Environmental policy officer

Environmental policy officers research, analyse, develop and implement policies related to the environment. They give expert advice to entities such as commercial organisations, government agencies and land developers. Environmental policy officers work on reducing the impact of industrial, commercial and agricultural activities on the environment.

The following job titles also refer to environmental policy officer:

senior environmental policy officer
environmental policy analyst
environmental policy consultant
environmental officer
environmental policy advisor
environmental policy researcher
environmental projects and policy officer
principal environmental policy officer
policy officer

Bachelor’s degree is generally required to work as environmental policy officer. However, this requirement may differ in some countries.

ISCO skill level is defined as a function of the complexity and range of tasks and duties to be performed in an occupation. It is measured on a scale from 1 to 4, with 1 the lowest level and 4 the highest, by considering:

• the nature of the work performed in an occupation in relation to the characteristic tasks and duties
• the level of formal education required for competent performance of the tasks and duties involved and
• the amount of informal on-the-job training and/or previous experience in a related occupation required for competent performance of these tasks and duties.

Environmental policy officer is a Skill level 4 occupation.

These occupations, although different, require a lot of knowledge and skills similar to environmental policy officer.

environmental expert
environmental programme coordinator
agricultural policy officer
environmental protection manager
environmental scientist

These occupations require some skills and knowledge of environmental policy officer. They also require other skills and knowledge, but at a higher ISCO skill level, meaning these occupations are accessible from a position of environmental policy officer with a significant experience and/or extensive training.

This knowledge should be acquired through learning to fulfill the role of environmental policy officer.

Environmental policy: Local, national and international policies dealing with the promotion of environmental sustainability and the development of projects which reduce negative environmental impact and improve the state of the environment.
Government policy implementation: The procedures related to the application of government policies at all levels of public administration.
Environmental legislation in agriculture and forestry: Awareness on enviromental legislation, policies, principles relevant for agriculture and forestry. Awareness of the impact on the enviroment of local agricultural precedures and practices. Means to adjust the production to new enviromental regulations and policies.
Government policy: The political activities, plans, and intentions of a government for a legislative session for concrete causes.
Environmental legislation: The environmental policies and legislation applicable in a certain domain.
Environmental threats: The threats for the environment which are related to biological, chemical, nuclear, radiological, and physical hazards.

These skills are necessary for the role of environmental policy officer.

Ensure compliance with environmental legislation: Monitor activities and perform tasks ensuring compliance with standards involving environmental protection and sustainability, and amend activities in the case of changes in environmental legislation. Ensure that the processes are compliant with environment regulations and best practices.
Perform environmental investigations: Perform environmental investigations as required, checking regulatory proceedings, possible legal actions or other types of complaint.
Liaise with government officials: Consult and cooperate with government officials who handle matter that is relevant to you or your business.
Analyse environmental data: Analyse data that interpret correlations between human activities and environmental effects.
Promote environmental awareness: Calculate the carbon footprint of business processes and other practices in order to promote sustainability and to raise awareness for the environmental impact.
Advise on legislative acts: Advise officials in a legislature on the propositioning of new bills and the consideration of items of legislation.
Assess environmental impact: Monitor environmental impacts and carry out assessments in order to identify and to reduce the organisation’s environmental risks while taking costs into account.
Report on environmental issues: Compile environmental reports and communicate on issues. Inform the public or any interested parties in a given context on relevant recent developments in the environment, forecasts on the future of the environment, and any problems and possible solutions.
Manage government policy implementation: Manage the operations of the implementation of new government policies or changes in existing policies on a national or regional level as well as the staff involved in the implementation procedure.

This knowledge is sometimes, but not always, required for the role of environmental policy officer. However, mastering this knowledge allows you to have more opportunities for career development.

Emission standards: Know the legal limitations of the amount of pollutants that can be emitted into the environment.
Pollution legislation: Be familiar with European and National legislation regarding the risk of pollution.
Ecological principles: The understanding of how an ecosystem functions and its relationship to environmental planning and design.
Pollution prevention: The processes used to prevent pollution: precautions to pollution of the environment, procedures to counter pollution and associated equipment, and possible measures to protect the environment.

These skills and competences are sometimes, but not always, required for the role of environmental policy officer. However, mastering these skills and competences allows you to have more opportunities for career development.

Advise on mining environmental issues: Collaborate with engineers, surveyors, geotechnical staff and metallurgists, involved in environmental protection and land rehabilitation after mining activities.
Advise legislators: Give advice on various government and legislative duties, such as policy creation and the inner workings of a governmental department, to government officials in legislative positions, such as members of parliament, government ministers, senators, and other legislators.
Investigate pollution: Identify the cause of pollution incidents, as well as its nature and the extent of the risks, by performing tests on the site of pollution as well as in a laboratory and performing research.
Monitor environmental parameters: Check the impact of manufacturing machinery on the environment, analysing temperature levels, water quality and air pollution.
Advise on pollution prevention: Advise individuals and organisations on the development and implementation of actions which aid in the prevention of pollution and its related risks.
Develop environmental policy: Develop an organisational policy on sustainable development and compliance with environmental legislation in line with policy mechanisms used in the field of environmental protection.
Measure pollution: Conduct pollution measurements to determine whether the prescribed pollutant limits are respected. Check firing systems and exhaust paths of gas water heaters, air heaters, and similar equipment.
Prevent sea pollution: Organize and monitor environment protection applying the regulations for pollution prevention at sea.
Report pollution incidents: Examine the extent of the damage and consequences when an incident causes pollution, and report it to the relevant institution following pollution reporting procedures.

2422 – Policy administration professionals

 

 

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References

1. Environmental policy officer – ESCO