Environmental Planner

Working Schedule

• Environmental Planner jobs are usually full-time with most work done indoors. However, some jobs involve physically visiting sites where environmental improvement plans are being utilized. This may include trips to facilities involved with drinking water, wastewater, soil, or even landfills.

Typical Duties

• Analyze areas of natural resources and assess risk
• Review potential environmental impacts of proposed construction projects
• Manage or analyze environmental planning projects and budgets
• Work closely with architects, contractors, and government officials 
• Visit project sites to ensure compliance with regulations and policies. Oversee work in some instances
• Aid in the facilitation of permits acquisition
• Gather and study technical data
• Generate reports with graphics or images, as needed
• Maintain documentation
• Assist with business matters such as Requests for Proposals, Requests for Information, Departments of Transportation proposals, and others
• Review National and State Environmental Policy Act (NEPA and SEPA) guidance

Additional Responsibilities

• Report findings internally and to applicable agencies
• Stay up-to-date on environmental laws, codes, regulations, and pertinent studies

Soft Skills

• Ability to objectively monitor and assess the performance of people, systems, and equipment
• Commitment to quality assurance
• Conflict resolution
• Critical thinking
• Customer service skills
• Detailed-oriented
• English proficiency
• Ethical and environmental mindset
• Research-oriented
• Safety-minded
• Sound judgment and reasoning 
• Strong verbal communication and listening skills
• Teamwork

Technical Skills

• Ability to understand blueprints, technical plans, and drawings
• Comfortable working outdoors 
• Physical fitness and dexterity
• Regulatory knowledge
• Familiarity with project management software

• Governmental agencies
• Private companies and organizations

Environmental Planners work both indoors and outdoors. At times, they may experience situations of conflict if an employer is eager to have a construction project done but there are environmental risks that jeopardize those plans. Environmental Planners have to be mentally resilient and able to maintain their objectivity as they perform their duties diligently, especially in times when there are disagreements or disputes. First and foremost, it is their duty to ensure compliance and uphold the rules designed to protect the environment. 

There seems to be an endless array of manmade dangers pummeling our planet on any given day, exacerbating environmental and climate change-related woes. A few hot ecological priorities have been grabbing the attention of Environmental Planners in recent years. 

Among these is the desire to boost renewable energy sources like solar and wind power, while trying to cut back on coal. At the same time, the government continues to push for an overall reduction in energy consumption, in part by encouraging the development of more efficient technology and practices. 

Environmental Planners may also expect to work on finding ways to increase plastic recycling to help decrease sea pollution. Another water-related area of concern is human waste management, with health hazards piling up around the globe as water-borne illnesses spread. A lesser known source of problems is cement, which emits ~8% of the world’s total of carbon. 

Environmental Planners are often naturalists who appreciate the beauty of our diverse yet fragile planet. In their younger days, they may have enjoyed being outside doing physical activities, but might have noticed how human behaviors have affected nature’s ecosystems in negative ways. These are people who want their work to make a noticeable difference on our world!