Environmental Manager: Job Description and Requirements

Sep 24, 2019

Learn about the education and preparation needed to become an environmental manager. Get a
quick view of the requirements as well as details about schooling, job duties and work
experience to find out if this is the career for you.

Environmental managers work for private companies ensuring they comply with federal and
state environmental regulations as well as those set by the organization. Managers may design
company programs to ensure compliance and implement those programs. A bachelor's degree is
required in a field such as environmental science.

Essential information
Environmental managers are responsible for making sure an organization is compliant with
environmental regulations in areas such as air quality, waste, clean water, and pollution.
Environmental managers play a scientific and administrative role in an organization. It is
required for them to have a bachelor's degree to hold this position. It is also required that
individuals have previous work experience in environmental science in order to hold this
position.

Environmental Manager Job Description

Environmental managers typically work for private entities such as energy, utility, aerospace and
federal construction companies. Their job is to ensure that their employers comply with both
internal and external environmental requirements. In other words, their corporation sets its own
standards for keeping its operations environmentally sound and the state and federal government
has numerous compliance laws as well. Environmental managers familiarize themselves with all
of these requirements to see that superiors, peers and subordinates carry them out properly.

Job Duties
To accomplish their goals, environmental managers handle a number of tasks. They create,
implement and maintain programs and procedures to facilitate a safer environment. They may
train or direct employees to follow those procedures. They survey their employer's holdings to
make sure everything's operating normally and file reports on what they find. They also prepare
other types of paperwork, such as accident reports.
Environmental managers perform administrative tasks as necessary. Besides the above-
mentioned training and coordination of employees, they may act as liaisons between their
immediate employer and other branches of their company, like senior management. They might
also be intermediaries to government agencies.

Salary and Employment Outlook

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) doesn't provide data just on environmental managers.
For the related group of administrative services managers, the BLS predicted employment to
increase faster than average from 2018 until 2028. The BLS groups environmental managers into
the larger category of 'all other managers' when reporting salary, and this broad category had a
mean salary of $115,590 as of May 2018.

Job Requirements for an Environmental Manager

Education
According to the BLS, a bachelor's degree in an environmental science is sufficient for many
entry-level jobs at private companies (www.bls.gov). For instance, students can earn a degree in
earth science. This field studies the planet and the interaction of living things on it, and may offer
specializations in topics like geology or geophysics.
The BLS also noted that many environmental scientists earn 4-year degrees in traditional science
fields like biology or chemistry and then apply their learning to environmental concerns.
Certain environmental science jobs may look for a master's degree. Applicable graduate-level
studies include a master's program in environmental science, which emphasizes theories
regarding environmental systems. Doctoral degree programs are available at some universities,
though the BLS stated that this degree is most helpful to scientists who wish to teach or research
in their field.

Work Experience
Besides an education, environmental managers need some work experience in their field. A
January 2011 survey of open job postings from Monster.com indicated that employers looked for
environmental managers with at least five years of relevant experience. The BLS reported that
environmental scientists tend to start their careers in positions like research assistants,
technicians or field analysts and work their way into more responsibility and autonomy as they
develop their abilities. Environmental scientists who attain management or leadership positions
can gain experience coordinating employees, an essential part of an environmental manager's
job.

Technical Knowledge
Environmental managers need to keep up-to-date on the latest government environmental
regulations, as well as any new policies instituted by their employers, to ensure that rules
continue to be followed. In addition, environmental scientists employ a lot of modern technology
in their jobs. Therefore, they require familiarity with computer modeling, digital mapping,
Geographic Information Systems and the like.
Environmental managers oversee environmental compliance for companies. They need a
bachelor's degree in a relevant field, like earth science or environmental studies, as well as
adequate experience in their field. Besides being comfortable with environmental regulations,
these professionals need to be organized, thorough with their reporting, and able to use computer
programs needed for their field.
Environmental managers are responsible for overseeing the
environmental performance of private and public sector
organisations and for developing, implementing and monitoring
environmental strategies that promote sustainable development.
Environmental managers advise organisations on how to minimise their impact on the
environment and, in some cases, oversee the delivery of impact reduction strategies. They
typically develop and then measure the success of the schemes for waste management, renewable
energy, recycling, pollution reduction and pollution prevention.

Alternative and closely related job titles include ‘environmental adviser’, ‘energy manager’ and
‘sustainability manager’. In some organisations, the role will also be combined with health and
safety or corporate social responsibility (CSR) duties.

Depending on the role, responsibilities could include:

 implementing environmental policies and practices

 devising strategies to meet targets and to encourage best practice
 devising the best tools and systems to monitor performance and to implement strategies
 ensuring compliance with environmental legislation
 assessing, analysing and collating environmental performance data and reporting information
to internal staff, clients and regulatory bodies
 confirming that materials, ingredients and so on are ethically or environmentally sourced
 managing environmental strategy budgets
 liaising with internal staff including senior managers and directors
 acting as a champion or cheerleader for environmental issues within your organisation
 providing environmental training to staff at all levels
 writing plans and reports
 keeping up to date with relevant changes in environmental legislation and initiatives including
international legislation where applicable
 producing educational or information resources for internal staff, clients or the general public
 liaising with regulatory bodies such as the Environment Agency
However, the focus of the role will differ according to the type of organisation worked for and
remit set. For example, environmental managers working for construction companies will
typically work on construction sites, ensuring that environmental legislation and best practices
are complied with and that targets are achieved. (Find out more about working as a graduate
environmental adviser or manager in construction.) If you are at a local authority, meanwhile,
you might be applying for funding or grants, rolling out initiatives and engaging with charities
and community groups.
Typical employers of environmental managers
Most environmental managers are employed by higher education institutions, utilities and
construction companies, government agencies, local government departments and
processing/manufacturing companies.

Vacancies are advertised on TARGETjobs, by careers services, by newspapers in print and

online, via specialist science publications such as New Scientist, via relevant professional bodies
such as the Institute of Environmental Management and Assessment (IEMA) and the Chartered
Institution of Water and Environmental Management (CIWEM), as well as on the websites of
local authorities.
Qualifications and training required
To become an environmental manager it is usually necessary to possess a degree or higher
national diploma (HND) in an environment-related subject – which could include engineering,
environmental health, environmental sciences/management, biosciences, applied science, physics
or geography. A relevant postgraduate qualification can be advantageous, as can experience of
initiating and managing projects.

Most environmental management graduate roles are advertised as individual vacancies rather
than as part of a graduate scheme, although a small number of organisations will run a formal
graduate scheme. Most companies will support you towards gaining a professional qualification
with the IEMA or a similar professional body.

Gaining relevant voluntary or paid experience is beneficial to making a graduate application.

You might be able to find paid work experience with local authorities or large employers. There
may be volunteering opportunities within non-governmental organisations and environment
charities. Membership of the IEMA can also be useful in finding work experience opportunities.

Key skills for environmental managers

 A genuine interest in and understanding of environmental issues, relevant legislation and
renewable energy sources
 Excellent communication and influencing skills
 The ability to take the lead on projects
 The ability to inspire others
 Attention to detail and a methodical approach to work
 Good organisation and time management
 Commercial awareness: the ability to work within commercial constraints
 Confidence
Next: search graduate jobs and internships
 Search for environment-related graduate jobs and internships by using our keyword search
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Waste Management job description
Working in waste management is an important role in any community as the job ensures the safe
disposal of contaminated waste and hazardous materials which have been created by households,
factories, businesses, productions or manufacturing plants
The sector primarily deals with identifying and then eliminating waste from the community. The
materials’ contents must be analysed and then a cost-effective method needs to be put in place to
ensure the disposal is environmentally sound. Systems must be created and implemented in order
to reduce waste by incineration, solidification or compaction
It is important to understand the regulations involved when working in waste management. If
you’re in a management role, it is necessary to possess skills in analysing eradication and
carcinogens methods. Communication skills are also important for liaising with local agencies to
be able to identify and solve present and future issues
For those looking to fill a management position, a degree in nuclear engineering, waste
management or a related area is required. It is also preferred to have experience working in a
hazardous waste testing environment or a waste management facility.
Description
Waste management officers are required to manage waste disposal and recycling facilities.
They are also responsible for street cleaning and waste treatment operations. Some of these
officers work in both recycling and management functions and other just dedicate their efforts to
one category. They can work for a district waste collection or a county waste disposal authority.
A waste management officer usually performs many of the following tasks:
• Analysing statistics on waste levels.
• Managing waste collection contracts.
• Advising companies on waste reduction.
• Calculating budgets.
• Monitoring service of local waste collection.

Skills
• Having competent general office and IT abilities.
• Being a leader.
• Having effective communication.
• Being able to clearly explain legislation issues.
• Having knowledge and interest for environmental issues.
• Having competent understanding of statistics and budgets.
• Being able to create reports.
• Being patient.
• Having abilities to understand dynamic and complex legislation.
• Having teamwork skills.

Education
It is recommended to have a degree in waste management or similar studies to apply to these
job placements. Other options of courses are environmental science, biochemical science,
chemical and physical sciences, earth sciences, among others.
Some people move to this sector after working in industries such as construction and quarrying.
Other cases show that some professionals specialized from wider environmental areas to waste
management.