A Senior Environmental Management Officer will:
-
Supervise staff that carry out environmental monitoring.
-
Provide comments on the environmental impact of new developments.
-
Investigate and enforce environmental laws for areas such as air and water quality, flood management, land management and pollution control.
A Senior Environmental Management Officer will have up-to-date knowledge and understanding of environmental laws at local, national and international levels.
Senior Environmental Management Officers will supervise staff who examine an organisation’s activities to establish where improvements can be made and to make sure they meet environmental laws.
Typical work activities may include:
-
Providing advice and support for the delivery of environmental monitoring.
-
Planning and organising staff to undertake environmental audits and impact assessments.
-
Making sure environmental laws are met.
-
Promoting and raising awareness of the impact of environmental issues, whether legislative or best practice, on corporate, ethical and social grounds.
-
Coordinating public hearings and consultations on environmental matters.
-
Participating in environmental education and research.
It is important to be interested in sustainable environmental management and to have a good understanding of related issues and conflicts.
Senior Environmental Management Officers generally work between 37 – 40 hours a week, on a full-time basis. However, as this type of work involves working with different groups of people, evening and weekend work may occasionally be required. Travelling is required with this role so a full driving licence may be required.
Depending on the nature of the employer’s business, a Senior Environmental Management Officer’s salary can range from £30,000 to £40,000, although there are examples of salaries in excess of £50,000.
- Obtain contracts to supply land-based products and/or services
- Implement plans for dealing with incidents of flooding
- Assess incidents
- Purchase products or services for the land-based organisation
- Consult and work with the local community
- Evaluate and report on projects
- Report on environmental change
- Negotiate improvements to land use
- Initiate enforcement procedures to protect the environment
- Manage emergencies
- Manage and deal with actual or potential breaches of the law or security
- Advise on environmental information and developments
- Agree commitment for improving environmental performance
- Implement plans to improve environmental performance
- Produce an environmental policy
- Plan and specify auditing of environmental performance
- Make recommendations based on the results of the audit
- Prepare to audit environmental performance
- Produce reports on environmental performance
- Disseminate reports on environmental performance to interested parties
- Monitor the work of your staff
- Determine and agree policies for the development of land-based sites
- Interpret specifications and evaluate capacity to act
- Negotiate proposals and agree service and product provision
- Commission contract work to enable objectives to be met
- Monitor and evaluate the progress of contract work against targets
- Manage effective working relationships
- Read and understand maps and plans
- Seek to influence decision makers to take account of land-based issues
- Business and Selling Skills
- Management / Leadership Skills
- Analytical / Research Skills
- Planning / Organizing Skills
- Problem-Solving
- Customer Care / People Skills
- Mediation / Negotiation Skills
- Financial Management Skills
- Project Management Skills
- Instruction / Training Skills
- HR Skills
- Decision Making Skills
There are a variety of qualifications and training courses that can help you:
-
Improve your current skills
-
Gain promotion
Relevant qualifications include:
-
The Level 4 Diploma in Work-based Environmental Management
-
BSc/BSc (Hons) Countryside and Environmental Management
Know what course you want? Search for a training course with Lantra’s
CourseFinder
Opportunities to become a Senior Environmental Management Officer are available at local, regional, national and international levels. Roles can be found in:
-
Private environmental consultancies.
-
Government and non-government departments, such as the Environment Agency and Scottish Environmental Protection Agency.
-
Environmental campaigning organisations.
-
Local authorities.
-
Large commercial businesses
A Degree is usually essential for this role but having an additional Postgraduate qualification is generally required and membership of an appropriate professional body can also be a distinct advantage.
Employment opportunities can be found in the following places:
Websites:
* The Countryside Jobs Service can be viewed on-line, however it is recommended that you use the subscription service for a full list of employment opportunities
Magazines and Journals:
-
Environment Post
-
The Guardian (Wednesday)
-
New Scientist
Senior Environmental Management Officers will continue to learn from experience, undertake training and continuous professional development, and may progress into management positions or private consultancy. Career development often depends on the size and structure of an organisation, and progression may require moving to a different employer. There are also opportunities to specialise, for example in environmental campaigning or environmental enforcement.
Senior Environmental Management Officers may manage staff and volunteers and generic skills are likely to include people and budget management. Communication skills and experience are likely to help with dealing with the media and for political lobbying.
You can find out about other progression opportunities in this industry here
For general information relating to careers in environmental conservation you can contact Lantra on 024 7669 6996 or environmentalconservation@lantra.co.uk
However, more specialist advice, for example in relation to training, may be required for Senior Environmental Management roles and is available from:
Industry Information:
Publications:
Environmental Careers Handbook - Institute of Environmental Sciences (available from The Trotman Group, 2 The Green, Richmond, Surrey, TW9 1P11 Tel: 0870 900 2665 or e-mail - mail@trotman.co.uk