Environmental protection manager

Environmental protection managers provide advice on the development of environmental policies to governmental and official institutions. They analyse possible threats for the well being of the people and the environment in a region and manage campaigns aimed at tackling problems such as waste collection, landfills, and preservation of green areas.

The following job titles also refer to environmental protection manager:

environmental impact assessment manager
environmental manager
environmental field office manager
environmental safety specialist
environmental protection specialist

Bachelor’s degree is generally required to work as environmental protection manager. 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 protection manager is a Skill level 4 occupation.

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

environmental policy officer
environmental expert
airport environment officer
environmental programme coordinator
policy manager

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

This knowledge should be acquired through learning to fulfill the role of environmental protection manager.

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.
Organisational policies: The policies to achieve set of goals and targets regarding the development and maintenance of an organisation.
Business analysis: The research field which addresses the identification of business needs and problems and the determination of the solutions that would mitigate or prevent the smooth functioning of a business. Business analysis comprises IT solutions, market challenges, policy development and strategic matters.
Corporate social responsibility: The handling or managing of business processes in a responsible and ethical manner considering the economic responsibility towards shareholders as equally important as the responsibility towards environmental and social stakeholders.
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.
Strategic planning: The elements defining the foundation and core of an organisation such as its mission, vision, values, and objectives.

These skills are necessary for the role of environmental protection manager.

Integrate strategic foundation in daily performance: Reflect on the strategic foundation of companies, meaning their mission, vision, and values in order to integrate this foundation in the performance of the job position.
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.
Liaise with government officials: Consult and cooperate with government officials who handle matter that is relevant to you or your business.
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.
Implement environmental action plans: Apply plans that address the management of environmental matters in projects, natural site interventions, companies, and others.
Monitor company policy: Monitor the company’s policy and propose improvements to the company.
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 efficiency improvements: Analyse information and details of processes and products in order to advise on possible efficiency improvements that could be implemented and would signify a better use of resources.
Advise on environmental remediation: Advise on the development and implementation of actions which aim to remove sources of pollution and contamination from the environment.
Develop company strategies: Envision, plan, and develop strategies for companies and organisations aimed at achieving different purposes such as establishing new markets, refurbishing the equipment and machinery of a company, implementing pricing strategies, etc.
Coordinate environmental efforts: Organise and integrate all environmental efforts of the company, including pollution control, recycling, waste management, environmental health, conservation and renewable energy.
Ensure compliance with policies: Ensure compliance with legislation and company procedures in respect of health and safety in the workplace and public areas. Ensure awareness and compliance with all company policies in relation to health and safety and equal opportunities in the workplace.
Liaise with politicians: Liaise with officials fulfilling important political and legislative roles in governments in order to ensure productive communication and build relations.
Develop environmental remediation strategies: Develop strategies for the removal of pollution and contaminants from soil, groundwater, surface water, or sediment, taking into account environmental remediation regulations and available technologies.
Liaise with managers: Liaise with managers of other departments ensuring effective service and communication, i.e. sales, planning, purchasing, trading, distribution and technical.
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.
Implement strategic planning: Take action on the goals and procedures defined at a strategic level in order to mobilise resources and pursue the established strategies.

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

Airport environmental regulations: The official regulations for environmental standards in airports as dictated by national codes for planning airport facilities and related developments. These include regulatory aspects which govern noise and environmental aspects, sustainability measures, and impacts in relation to land use, emissions, and wildlife hazard mitigation.
Discharge of collected waste: The procedures to be followed to discharge the collected waste safely and in the designated place for doing this.
Waste management: The methods, materials and regulations used to collect, transport, treat and dispose of waste. This includes recycling and monitoring of waste disposal.
Green space strategies: The authority’s vision on how to use its green space. This includes the goals it wants to achieve, the resources, methods, legislative framework, and time needed to meet these goals. 
Pollution legislation: Be familiar with European and National legislation regarding the risk of pollution.
Characteristics of waste: Expertise in the different types, the chemical formulas and other characteristics of solid, liquid and hazardous waste.
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.
Public health: The principles of health and sickness affecting the population, including the means for health promotion and prevention and community and primary care.
Waste and scrap products: The offered waste and scrap products, their functionalities, properties and legal and regulatory requirements.
Wildlife projects: Wildlife and animal conservation projects, which aim to protect and preserve ecosystems and habitats of a wide range of animals under threat from urbanisation.
Tree preservation and conservation: Environmental requirements for tree preservation and conservation.
Health and safety regulations: Necessary health, safety, hygiene and environmental standards and legislation rules in the sector of particular activity.

These skills and competences are sometimes, but not always, required for the role of environmental protection manager. 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.
Coordinate airport environmental policies: Direct and coordinate airport environmental policies and regulations to mitigate impact of airport activities e.g. noise, reduced air quality, heavy local traffic, or the presence of hazardous materials.
Carry out environmental audits: Use equipment to measure various environmental parameters in order to identify environmental problems and investigate manners in which they can be resolved. Perform inspections in order to ensure compliance with environmental legislation.
Analyse environmental data: Analyse data that interpret correlations between human activities and environmental effects.
Coordinate waste management procedures: Coordinate the operations of a facility or organisation which deal with the management of waste, such as waste collection, sorting, recycling, and disposal, in order to ensure optimal efficiency of operations, improve methods for waste reduction, and ensure compliance with legislation.
Conduct field work: Conduct field work or research which is the collection of information outside of a laboratory or workplace setting. Visit places in order to collect specific information about the field.
Analyse enforceability: Examine the client’s present situation, ideas and wishes under a legal perspective to assess their legal justification or enforceability.
Assess groundwater environmental impact: Estimate environmental impact of groundwater abstraction and management activities.
Advise on waste management procedures: Advise organisations on the implementation of waste regulations and on improvement strategies for waste management and waste minimisation, to increase environmentally sustainable practices and environmental awareness.

1349 – Professional services managers not elsewhere classified

 

 

---

 

 

References

1. Environmental protection manager – ESCO