What does an Environmental Specialist do?
Environmental specialists use their knowledge of natural sciences to protect the environment and human health. They may clean up polluted areas, advise policymakers, or work with specific industries to reduce waste and pollution. They determine data collection methods for research products, investigations, and surveys, and collect and compile environmental data from samples of air, soil, water, food, and other materials for scientific analysis. They analyze samples, surveys, and other information to identify and assess threats to the environment and develop plans to prevent, control, or fix environmental problems, including land, water, or air pollution.
Environmental specialists provide information and guidance to government officials, businesses, and the public about possible environmental hazards and health risks. Environmental specialists prepare technical reports and presentations that explain their research and findings to upper management and other relevant peers. Environmental scientists need a bachelor's degree in environmental science, geography and regional planning, zoology, ecology, or related fields.
- Proposal writing, strategy and development for the various business sectors or regions.
- Act as a liaison between clients, professional staff and community agencies.
- Ensure a timely and complete response to all service requests.
- Direct, oversee, and support project team working on client engagements.
- Prepare, distribute and maintain records of inspections and investigations.
- Distribute documents to appropriate parties, to ensure proper routing.
- Report hazardous spills to the safety officer in accordance with state regulations.
- Actively promote safety for all.
- Serve as a supervisor to one or more direct reports.
- Sitting walking, stooping, squatting, lifting (up to 30 lbs), carrying, pushing and climbing.
- Promote knowledge and service delivery proposition, webinars, conference paper/presentations, articles.
- Maintain a current stock of necessary items.
- Manage all aspects of department operations as related to operating costs.
- Bachelor's or Graduate's Degree in business, electrical engineering, technology, environmental sciences, or equivalent experience.
- Is a professional at all times with strict attention to detail and time management skills.
- Prior experience as a consultant.
- A natural problem solver and collaborator.
- Demonstrated sound work ethic, positive attitude and critical thinking skills.
- Has a collaborative spirit and a positive attitude.
- Experience with Hazwoper, GIS, and writing protocols.
- Comfortable providing technical assistance.
Environmental Specialist Salaries
Average Base Pay
Environmental Specialist Career Path
Learn how to become an Environmental Specialist, what skills and education you need to succeed, and what level of pay to expect at each step on your career path.
Average Years of Experience
Environmental Specialist Insights
“One Operation Supervisor is overall a great person and is everything you want/need in a leader.”
Apothecary Farms“Management was easy to work with and I felt that my personal time was respected.”
Houston Zoo“It was a great place to work and I learned a lot at the internship.”
Indiana Department of Natural Resources“had a great boss that trusted I could get the job done in my own way”
Hulladek Recycling“good company for exposure I joined at beggining of my career got to learn a lot”
H3M Environmental“Some of the co workers are nice but the good ones are leaving all the time.”
The Revenue Optimization Companies (T-ROC)“I was honestly surprised when I first started working here at how heavily leadership promote a healthy work/life balance.”
Unity Lab Services“Initial pay for this particular position is not the best but it sets the ground for movement in organization.”
Frequently asked questions about the role and responsibilities of an environmental specialist
The daily tasks of an environmental specialist might vary, but expect most days to comprise observing the effects of a population on the environment, discovering problem areas, and finding solutions to those issues. They might analyze samples and conduct surveys to identify environmental threats.
Due to increased population and industrial activity, the demand for environmental specialists is expected to grow. They spend much of their day working in laboratories and offices, but a benefit of being an environmental specialist is being able to also head outside to collect data and observe environmental situations directly.
Working as an environmental specialist can be challenging, especially because they put in many long hours in the lab. It can also be a physically demanding profession and, depending on the job's location, inclement weather can be difficult.