Environment
This page has been designed to give a starting point for those looking into careers in the Environment. It includes information about careers in:
- Environmental Protection and Control
- Environmental Management and Conservation
You might also be interested in our page on Natural Resources and the Environment and Land based careers which includes agriculture, horticulture and forestry.
What are careers in the environment?
The recent increase in environmental awareness brings increasing opportunities for graduates to work in a wide variety of areas, from agriculture to engineering and research to law.
The range of careers available spans environmental, sustainable and ethical areas that are enormously diverse. People working in any area of this field will be primarily concerned with the impact of people and industry on the environment and how this affects human lives (source - Targetjobs).
Being able to demonstrate relevant work experience, voulntary work or involvement in relevant socieities or groups at undergraduate level will also be of benefit in job applications. The environmental, food chain and rural sector uses about 77% of the UK’s total landmass (18.4 million hectares) and employs over a million people (source - Prospects).
Being able to demonstrate relevant experience or involvement in this sector will be of benefit in job applications.
Prospects
Prospects is a graduate careers website with job profiles including Marine Scientist, Nature Conservation Officer, Environmental Manager, Recycling Officer.
Prospects have also produced a series of 'sector guides', which gives an insight into a number of industries. This guide could be useful: The Environmental, Food Chain and Rural guide.
Targetjobs: Environment
Targetjobs is a graduate careers information website with job profiles relating to careers in the Environment.
British Ecological Society
This site explains what it is like to work for a conservation charity.
Institute of Ecology and Environmental Management
There is a guide here called 'What a Graduate should Know', which looks at the type of skills and experience required to enter into this sector.
How do I get into it?
A science degree is normally specified as necessary to enter this type of work.
In practice, a wide range of scientific backgrounds are considered suitable, and other factors such as relevant work experience ot voluntary work are likely to be as important in recruitment decisions as a degree.
Making relevant contacts and getting your name and specialist interests known is an advantage in gaining entry into your chosen organisation or field. Being able to demonstrate relevant work experience, voulntary work or involvement in relevant socieities or groups at undergraduate level will also be of benefit in job applications.
Prospects Community - Engineering, Science and Technology
Careers guidance, jobs and courses in Engineering, Science and Information Technology.
Student Force for Sustainability
The portal for environmental careers in the UK providing advice, information and profiles.
Chartered Institute of Water and Environmental Management
The leading professional and examining body for scientists, engineers, other environmental professionals, students and those committed to the sustainable management and development of water and the environment. There is an education and training section.
Environmental Services Association
ESA represents the UK's waste management and secondary resources industry. There is a careers and training section.
LANTRA
This is the sector skills council for the land-based sector. There is a careers section.
Environmental Careers
This includes a searchable international jobs-market, an extensive range of sector summaries and job profiles, real life case studies, university information, undergraduate and postgraduate course listings, and links to overseas conservation organisations and potential employers.
You may also find the following publications which we have at the Careers Centre, Moulsecoomb useful:
- Working with the Environment (2004)
- The Green Directory (2007/2008)
- Green Volunteers - the world guide to Voluntary Work in Nature Conservation (2003)
Finding a job or employer in this sector
For information on local, national, graduate schemes and other vacancies see our information on finding vacancies.
Acre
Recruitment agency specialising in Environment, CSR / Sustainability and Engineering. Acre has jobs throughout the UK and beyond in Waste Management, Ecology, Landscape Architecture and more.
Allen and York
Specialist recruitment company serving the Environment, Planning & Built Environment and Health & Safety sectors.
Chartered Institute of Waste Management
A professional body within the Environmental and Waste Management sector. They have recently launched a sector-specific job board.
Countryside Jobs Service
Vacancies are updated daily and a selection can be viewed online. You can also subscribe to a weekly edition of their vacancy bulletin.
Ecology Recruitment
Recruitment agency specialising in the search and placement of Ecologists. It is a free service but you do have to register.
Energy and Utilities Jobs1
Advertises vacancies nationwide. Part of the One Job Group.
Environmental Expert
The environmental industry's only global online marketplace and information resource including a job search section.
Environmentjobs
You need to register with the site to get access to all areas, including voluntary and paid opportunities, expeditions, international jobs.
Environmentjob UK
Jobs and volunteering opportunities in the environmental sector.
The Institute of Environmental Management and Assessment
Evergreen Resources
Recruitment agency with expertise to the Environmental Sector.
Green Directory
Offers a blend of people, organisations, and businesses involved in the green sectors, with a job section.
Groundwork
Groundwork is a federation of Trusts in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, each working with their partners to improve the quality of the local environment, the lives of local people and the success of local businesses in areas in need of investment and support. There is a jobs and volunteering section.
Index Environmental
The Index allows you to make very detailed searches and hence produce the most suitable selection of available vacancies for you.
Lowcarbonjobs.com
Covers jobs and internships in the renewable energy, sustainability, carbon and climate sectors. It specialises in technical, engineering and policy roles and offers a number of roles suitable for recent graduates.
Natural England
Natural England works for people, places and nature to conserve and enhance biodiversity, landscapes and wildlife in rural, urban, coastal and marine areas.
Renew-Reuse-Recycle
Advertises job opportunities in the environmental, green energy and renewables field.
The Wildlife Trusts
Conservation charity dedicated to all wildlife. Includes a job and volunteering section.
Further information and useful links
Chartered Institute of Waste Management (CIWM)
CIWM is the leading professional body for waste and resource management.
Centre for Ecology and Hydrology
CEH is the UK's Centre of Excellence for research in the land and freshwater environmental sciences.
Countryside Management Association
The CMA is the largest organisation of its kind representing professionals engaged in countryside and urban greenspace management throughout England and Wales.
Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA)
Defra works for the essentials of life- food, air, land, water, people, animals and plants.
Inland Waterways Association
Campaigning for the conservation, use, maintanence, restoration and development of the inland waterways.
Institute of Marine Engineering, Science and Techonology
Working to promote the development of marine engineering, science and technology, providing opportunities for the exchange of ideas and practices and upholding the status and knowledge of marine professionals.
Institute of Environmental Management (IEMA)
This is a not for profit organisation established to promote best practice standards in environmental management, auditing and assessment.
Marine Biological Association
Promoting scientific research into all aspects of life in the sea and disseminating to the public the knowledge gained.
Natural Environment Research Council
We are one of the eight UK Research Councils that fund and manage scientific research and training in the UK. NERC is the research council that does earth system science.
National Trust
A charity completely independent of the government with the aim preserving and protecting the coastline, countryside and buildings of England, Wales and Northern Ireland.
Scottish Environment Protection Agency
We are Scotland’s environmental regulator and adviser.
Scottish Association for Marine Science
The Scottish Association for Marine Science (SAMS) is a Scottish charity (est. 1884) committed to promoting, delivering and supporting high-quality independent research and education in marine science.
Scottish Water
Scottish Water is a publicly owned business, answerable to the Scottish Parliament and the people of Scotland.
Water UK
Working on behalf of the water industry towards a sustainable future.
Welsh Water
We own and operate water and sewerage networks in Wales and some adjoining parts of England.
You may also be interested in our pages about working/volunteering abroad, which has details of some websites dedicated to finding environmental jobs globally.