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Environmental consultant

Assess the impact of industry on the environment and tell businesses how to be greener.

Also known as: impact assessment manager, green consultant, eco consultant

About skillsGetting in

About the job

Salary

Source: National Careers Service

Weekly

£481

Entry level

£962

Experienced

Monthly

£2,083

Entry level

£4,167

Experienced

Yearly

£25,000

Entry level

£50,000

Experienced

6,700

people are currently employed

High growth

500 more jobs in 5 years

These figures refer to this job and similar ones with comparable skills and qualifications. They only apply to Scotland. Source: Oxford Economics

A day in the life – Environmental consultant

What it's like

You’d evaluate the environmental impact of new developments or industries, providing technical advice and assessments for your clients.

You might advise on any issue including:

  • renewable energy

  • flood risk

  • waste and recycling

  • carbon emissions

  • climate change and emission management

You’d need to keep up to date with environmental legislation.

Depending on the project, you could:

  • see if sites are suitable for new developments like power stations or wind farms

  • work out the environmental risk from industries like energy or chemical production

  • assess business practices to make sure organisations are meeting environmental laws and regulations

  • collect data in field studies on sites or in buildings

  • investigate contamination and report organisations who break environmental rules

  • respond to environmental accidents and manage cleanup operations

  • advise industry, organisations or the government on issues such as the disposal of waste

You would:

  • analyse and interpret the data gathered in field surveys

  • write scientific reports

  • present your findings and ideas

You might explain to businesses how to meet rules and regulations. You could help them reduce their impact on the environment by changing to ‘greener’ processes and practices. For example, you may work with a chemical company to limit the levels of pollutants it releases into the air.

You’d need to have a good understanding of business practices so you can work with organisations in a competitive commercial world.

Green job 

In this job you'll be doing work to help the environment. Find out more about green jobs

Hours

You'll usually work 9am to 5pm, Monday to Friday. Your hours can sometimes be more irregular and you may work longer days, especially if you're completing a field survey on site or writing a report. You may have to offer your services around the needs of your client, which may occasionally include working at the weekend.

Environment

You'll spend some of your time in an office working on a computer. You'll also visit clients, and when you're carrying out field assessments and site surveys you'll be working out on site.

Travel

For some jobs you may need to have a full driving licence.

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Related industries

Many jobs can be done in lots of different industries. We've highlighted the ones we think are most important for this job.

  • Life sciences
  • Energy
  • Agriculture, forestry and fishing
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Top skills

Skills are things you're good at. Whether you know what yours are or not, everyone has them!

It's useful to learn which ones are important in a job so you know the areas you need to brush up on. It can also help you work out if you're suited to a career.

Here are some of the skills you'll need to do this job:

  • developing a plan
  • attention to detail
  • social conscience
  • researching
  • problem solving
  • written communication
  • working with technology
  • verbal communication

Your skills are important

Our unique skillsets are what make us stand out from the crowd. Learn about each skill in depth and discover what employers look for in your applications and interviews.

Discover skills

Getting in

Explore each section to find more information about getting into this career.

Colleges and universities will list subjects you'll need for entry to a course. Some useful subjects include:

  • Biology

  • Chemistry

  • English and Communication

  • Environmental Science

  • Science in the Environment

  • Skills for Work: Energy

You'd typically require a relevant honours degree (SCQF Level 10), in areas such as:

  • environmental health

  • geology

  • geography

  • ecology

  • chemistry 

Some employers expect the applicant to have a postgraduate qualification (SCQF Level 11) in a specialist environmental subject.

To get into a degree usually requires National 5s and three to five Highers.

Entry to a postgraduate qualification requires a degree, with some courses requiring an honours degree.

  • Previous work experience

  • A driving licence

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