Environmental sector

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Sector Overview

This page has been written by Pamela Andrew, the relevant Careers Adviser for this occupational area. To see how you can meet Pamela, or any of our advisers, go to our website to view how and when you can meet them. 


Is it right for me? - further information on this career area, including skills/attributes required and tactics for success (pdf)



This sector is predicted to continue to increase in the future offering a diverse range of employment opportunities. The growing prominence of environmental legislation, locally and globally, as well as the raised public awareness of environmental issues has led to more investment in this sector. Employers are now putting into place measures to produce less waste and use fewer resources which makes sense in terms of sustainability and also in this current economic climate. All these changes have led to increase in demand for environmental specialists/consultants although competition for these places is still fierce and vacancies normally require experience and/or postgraduate qualifications.

A recent survey of graduate recruiters by AGR revealed energy, water and utlity companies were the sector with the largest increase in graduate vacancies. This is reflected in the incresing numbers of St Andrews graduates recruited in this sector with companies such as NPower, Hydraun. SSE and Scottish Power.

Case Studies

Videos produced by icould will give you an insight into over 80 environmental occupations within this sector. They include:


Range of Employers

The range is vast from the obvious such as the Environment Agency to the unexpected such as the Royal and Ancient Golf Club who employed a St Andrews graduate as a sustainability consultant. The main sectors who recruit in this area include the following:

  • Private sector (e.g. industry - ranging from large, multinational companies to those involved in resource management, such as the water and forestry industries, nuclear, gas, chemical, electricity, oil and and mining companies, alternative energy organisations - biofuels and bioenergy, environmental consultants)
  • Voluntary and charity sector (e.g. conservation charities, pressure groups, trusts, environmental NGOs, )
  • Public sector (e.g. regulatory bodies, such as local authorities,Scottish Environment Protection Agency , research institutes - NFCC, national parks and monuments, education establishments)

Range of Jobs

While the range of jobs in this sector is tremendously varied, people working in any area will be primarily concerned with the impact of people and industry on the environment, and how this affects human and other lives. You could, for example, choose to work in an organisation concerned with protecting the environment, but in a support role, such as finance and human resources, as well as following a career that actually involves hands-on environmental work. It is also possible to work as an environmental specialist within another discipline. The groups of jobs outlined below give some idea of the breadth and depth of this sector, but are not exhaustive.

  • Sustainable Development and Renewable Energy involves finding ways effectively to use natural resources that may be naturally replenished. Renewable energy technologies include solar power, wind power, hydroelectricity/micro-hydro, biomass and biofuels for transportation. One of the growing areas is organisations employing staff to help to manage issues that relate to Sustainable Development as shown by the University.This type of initiative aligns itself to the Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) agenda, which is that many employers now have a responsibility and a commitment to adopting a social, ethical and environmentally responsible approach to their business or organisation. Examples of jobs in these areas include:
    • Sustainability Officer, Energy Officer, Renewable Consultant, Natural Resource Specialist, Carbon Analyst, Energy Efficiency Officer, Energy Economist
  • Environmental Conservation and Management involves providing practical advice to farmers, land managers, voluntary and private organisations on landscape and wildlife conservation to protect, manage and enhance the local environment. This can sometimes involve dealing with conflicting interests. Environmental managers also encourage people to use the countryside, and promote awareness of and understanding about the natural environment, as well as developing policy and ensuring that it is delivered. Job titles differ considerably from employer to employer, and some examples include:
    • Nature Conservation Officer/Warden/Ranger, Countryside Manager, Biological Field Surveyor, Scientific Officer, Environmental Educationalist, Environmental Protection & Control, Recycling Officer , Water Quality Officer, Water Disposal Officer, Environmental Policy Officer, Environmental Consultant
  • Environmental Protection and Control involves controlling pollution, promoting pollution prevention from certain industrial and other activities, and ensuring compliance with laws and regulations regarding the use, sale, transport, disposal, manufacture and storage of industrial and other waste. The Environment Agency and the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) are the UK’s governmental agencies responsible for administrating laws to control and reduce the pollution of air, water and land systems. Job titles may include:
    • Air Quality Consultant, Climate Change and Risk Officer, Energy Assessor, Environmental Auditor, Environmental Consultant, Environmental Health Officer, Environmental Policy Officer, Environmental Psychologist, Landscape Architect, Lobbyist, Recycling Officer
  • Environmental Engineering is the application of science and engineering principles to improve the environment, in order to provide healthy water, air and land for human habitation and for other organisms, and to remediate polluted sites. Environmental engineers conduct hazardous-waste management studies to evaluate the significance of such hazards, advise on treatment and containment, and develop regulations to prevent mishaps. They also design municipal water supply and industrial wastewater treatment systems. as well as being concerned with local and worldwide environmental issues, such as the effects of acid rain, ozone depletion, water pollution and air pollution from automobile exhausts and industrial sources. Environmental engineering positions include:
    • Environmental Energy Engineer, Environmental Scientist, Geophysicist, Geotechnical and Geoenvironmental Engineer, Hydrogeologist, Landfill Engineer, River-Coastal Engineer, Sedimentologist, Water Engineer, Wind-Energy Engineer
  • Environmental Law and Litigation are concerned with a body of law that seeks to protect the environment that may be affected, impacted or endangered by human activities. This includes careers in a variety of public and private forms.
  • International Environmental Co-operation involves assessing global, regional and national environmental conditions and trends, addressing existing and emerging environmental issues at the global and regional levels, and bringing environmental experts together e.g. the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP).

For a more comprehensive overview of the wide range of jobs available, visit the Prospects website or Environmental Careers

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How to get experience

It is essential that you obtain relevant work experience, which may well have to be on an unpaid, voluntary basis. Work experience can take many forms - an internship, work shadowing, a gap year, voluntary work, one week unpaid work experience. Short term experiences and work shadowing can provide a useful source of contacts which may lead to future opportunities, so it pays to be flexible in what you are willing to consider. Be prepared to network and be proactive in your search by making speculative applications as many opportunities will not be advertised.

The following websites include listings of internship opportunities:

Online

Organisations which offer work experience in environmental areas

  • During semester
    • Third Sector Internships Scotland (TSIS) TSIS offers students an opportunity to gain meaningful paid work experience with voluntary organisations, charities, community groups and social enterprises.Organisations which have offered internships previously include: New Caledonia Woodlands, BCTV Scotland, Badenoch & Strathspey Community Transport, Bikeworks Fife, Borders Environmental Education, Urban Roots. Some internships can be carried ourt "remotely" which can be an advantage for St Andrews students.
    • Tranistion (Twitter: @TransitionUStA, Facebook: www.facebook.com/TransitionUStA) - are a group of St Andrews students and staff at the University who work together on environmental projects. To out more about projects and how you can become involved email transition@st-andrews.ac.uk .
    • SVS within the Student Union Building and Volunteer Fife have details of voluntary projects in the local area.
  • Bright Business Partnership are an organisation which provides paid summer placements to 2nd and 3rd year students. They have two main programmes
  • Third Sector Internships Scotland - this four-year programme, part of the Scottish Funding Council’s Learning to Work 2 initiative, is open to students from all Scottish Higher Education Institutions, and is being delivered by Queen Margaret University, The Open University in Scotland and the Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations, with support from universities across Scotland and Student Volunteering Scotland.
  • Consider making applications to companies with environmental exposure, ie Shell, BP, ExxonMobil, and local councils.


Worldwide - opportunities to get involved with environmental and sustainable development projects, the majority expect participants to pay towards their costs. 


Postgraduate Options:

  • earth students - a resource for geoscience, geotechnical, environmental and geographical students to look for relevant courses, internship and graduate vacancies.

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How to find a job

Environmental and sustainability careers are open to graduates in a wide range of agencies and industries, so there isn't a typical entry route into the environmental sector. Many environmental organisations are small and only have a few vacancies that arise occasionally, and therefore only a few are advertised on our website. Competition for jobs can also be fierce due to the number of people studying environmental subjects so it is therefore essential that you network as much as possible and let your contacts, including tutors and professors, know if you are available for work. Don't underestimate the value of making speculative applications. Often, if you are willing to work on a short-term, voluntary basis for an employer, then you are in a strong position, should a paid vacancy arise. It is also important to keep up-to-date be with current environmental issues.

Where St Andrews graduates have gone

Year/SubjectOrganisation/CompanyPositionComments
2012 Environmental Geoscience BP Graduate Programme – Environmental Science LinkedIn Profile and St Andrews alumni group
2011 Environ.Biol.& Geog. Building Research Establishment (BRE) Ltd Graduate Programme http://www.bre.co.uk/page.jsp?id=2313
2011 Zoology National Trust Grazing Warden
2011 SD Occupy London Technology Co-ordinator
2011 SD Loughborough University Sustainable Development Officer
2011 SD Thames Water Strategic Asset Planner LinkedIn Profile and St Andrews alumni group
2011 SD Community Energy Scotland Monitoring And Evaluation Development Officer LinkedIn Profile and St Andrews alumni group
2011 Geography Network Rail Graduate Scheme
2011 SD University of St Andrews Sustainability Officer
2011 Geography Kent County Council Graduate Transport Planner LinkedIn Profile and St Andrews alumni group
2010 SD Much Better Adventures – ethical tour operator Operations Manager
201O SD Hydrasun Sustainability Co-ordinator
2010 Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust Conservation Field Worker LinkedIn Profile and St Andrews alumni group

Network with alumni

alumni mentor Doug - Environmental Consultant

LinkedIn – This professional networking site can be a great way to make contact with St Andrews alumni working in this sector. By joining the St Andrews alumni groups, University of St Andrews Alumni and University of St Andrews - Mentorship Programme, you are able to make contact directly with alumni shown above with a LinkedIn profile. Further details can be found on our website

Environmental Consultant on Air Quality (NZ), Mining, Sustainability and Water Mangement Consultant(Western Australia), Transport Planner(UK) and Business Sustainability Consultant (UK) – these are just a few alumni members of the LinkedIn Mentorship Programme currently offering to mentor students.


Graduate Recruitment Schemes

A number of major corporations offer environmental graduate recruitment schemes. Here are a few examples:

Newspapers / Journals

Jobs online

Recruitment Agencies

Consider registering with an environmental recruitment specialist, ie


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Key Links and Resources

Careers Centre resources

Books/Journals:

  • Green Volunteers
  • Green Careers - WetFeet
  • Working with the Environment
  • Vault Guide to Environmental Careers
  • Environmental Careers - The Inside Guide
  • Saving the Earth as a career
  • The Future of Energy - The Future of Aberdeen - AREG Members Directory
  • The Guardian

Online:

  • The Careers Centre subscribes to Countryside Jobs: select "Subscribers only" and use the subscriber's username and password.
  • Careers Alumni Network- a database of St Andrews graduates who have volunteered to offer careers information to existing students.
  • The Careers Centre subscribes to 'Going Global', a specialist website with information and job vacancies worldwide. To access Going Global login to the Careers Centre website and click on Going Global Database.

General Environmental careers information

Professional Bodies, Trade Organisations & Journals/Magazines

USA

For internship opportunities, please visit Internships in the US - Environmental Work.

General Information

Job Postings

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