Environmental protection specialists supervise efforts to conserve natural resources and ensure that the environment is preserved for future generations. They take part in activities such as ensuring the safety of drinking water and responding to hazardous material spills, for example. A four-year bachelor’s degree in environmental science or physical science is usually required of an environmental protection specialist. In this field, a two-year master’s degree or a four- or five-year doctoral degree increases his or her chances of finding work. In addition to reaching out to the public and keeping their projects current, these individuals develop environmentally friendly programs and produce related reports.
Supporting programs aimed at addressing issues in this industry is the responsibility of an environmental protection specialist. He or she may, for example, use his or her technical expertise to assist agency projects involving air pollution control, wastewater treatment, and hazardous waste disposal. When planning, designing, and implementing environmental initiatives, this type of professional must develop protocols for the proper execution of these initiatives. To succeed in this role, you must also understand budgeting principles.
In this field, excellent written and verbal communication skills are essential. Specialists who work to protect the environment are frequently required to write letters and reports on topics related to environmental law compliance. An environmental protection expert may also give presentations at industry conferences or facilitate briefings on these topics. He or she must also train and mentor employees on organizational standards, as well as schedule meetings where he or she orally evaluates staff members’ performance.
Professionals in this field are particularly interested in involving the community in agency efforts. An environmental protection specialist educates the public on how to participate in activities that benefit both people’s health and the environment. Some of this information is also shared with city planners so that they can create real estate that is not harmful to the ecosystem — the interplay between living organisms and their surroundings.
A person working in the environmental sector also strives to keep his or her company’s programs current and effective. An environmental protection specialist assesses the effectiveness of his or her organization’s current initiatives and determines whether any of them need to be changed to achieve better results. Professionals in this field also attend conferences to stay up to date on industry regulations so that their projects adhere to them.