If you’re interested in helping organizations reform their environmental policies by analyzing current trends, you may be interested in a career as an environmental policy officer. Becoming an environmental policy officer is a great career choice if you are passionate about the environment and want to have a say on matters concerning the environment and private industry.
Below we've outlined how to get started in this profession. We've also included helpful supplementary information, such as a job description, an overview of the job duties, salary expectations, a list of possible employer types and much more!
Education Needed to Become an Environmental Policy Officer
Earning a Bachelor of Science degree in Environmental Science, Environmental Studies, Environmental Engineering, or a closely related field is typically the minimum requirement for working in this field.
Coursework in communications and environmental management can also be very helpful in providing prospective environmental education officers with relevant skills, knowledge and competencies.
General Job Description
Environmental policy officers work with land developers, commercial organizations, government agencies and community groups in order to provide expert advice concerning environmental conservation. They contribute to the development, implementation and monitoring of their employer's environmental policies.
Typical Job Duties
• Develop systems and offer advice relating to reducing the impact that mining, land development and other agricultural, industrial and commercial activities have on the environment
• Develop and implement best practices, policies and procedures
• Work with a range of professionals to help businesses follow sustainable environmental practices that balance their needs with those of the ecosystems in which they operate
• Provide advice to government and industries on how to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions
• May asses and rehabilitate areas affected by logging, mining, construction and degradation
• May analyze pollution in order to identify its sources, assess the effects and recommend methods for control and prevention
Who Employs Environmental Policy Officers?
Below are some examples of the types of organizations that hire environmental policy officers:
• Conservation organizations
• Environmental advocacy organizations
• Federal, provincial, and municipal governments
• Land development companies
• Local land-use organizations
• Oil, gas and mining companies
• Private consulting companies
Career Progression
With an accumulation of professional experience and professional development, environmental policy officers may progress into senior level positions, or related jobs such as lobbyist, or environmental impact assessment specialist. They may have to move to a position with a different employer in order to further their career, depending on the size and structure of the employer an environmental policy officer begins their career with.
Average Salary Level
It’s difficult to determine the specific salary levels for environmental policy officers, as reliable data for this occupation is not readily available. We can however get a decent idea of what their salary level is by looking at the numbers from closely related occupational groups.
Environmental Policy Officer Salary - Canada: According to ECO Canada, workers in the Environmental Policy Analyst occupational group in entry level positions make an average of $51,000 per year in Canada. More experienced environmental policy analysts can make an average of $90,000 per year.
Salary - United States: In the United States, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that workers in the Environmental Scientists and Specialists occupational group earned a median salary of $61,700 USD per year.
Environmental Policy Officer Jobs
Our job board below has "environmental policy officer" postings in Canada, the United States, the United Kingdom and Australia, when available:
Similar Careers in Our Database
Listed below are jobs that are similar in nature to 'environmental policy officer', as they may involve many of the same skills, competencies and responsibilities.
References
Please use the references below to find more information on the various aspects of a career as an environmental policy officer.
Occupations in Alberta: “Policy Analyst.” (March 26, 2016). ALIS website - Alberta Learning Information Service. Retrieved November 16, 2019.
Life, Physical, and Social Science: “Environmental Scientists and Specialists.” (September 4, 2019. Occupational Outlook Handbook - United States Bureau of Labor Statistics website. Retrieved November 16, 2019.
Career Profiles: “Environmental Policy Analyst.” (n.d.). ECO Canada website. Retrieved November 16, 2019.
Scholarships for Becoming an Environmental Policy Officer
Scholarships listed for majors that apply to becoming an environmental policy officer can be found on the following pages:
Environmental Science Scholarships
Success Tip: Be sure to apply for any scholarships that you even barely qualify for, as there are millions of dollars of scholarships that go unused every year due to a lack of applicants!
Applicable Majors
Studying one of the university majors listed below is an excellent starting point for getting into this line of work. Click on the links to find out what else you can do with these majors!
