Tag Archives: sustainability jobs

Environmental Jobs: 8 Critical Job Skills You Will Need to Land A Good One

Environmental Jobs are Hot in 2013

Environmental Jobs Are A Knowledge and Relationship Driven Market

Have you heard the saying "It's not what you know but who you know."  In this "new normal" economy, knowledge and relationships as well as strong skills are the keys to acquiring high level environmental jobs. If you are a environmental engineering  or science graduate or experienced environmental professional seeking a new position, here are some important knowledge areas and skills you need to showcase in your resume in 2013 .

  1. Knowledge of Environmental Regulations: New and updated environmental regulations will force companies to find ways to stay in compliance. Environmental professionals will have to translate these changes into solutions  that meet compliance and lessen financial liabilities. Environmental regulations are a key driver for the creation of environmental jobs.
  2. Knowledge of Sustainability Principles: It is important to understand that Sustainability has different definitions and levels of acceptance in different industries. If you are seeking corporate environmental jobs, learning these definitions and how to develop profit streams from them will lead stronger opportunities.
  3. Business Development/Sales : Relationships are a key component of environmental jobs. Environmental professionals must have "relationship capital" ( ie. trust and expertise) with qualified clients, regulators and stakeholders to sell their services and bring in profits over the long term
  4. Technical Skills & Knowledge of New Environmental Technologies: Professionals who can execute the basic technical tasks of their profession using the latest environmental technologies will find it somewhat easier to protect their careers because they can pursue opportunities in consulting, corporate and entrepreneurship. 
  5. Financial Management & Project Funding:  Many new environmental projects will require private investment, alternate funding sources like crowd funding and a higher level of financial accountability. There will many clients who will be dependent on these resources to pay for their projects. Strong environmental consultants will know how to pull these funds together.
  6. Project Management: Environmental professionals will have to be more adept at project management; coaching, motivating and recruiting people as well as interpreting the new domestic and international environmental regulations. All of these areas will have a significant impact on the profitability and delivery of projects.
  7. Knowledge of Cyber Security:  Why would an environmental professional need to know about this? Good question. Certain parts of our country's infrastructure are vulnerable to cyber attacks and could be used create massive disasters, if breached.  Many new environmental jobs in the information technology space will focus on infrastructure cyber security, disaster prevention and recovery.
  8. Political & Legal Savvy:  Environmental and infrastructure projects are often politically charged because of the fight between environmental concerns and  the need to create jobs. Environmental professionals will have to navigate these issues without losing sight of their client's objectives. Further, they will have to learn how to engage the public on complex environmental topics.

Environmental Jobs Will Be Hot For Years to Come. Are You Ready?

In a past articles, we have discussed how much the environmental industry has grown and some of the sectors that growing faster than average.  I will continue this trend but I want to hear from our readers. Here is what I like to know

  1. What areas of the environmental sectors interest you?
  2. What jobs do you want to know more about?

Thanks for reading and your feedback

  

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Water: A Well Spring of Hot New Jobs

Water:  A Source of Jobs

Alabama, Florida and Georgia are in court fighting over it. Western States like Arizona, Colorado and California have a shortage of it. It has caused millions of dollars of damage in the Midwest.  What is it? -Water. Clean water is a hot issue across the US because it is essential life and our economy. Many areas of the US are struggling to find more sources of water to meet the demand of their growing populations. Yet most job seekers are unaware of the potential jobs available in protecting this vital resource. Here are some reasons why job seekers should consider a career in the water industry:

  1. High Number of Job Openings: Like other utility companies, water companies and engineering consultants are faced with a large number of retirements in their engineering, operations and maintenance ranks. This exodus is not just a loss of numbers but also a loss of institutional knowledge (Knowledge Capital). They will need well trained people to step into the open positions.
  2. High Investment Potential: It is well publicized that our country’s water infrastructure needs at least $ 1 trillion dollars of investment to get it modern standards. While this level of investment will not happen at once, governments, water authorities and politicians know the work needs to be done and projects will create well paying jobs. One of the hottest areas of water jobs will be flood and storm water management.
  3. Increased Regulations: Believe or not, increased regulatory standards are good in some cases because they provide standards to protect the water supply from potential threats such as terrorism and pollution. The water industry is also entering into “Smart Grid” technology with the deployment of high tech water meters and quality monitors.
  4. Low numbers of trained professionals: The retirements of “baby boomers” will leave a wealth of job opportunities but a dearth of knowledge in some geographic areas. Trained and experienced water professionals who choose to move into the areas will have good prospects for jobs.

 What You Should Do For Your Water Job

  1. Investigate the water industry for career opportunities on H2Opportunity website especially  water treatment plant operator
  2. Research at the vast array of companies in the water industry across the Internet
  3. Look at the American Water Works Association (AWWA) website
  4. Read the articles below
  5. Subscribe to Hinton Human Capital

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312 Billion Reasons Why Environmental Management Jobs Are Growing Fast

Environmental Management Jobs Are Growing Fast. Are You Ready?

Did you know that the environmental industry is a $312 Billion per year business sector? To most of the general public, this sector is an unknown job market unless some type of disaster strikes or if your location has a thriving energy/industrial economy. In this article we want to inform job seekers and graduates about the opportunities in this sector.

What They Do

Environmental Management has evolved over the years from a regulatory compliance role to an active strategic business partner within a company. How did this happen? When the push for corporate social responsibility (CSR) and sustainable business practices became more prominent, companies became to look toward their environmental management teams to champion their efforts.

In the industrial setting, environmental managers were already responsible for employee safety; leading contaminated site clean ups; disposing of hazardous wastes and working with regulators. Now with the new emphasis on CSR and sustainable business practices they are responsible  for:

  1. Implementing environmental  management information systems (EMIS) which track all environmental data and issues within a company.
  2. Developing ZERO or reduced landfill waste and waste water discharge strategies where all waste streams are reused or recycled in the company processes or developed into energy or products.
  3. Help  corporate executives develop a “triple bottom” reporting system for investors.

These are not all of their duties but you have the main idea.

What You Should Consider

If you already have a environmental science or engineering degree and some experience with environmental projects, the path to an environmental management position maybe slightly easier. Your tasks would be to expand your network, get a certification and look for opportunities in the industries of your area. Job seekers who do not have a science or engineering degree should seek  advanced training such as OSHA 40 hour HAZWOPER training to get started on the path toward the job of their choice.

Certifications to Consider

Certifications like the Registered Environmental Manager (REM) can help job seekers with science backgrounds to enhance their opportunities to find the type positions they are seeking.

Next Time

In the next article, we will look at the Environmental Technician career opportunities and how job seekers can get in.

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Hot Job Alert:Environmental Health & Safety Manager (Mining & Minerals)

Hinton Human Capital, an emerging leader in executive search in Green, Environmental and Infrastructure industries is now searching for Environmental Health and Safety Manager (EH&S) for a fast growing manufacturing company. Ideal candidate will have at least 8 -10 years of demonstrated experience working in MHSA governed mineral processing facilities plus the following skills and abilities:

  • In depth working knowledge of MSHA safety requirements. Ability to collaborate with the leadership team to provide guidance, technical support and coordinate activities to promote a “culture of safety”. work with employees at all organizational levels to affect corrective action strategies.
  • Initiating, implementing and overseeing Health, Safety and Environmental (HSE) management systems
  • Develop and provide training and guidance to site personnel, leadership and contractors to ensure compliance with regulatory and corporate training requirements. Direct incident investigations, determine root cause, develop corrective actions, and conduct closure verification activities.
  • Direct HSE inspections, self-assessments and audits. Manage reports and present summaries to management with recommended solutions. Monitor corrective action closure.
  • Review current and proposed Federal, State, County, Local regulations and implement appropriate measures to ensure compliance.
  • Coordinate and manage critical HSE programs, such as pollution prevention, recycling, waste water management, storm water management, air quality management, hazardous waste management, PPE, HAZCOM, confined space and fall protection procedures and reporting requirements for each. Provide on-site management support to any required remediation projects.

Requirements:

  • Bachelor’s Degree in Engineering, Environmental Science, Chemistry or equivalent with focus on Environment is required.
  • Master’s preferred.
  • 5+ years of HSE experience in progressively increasing responsibility including oversight of Title V permit compliance.
  • Verifiable experience creating, implementing and overseeing a facility governed by MSHA.
  • CSP preferred, CHMM is plus
  • Ability to travel up to 30%.

  Apply Now

 

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Hot Job Alert: Environmental Sales/Account Manager-Alabama

Hinton Human Capital, an emerging leader in executive search in Green, Environmental and Infrastructure industries is now searching for a Sales/Account Manager for a national environmental contractor in Birmingham, Alabama. The ideal candidate will have at least 5-10 years of sales experience plus the following skills and abilities:

Job Description

  • Demonstrated track record of selling services to local government agencies, industrial/manufacturing companies and utilities within a sales territory.
  • Experience selling environmental services such as disaster recovery/emergency response, decontamination, environmental lab services, environmental cleanup, heavy equipment and tank cleaning services is preferred
  • Ability to develop relationships which garner repeat business through professional organizations and networking.
  • Ability to work closely with internal staff in responding to RFPs, formulating proposals and presentations.
  • Assisting other sales staff with business development.

Qualifications

  • BS degree in Business, Marketing, Engineering or Science is required
  • Knowledge of the Alabama (Montgomery, Birmingham, Decatur Markets) is required
  • Experience using sale tools such as CRM, other databases and websites to generate leads

 

Apply Now

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