EIA Consultant

Salary
Graduate: £13,000 - £20,000
Employee with 10-15 years in the role: £25,000 - £45,000

Main Employers

• Engineering and environmental consultancies
• Developers with in-house EIA teams
• Certification companies
• Donor and lending agencies
• Regulators
• Central government and local authorities

Job Profile
EIA consultants help companies significantly reduce their environmental liability through environmental audit, impact assessment, training and management services. They focus on areas such as efficient energy use, waste management, reduction and disposal and operational control. Clients include large companies looking for ISO 14001 accreditation and small companies wishing to make significant savings. EIA consultants have a real influence on the future development of environmental standards within the business sector.

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

• Carrying out assessments and due diligence auditing
• Contributing to legislation
• Developing EMS targets
• Advising on waste minimisation programmes
• Atmospheric modelling
• Writing publications and policy documents
• Monitoring energy consumption
• Delivery of liability estimates for compliance related issues
• Representing the company at trade shows, exhibitions and other relevant events

Qualifications
Relevant further education subjects include: Ecology; Environmental Biology; Environmental Science; Geography; Marine Ecology; Oceanography

A specialist postgraduate qualification in areas such as Environmental Management, Contaminated Land, Geotechnics and Audit is almost mandatory. Commercial consultancies desire experienced graduates much more than those straight from university, so work experience is vital.

Other desirable skills include an understanding of environmental law; usage of GIS applications; a background in landscape architecture, planning, water or ecological surveying; implementation of environmental management systems; working with commercial organisations; project management; and delivery of training and presentations.

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 Opportunities
As in many positions, salaries vary but often those working in the private sector will earn slightly more than their counterparts in the public sector. Due to changes in legislation, there are increases in employment opportunities in environmental impact assessment. Continued professional development (CPD) is encouraged, and there are plenty of opportunities for those with the motivation to really make their career flourish. There are also opportunities to work overseas.

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