Environmental engineers work to improve environmental conditions and solve problems related to public health, pollution control and disposal of waste. People in this role may conduct research and investigations and give advice about preventing or dealing with pollution. They also analyze data and design protective systems for local environments.
When you create your environmental engineer job description, emphasize that you are searching for someone who is a creative, big-picture thinker and problem-solver. Because your new employee will need to work as part of a team of scientists, researchers, engineers and public officials, solid interpersonal skills are vital.
A capable, experienced environmental engineer will most likely be state-certified, although an entry-level, non-certified position may be what you are seeking to fill. Study the sample environmental engineer job description below to familiarize yourself with the format and content before writing your own posting.
Environmental Engineer Job Summary
Are you an experienced engineer with a passion for environmental issues? Do you want to work on exciting projects that make a real difference in the community? If so, you may be the person we are looking for. Our agency is seeking a certified environmental engineer to join our planning and development team as we embark on a series of long-term projects. As part of our multidisciplinary team, you would be involved in planning and conducting site assessments and feasibility studies and presenting them to the board, as well as overseeing field tests and implementing full-scale preventative and remedial systems.
Job Responsibilities
- Conduct and evaluate research to design environmental management systems, including air, water and soil considerations, and implement plans as part of a team
- Organize, prepare and present to the public, including government officials, information on environmental protection efforts and remediation plans
- Conduct and evaluate research to understand immediate threats to the environment and ensure regulatory compliance
- Educate the public, organization members and agency partners about the potential environmental impact of our operations and our plans to negate or remediate that impact
- Ensure compliance with regulations pertaining to the transportation and storage of hazardous materials as well as waste handling
- Collaborate with and support other engineers and scientists on the team and in other roles within the organization
- Maintain up-to-date information about and participate in local, regional, national and global efforts to mitigate environmental damage
- Prepare stormwater and wastewater models as well as other civil designs for review and planning purposes
Job Skills & Qualifications
Reqiured:
- Bachelor’s degree (or higher) in environmental science or engineering
- Excellent communication and organizational skills
- Ability to work without supervision and to supervise others
Preferred:
- Professional Engineering (PE) license
- Five or more years of experience managing an environmental engineering team
Environmental Engineer Job Responsibilities
If you want to attract the top talent with your environmental engineer job description, you need an effective job responsibilities section that provides engaging and enriching professional experiences. More than simply a list of perfunctory duties, the section should emphasize how tasks contribute to the organization. This is the most detailed portion of the job description; however, be mindful of brevity and keep your list of responsibilities within reason.
When composing your environmental engineer job description, use a bullet list to provide 6-8 prominent tasks. Avoid adding superfluous duties; keep the list down to the essentials, and be concise in your wording. Start each line with an action verb that best conveys the responsibility. Clear, direct language is more effective than a wordy list of mundane daily tasks. Finally, be sure to emphasize who the applicant will work with or report to.
Take a moment to review the following examples of environmental engineer job responsibilities to get a better idea how to compose your job description:
Measure, analyze and record soil, water and air samplesSurvey future work sitesDesign blueprints and overcome technical challengesCoordinate with supervisors on project executionConduct environmental impact investigationsConform building practices to the most current EPA standards and regulations
Environmental Engineer Job Specifications
Equally important to your environmental engineer job description, the core qualifications section outlines the minimum requirements for eligible jobseekers. You want to use this as an opportunity to limit the pool of applicants. In establishing the minimum qualifications needed for the job, underqualified jobseekers generally withhold their applications. An effective skills section allows you to simplify the hiring process.
When compiling the list of necessary skills to include in your environmental engineer job description, first separate them into two categories: required and preferred. Required skills are the basic qualifications necessary for consideration for the position. These include training and education, professional and social faculties, among others. Preferred skills are less essential, but beneficial. Examples of such skills include special expertise, experience level and more. Once you’ve identified the top six or eight skills, list them in order of importance.
Use these helpful examples of environmental engineer job specifications to get an idea of the format and content of the skills section of your job description:
Bachelor’s in Engineering, Environmental Studies or related fieldComputer assisted design (CAD) software proficient (Autodesk, Bentley Microstation)Certification in HazMat protocol requiredSupervisor or leadership experience preferredDrafting, surveying and geo-mapping trained3-5 years’ experience preferred