is still common for jobs to be filled through speculative applications and word of mouth, especially with small businesses or in the voluntary sector.
The heightened awareness of environmental issues means that there is an increasing number of jobs in the sector, but it also means that more people are studying environmental subjects, creating more competition for graduate positions.
However, it is important to note that opportunities are not just available in the environmental sector. It is possible to work as an environmental specialist and promote sustainable development in practically any career field.
For more information, see work experience and internships and search courses and research.
It is essential to keep abreast of environmental legislation, compliance and reporting requirements through training and continuous professional development (CPD).
Attending internal and external training courses, relevant seminars and conferences is an effective way of keeping up to date with current issues and refreshing knowledge. Some short courses can lead to further professional qualifications.
Courses and other events are offered on a regional and national basis by a range of professional bodies, including:
For future career development, it may be worthwhile to consider gaining chartered status of a professional body. Professional bodies also produce up-to-date information on issues and developments in environmental management through journals and briefing documents.
To gain help and support with planning your own professional development, take a look at the IEMA Skills Map . This shows the knowledge and skills required throughout environmental careers and may help you to decide the type of courses and professional qualifications you should take.
The ENDS Report , published monthly by Environmental Data Services (ENDS) , provides the latest news and official reports on environmental policy for members, although a free trial is available.
The Society for the Environment (SocEnv) brings together professional bodies across the disciplines of water, waste, ecology, environmental science and management, including IEMA, IEEM and CIWEM.
Environmental legislation, cost savings and desire for public environmental credentials are a driving force in the profession. Growth areas include corporate social responsibility (CSR), environmental impact assessment (EIA), environmental management and auditing, and waste management. Those aiming for the top of the profession will increasingly need to be able to manage a wider brief, embracing CSR and the implications of environmental management for corporate strategy.
There is no typical career path in environmental management, as each post tends to be unique and progression depends on the employing organisation. In some organisations, there may only be a small number of specialised environmental posts. Larger organisations will offer more opportunities, perhaps with the possibility of taking on a more senior corporate role or a wider role encompassing other activities.
Professional qualifications and continuous training are an integral part of career development, and the diverse nature of the profession offers opportunities to move into different areas of work in order to gain new skills and experience. There are also opportunities to join the growing number of environmental consultancies, become self-employed or move into the education field.
Environmental managers are employed in national, regional and local government and statutory agencies which include the Environment Agency (EA) and Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) . Local authorities have environmental responsibilities in key areas of housing, education, health, waste disposal and transport.
Non-governmental organisations (NGOs) also have an influence over environmental issues, and opportunities can be found in organisations such as Greenpeace UK and the British Trust for Conservation Volunteers (BTCV) . Work for NGOs, however, is not highly paid and is often voluntary. It is also very popular with graduates seeking vital work experience, so positions are highly competitive.
There are over 500 environmental consultants in the UK. There are increases in employment opportunities in environmental impact assessment, waste management, climate change, contaminated land, integrated pollution prevention and control, noise management and sustainability.
Within retail, corporate social responsibility (CSR) is an expanding area with a diverse range of issues. Ethical and environmental concerns are pertinent to every stage of retail operation from sourcing products, packaging, waste and recycling, and energy use.
There has been growth in the environmental media industry and in higher and further education, with teaching and research opportunities available. Generally, the number of businesses employing environmental managers has broadened significantly.
In most instances, organisations recruit graduates directly rather than through recruitment agencies, however they are still a useful source of vacancies. See the Recruitment and Employment Confederation (REC) website for details.
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