Focos de atención
Environmental Scientist, Environmental Consultant, Environmental Specialist, Environmental Compliance Analyst, Environmental Data Analyst, Environmental Specialist
America has a significant role in global environmental dynamics—mainly because of our high levels of resource consumption, waste production, and other environmental impacts. But as a nation, we’re trying to do better—and Environmental Analysts are key players in making that happen!
They evaluate and help mitigate the environmental impact of industrial processes, urban development, and other activities. They do this by conducting environmental audits, analyzing pollution, waste management, and resource use data, and then developing strategies to minimize negative impacts.
Their duties include identifying pollution sources, assessing regulatory compliance, offering viable solutions, and promoting sustainable practices. All in all, Environmental Analysts are crucial in assisting organizations and communities as they strive to reduce ecological footprints!
- Contributing to environmental protection efforts
- Developing strategies for pollution reduction and resource conservation
- Helping organizations meet their sustainability goals
Horario de trabajo
Environmental Analysts typically work full-time, with occasional overtime required during project deadlines. Travel may be necessary for site assessments or to attend environmental conferences.
Tareas típicas
- Conduct impact assessments and analyze environmental data using modeling and simulation tools
- Analyze samples using Environmental Protection Agency laboratory guidelines
- Audit and evaluate compliance with applicable environmental regulations
- Inspect stormwater controls and review Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plans; ensure compliance with Occupational Safety and Health Administration standards
- Develop data-driven action and mitigation plans
- Test and treat Acid Mine Drainage water
- Research Material Safety Data Sheets, perform Toxic Substances Control Act assessments, authorize chemical use, and administer chemical tracking, as applicable
- Implement compliance-related programs related to the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act and other legislation
- Conduct monitoring and reporting to government agencies, as required
- Maintain records related to waste characterization
- Prepare reports detailing findings. Use Geographic Information Systems and computer-aided drafting tools to create report maps. Offer recommendations for changes
Responsabilidades adicionales
- Train and supervise junior Environmental Analysts; lead research projects
- Research trends, best practices, and policy updates
- Engage in public outreach and education. Participate in local initiatives
- Keep up-to-date on regulatory changes and emerging issues
Habilidades blandas
- Analítica
- Atención al detalle
- Colaboración
- Pensamiento crítico
- Razonamiento deductivo e inductivo
- Orientado al detalle
- Independiente
- Integridad
- Supervisión
- Objetivo
- Organizado
- Perceptivo
- Resolución de problemas
- Comprensión de lectura
- Orientado a la seguridad
- Gran capacidad de comunicación
Habilidades técnicas
- Ámbitos medioambientales (por ejemplo, calidad del aire, recursos hídricos)
- Environmental data collection and analysis tools
- Normativa medioambiental y medidas de cumplimiento
- Ciencias medioambientales y ecología
- Sistemas de Información Geográfica (SIG)
- Hazardous waste and materials handling
- Gestión de proyectos
- Redacción y presentación de informes
- Herramientas estadísticas y de modelización de datos
- Empresas de consultoría medioambiental
- Organismos públicos
- Manufacturing and industrial companies
- Sin ánimo de lucro
- Public utilities/energy companies
- Instituciones de investigación
Environmental Analysts are essential in evaluating and mitigating environmental impacts. The job requires an in-depth understanding of ecological systems and a commitment to continuous learning to keep up-to-date with changing regulations.
Analysts often work in multidisciplinary teams under high-pressure situations. Work hours may go beyond typical “office hours,” especially during emergencies and periods of intensive fieldwork. Travel is often involved, too, sometimes during inclement weather conditions.
Despite the demands, the role is rewarding because it allows analysts to protect our environment and boost sustainability efforts.
The field of environmental analysis is rapidly evolving due to the demand to address climate and environmental issues!
There’s increased reliance on advanced technologies such as remote sensing, GIS (Geographic Information Systems), and AI (Artificial Intelligence) for more precise, comprehensive data collection and analysis. These tools allow analysts to monitor real-time changes, predict trends, and develop effective mitigation strategies.
Meanwhile, public demand is also driving transparency and accountability when it comes to environmental reporting. This is leading to stricter reporting standards and practices, and analysts help to ensure compliance in these areas.
Sustainability is another hot topic as communities, organizations, and governmental agencies focus on sustainable practices. Environmental analysts are on the frontlines of this push, devising and implementing strategies that balance economic growth with ecological preservation.
Individuals who become Environmental Analysts likely had a passion for nature and the environment from a young age. They might have been interested in outdoor activities, science, and environmental clubs, and may have been drawn to subjects like biology, geography, and environmental studies.
- Per Zippia, education levels based on job postings show that 75% of workers in this field hold at least a bachelor’s and 15% have a master’s
- Common majors for this field are environmental science, ecology, geology, biology, and chemistry
- Relevant college class topics include:
- Air and Water Quality Management
- Climate Change and Sustainability
- Data Analysis and Statistics
- Ecology and Ecosystem Management
- Environmental Law and Compliance
- Environmental Science and Policy
- Sistemas de información geográfica
- Hidrología y recursos hídricos
- Toxicology and Public Health
- Waste Management and Pollution Control
- Graduates may have to first build up job experience as interns, research assistants, or environmental scientists
- In addition, analysts can expect 6-12 months of on-the-job training
- Optional certifications that can boost one’s credentials, too, such as:
- Academy of Board Certified Environmental Professionals’ Certified Environmental Professional
- American Institute of Professional Geologists’ Professional Geologist
- Association of Energy Engineers Certified Energy Manager
- Institute of Hazardous Materials Management’s Certified Hazardous Materials Manager
- National Registry of Environmental Professionals’ Certified Environmental Scientist
- Society of Wetland Scientists’ Professional Wetland Scientist
- U.S. Green Building Council’s Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Accredited Professional
- Grad students may wish to pursue advanced specialization certificates such as a graduate certificate in Environmental Geographic Information Science
- Look for accredited colleges offering majors in environmental science, ecology, geology, biology, chemistry, or related fields
- Piensa en tu horario y en tu flexibilidad a la hora de decidir si te inscribes en un programa presencial, online o híbrido
- Seek programs with fieldwork, internships, and research opportunities
- Considere el coste de la matrícula, los descuentos y las oportunidades de becas locales (además de la ayuda federal)
- Considere los premios y logros del profesorado del programa
- Check out the program’s facilities if you plan to attend in person. Well-funded programs should have cutting-edge research spaces and equipment
- Look for affiliated centers and institutes. Popular programs often
collaborate with external partners, which can augment your learning experience - Revisar los índices de graduación y las estadísticas de inserción laboral de los postgraduados
- Get a jump start on college by taking prep classes in high school, such as math, chemistry, biology, and environmental science
- Developing strong technical writing and presentation skills will also pay off, too!
- If offered, consider taking electives related to renewable energy, sustainability, public policy, and computer-aided drafting
- Aprende todo lo que puedas sobre la carrera antes de inscribirte en las clases. Sepa en qué quiere especializarse y lea las descripciones de puestos publicadas en portales de empleo.
- Get practical experience through sustainability-related internships, cooperative experiences, part-time jobs, or volunteerism
- Participate in your school or community’s environmental clubs
- Ask a seasoned Environmental Analyst if you can shadow them at work or if they’ll do an informational interview with you
- Familiarize yourself with current global environmental trends. Participate in relevant online forums and discussion groups like EnviroLink on Feedspot or Reddit’s Environment forums
- Read online articles like the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development’s environmental blog, the Business & Policy section of Treehugger, or the Biodiversity section of England’s Natural History Museum
- Keep track of your work and academic accomplishments for your resume and college applications
- Sign up for notifications on job portals like Indeed, SimplyHired, Monster, USAJobs, and Glassdoor
- According to PayScale, a whopping 85% of jobs are found through networking—so make a profile on LinkedIn and other networking platforms!
- Revise los anuncios de empleo y busque palabras clave para incluirlas en su currículum, como:
- Environmental Assessment, GIS, Data Analysis, Environmental Compliance, Ecology, Pollution Control, Sustainability, Climate Change, Environmental Policy, Water Quality, Air Quality, Environmental Impact Analysis, Waste Management, Environmental Auditing, Environmental Modeling
- Review Environmental Analyst resume templates and sample interview questions such as:
- “How do you approach developing strategies for reducing the environmental impact of a company’s operations?”
- “Explain your understanding of sustainability and how it applies to businesses.”
- “What is your experience with conducting environmental assessments?”
- “Describe a situation in which you had to communicate complex environmental information to a non-technical audience.”
- Do your research on potential employers. Learn about their services, missions, and areas of specialization. Check out the career pages on their websites
- Ask your school to connect you with company recruiters. Take advantage of chances to intern with large companies. They may offer you a job later!
- Ask your school’s career center for help with resumes, mock interviews, and job fair information
- Dress professionally for job interviews and demonstrate a keen awareness of trends in the industry
- Pedir a profesores y supervisores anteriores que escriban cartas de recomendación o solicitar su consentimiento (por adelantado) para incluirlos como referencias.
- Make it clear to your supervisor that you’re interested in advancement
- Get advice and talk through options. There are endless possibilities within the Environmental Analyst field!
- Stay proactive about professional development. Take continuing education courses or complete a higher-level degree
- Knock out additional certs when qualified to do so, like the Academy of Board Certified Environmental Professionals’ Certified Environmental Professional
- Try to gain diverse experience across different environmental projects, then consider specializing in a niche such as Renewable Energy Analysis
- Participar activamente en organizaciones profesionales (para más información, consulte nuestra lista de recursos recomendados).
- Stay current on regulatory changes so you can ensure organizational compliance with the most up-to-date standards
- Realize that smaller organizations may have fewer opportunities for advancement, so you may have to switch employers to advance your career
Páginas web
- Academia de Profesionales Medioambientales Certificados
- Alliance to Save Energy
- Academia Americana de Ingenieros y Científicos Medioambientales
- American Council on Renewable Energy
- American Institute of Professional Geologists
- Instituto Nacional Estadounidense de Normalización
- Asociación de Ingenieros Energéticos
- Biomass Thermal Energy Council
- Center for Sustainable Energy
- Coalition for Energy Savings
- Environmental Defense Fund
- Agencia de Protección del Medio Ambiente
- Instituto de Gestión de Materiales Peligrosos
- International Renewable Energy Agency
- Sociedad Internacional de Profesionales de la Sostenibilidad
- Asociación Nacional de Profesionales del Medio Ambiente
- Registro Nacional de Profesionales del Medio Ambiente
- National Renewable Energy Laboratory
- National Wildlife Federation
- Conservación de la Naturaleza
- Renewable Energy World
- RMI
- Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry
- Sociedad de Científicos de Humedales
- Southwest Energy Efficiency Project
- Consejo de la Construcción Ecológica de EE.UU.
- Fondo Mundial para la Naturaleza
Libros
- A Life on Our Planet: My Witness Statement and a Vision for the Future, by Sir David Attenborough
- Environmental Science, by G. Tyler Miller and Scott Spoolman
- Silent Spring, by Rachel Carson
- The Sixth Extinction: An Unnatural History, by Elizabeth Kolbert
Environmental Analysts play a crucial role in guiding sustainable practices and policies to protect our natural world for future generations.
But if a career as an Environmental Analyst isn’t the right fit, consider related fields that might intrigue you, such as:
- Bioquímico
- Farmacia
- Científico de la conservación
- Environmental Consultant
- Environmental Educator
- Ingeniero de Medio Ambiente
- Técnico en Ciencias y Protección del Medio Ambiente
- Geocientífico
- Hidrólogo
- Científico de materiales
- Microbiólogo
- Especialista en salud y seguridad en el trabajo
- Guarda del Parque
- Responsable de Salud Pública
- Renewable Energy Specialist
- Urbanista y planificador regional
- Especialista en recursos hídricos
- Biólogo de fauna salvaje
- Zoólogo