Environmental scientists work to protect and manage the natural spaces around civilization. They develop and implement projects to investigate environmental problems, assess risks to the natural world and human health, and communicate their findings to policymakers, businesses and the public. As a result, their day-to-day duties may be varied, but generally include collection and analysis of samples and data, development of plans to combat environmental problems, and writing technical reports.
An environmental scientist job description should make sure to include a focus on analytical and problem-solving skills. Interpretation of scientific data is a crucial part of the job, as is finding the best possible solutions to complex problems.
It’s also very important to have the interpersonal skills required to cooperate with colleagues and communication skills for sharing results in both written and oral form. Refer to the environmental scientist job description below to get an idea of what to include.
Environmental Scientist Job Summary
In our invigorating and forward-thinking work environment, we provide ample opportunities for growth and professional development. Working in a team alongside some of the best scientists and engineers in the field, you will contribute to our innovative and lasting solutions for the protection of water, air and soil. You will provide high-quality consultation for a variety of public and private clients, meaning that the results of your work will have a big impact on the wellbeing of the natural world. This position is perfectly suited for conscientious, self-motivated and team-oriented candidates who are looking for challenging projects and exciting opportunities for collaboration.
Job Responsibilities
- Provide science-based guidance and recommendations to public and private clients, including governmental agencies, industries, businesses and the public, for the protection of water, soil and air resources
- Advise policymakers in the development of environmental regulations, technical standards and guidelines to ensure minimal environmental harm
- Collect environmental samples in a variety of matrices, such as air, water and soil
- Prepare and analyze samples using common analytical techniques, such as gas chromatography and mass spectrometry, and good laboratory practices
- Manipulate and interpret data from various sources, such as sample analysis, pollution emission data, environmental monitoring results and more
- As part of a team, implement studies designed to gather information regarding proposed projects in accordance with laboratory standard operating protocols and accepted quality control guidelines
- Share scientific and technical information via multiple methods of communication, including written reports, graphs and charts, oral briefings, conferences, workshops, training sessions, and public hearings, while adjusting communication appropriately depending on the audience
Job Skills & Qualifications
Reqiured:
Preferred
Environmental Scientist Job Responsibilities
Writing an effective environmental scientist job description means knowing the individualized strategies that make each section effective. These strategies, based in both the structure and the purpose of the section, dictate how candidates respond to your description. That means when you are working on the environmental scientist job responsibilities section, you need to understand why it is the lengthiest and most content-rich part of practically every job description.
The answer is simple. This section’s design helps readers imagine themselves in the position. The result is powerful when you follow good writing principles. Let’s review them. For starters, write each phrase in active voice to reduce wordiness. This also makes it clearer for a reader scanning the document, and it encourages the use of specific terms that are relevant to jobseekers. Limit yourself to between six and eight items in your list of responsibilities, too. That way, you won’t run the risk of overwhelming a reader, but you will be able to provide a comprehensive overview of the duties that candidates are taking on when hired.
Here are a few sample responsibilities you can review as you write your environmental scientist job description:
- Design experiments to answer specific environmental research questions
- Supervise laboratory assistants during the course of their duties
- Review collected data and analyze it to draw conclusions about test results
- Prepare laboratory reports for submission and review reports by others
Environmental Scientist Job Specifications
The specifications for the position that you wind up listing in the job qualifications and skills section of your environmental scientist job description play a major role in the pool of candidates you get. That’s why it’s important to make sure your skills section’s design produces the best possible results for your organization. To do that, the writing needs to be clear. It also needs to be complete, which can be a challenge if you are not very familiar with the position.
Talk to a hiring manager or someone who supervises this role if you are trying to make sure you have a complete list of environmental scientist job specifications. Before you do that, though, do some research on several presentations of the role to make sure you have the basics covered. This lets you compare different sets of skills commonly associated with the position along with various ways of presenting requirements.
Here are a few examples of job specifications for the skills and qualifications section that you might include or adapt as you write your environmental scientist job description.
- Strong written and verbal communication skills, especially in relation to written instructions
- Comprehensive background knowledge of the scientific process
- Master of Environmental Science required, PhD preferred
- At least two years of supervisory experience on a research team