Air Quality Manager

Salary
Graduate: £18,000 - £25,000
Employee with 10-15 years in the role: £25,000 - £40,000

Main Employers

• Central government and local authorities
• Civil engineering firms
• Pressure and conservation groups
• Energy, waste and chemical industries
• Environmental agencies and consultancies
• Airline and shipping companies
• Research and education institutions

Job Profile
Air quality managers monitor, analyse, interpret and regulate air pollutant concentrations. Monitoring data can be used to validate pollution modelling, to test scenarios and to make informed policy decisions. Air quality managers visit businesses and factories to ensure that pollution laws are being followed, respond to complaints and are sometimes called to assess possible emission risks when a new manufacturer is ready to begin operations. After an emergency, such as a chemical explosion or a fuel leak, air quality managers also assess air quality damage.

Role and Responsibilities
Jobs will vary according to each employer; however you could expect to be involved in:

• Air quality assessments and monitoring
• Data collection, modelling and evaluation
• Preparation of emission inventories
• Breakdown of pollutant contributions
• Dust, odour, IPPC reviews and assessments
• Reviewing permit applications

Qualifications
Relevant further education subjects include: Atmospheric Science; Chemistry; Engineering; Environmental Engineering; Environmental Science; Geography; Mathematics; Meteorology; Physics

There is no nationally recognised ‘air quality’ qualification, so people have various backgrounds. In addition to academic qualifications, membership of a professional body such as the Chartered Institution of Water and Environmental Management (CIWEM) is useful. CIWEM provides training, debating, networking and socialising opportunities, and offers a student membership scheme which can provide useful contacts for the future.

Career Development
Career opportunities exist in air quality monitoring, assessment, forecasting and regulation. The need for graduates in this area is growing due to increasing legislation, increasing public awareness of environmental health issues and increasing societal movements towards more sustainable futures. Staff with more than five years experience are particularly in demand and can command an enhanced salary package. Employment packages in the non-profit sectors are generally lower but the positions are a valuable way to gain experience of the various issues and to work in an area where you have a personal commitment. 

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