Environmental planners are key to creating a sustainable world. They focus on ethics and government regulation to ensure the safety of human being, plants, animals, land masses and waterways. If you want a career that can make a positive difference, you can benefit from learning about environmental planning. In this article, we explain what these professionals do, describe how to become an environmental planner and list skills necessary for success in this field.
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What is an environmental planner?
An environmental planner is an expert in sustainability and the environment. They study propositions and review company plans to help limit negative affects on the environment. People in these roles are crucial to ensuring that companies and organizations adhere to environmental laws and regulations. Environmental planners interpret the potential environmental impact of local or national projects and ensure that all local, state and federal guidelines are being followed to protect plant life, animal life and human life. They also work to prevent water, land and air pollution.
The national average salary for environmental planners is $77,516 per year, and according to the Bureau of Labor and Statistics, jobs in this field are expected to grow by 11% through the year 2029. This is nearly three times the average growth rate for jobs in the United States.
Environmental planners are key to creating a sustainable world. They focus on ethics and government regulation to ensure the safety of human being, plants, animals, land masses and waterways. If you want a career that can make a positive difference, you can benefit from learning about environmental planning. In this article, we explain what these professionals do, describe how to become an environmental planner and list skills necessary for success in this field.
What is an environmental planner?
An environmental planner is an expert in sustainability and the environment. They study propositions and review company plans to help limit negative affects on the environment. People in these roles are crucial to ensuring that companies and organizations adhere to environmental laws and regulations. Environmental planners interpret the potential environmental impact of local or national projects and ensure that all local, state and federal guidelines are being followed to protect plant life, animal life and human life. They also work to prevent water, land and air pollution.
The national average salary for environmental planners is $77,516 per year, and according to the Bureau of Labor and Statistics, jobs in this field are expected to grow by 11% through the year 2029. This is nearly three times the average growth rate for jobs in the United States.
What does an environmental planner do?
An environmental planner reviews and assesses the potential environmental effects of projects relating to construction projects. They regularly coordinate with architects, government agents and contractors to regarding environmental regulations and permits.
Their job duties include reviewing construction proposals and plans and visiting project sites to ensure proper precautions are being taken to protect the environment and reduce waste. They report their findings to government agencies and other regulatory agencies so that the sustainable efforts and environmental impacts of companies and organizations can be properly tracked and monitored.
Planners who choose to work for government agencies play a crucial role in granting of permits for construction projects. The environmental code that they study and the environmental impact statement reports that they write are critical in ensuring the health and safety of the waterways, soil and air on our planet. Environmental planners are responsible for staying up to date on building codes, environmental laws, zoning regulations, and their knowledge and function in urban development and construction contributes to a cleaner and safer world.
How to become an environmental planner?
Here are 10 steps to take if you want to start a career in environmental planning:
1. Enroll in a degree program
Most environmental planner job require a minimum of a bachelor’s degree. Many environmental planners have their degree in civil or environmental engineering, environmental science, regional planning or geography. Additionally, some may also hold degrees in historic preservation, archeology, regional planning, or a related field.
Those working toward becoming environmental planners often take courses in geology, sustainability and environmental law. They also study statistics, mathematics, engineering, ecology, and urban planning.
Related: Top 8 Countries For Master’s Degree
2. Find a specialty that interests you
Environmental planning encompasses a variety of career options and specialties. Explore those options and find a specialty that interests you and satisfies your career aspirations. For example, while the majority of environmental planners work for state or local government agencies, there are opportunities in the private sector, particularly management, scientific and technical consulting firms.
Decide if working more on the design and implementation of environmental regulations for governmental agencies or advising private construction or development firms on their adherence to such regulations.
3. Complete an internship
An internship is an educational experience in which someone works for a company in a temporary learning capacity. Internships offer hands-on work and knowledge, and interns can apply to future work experiences. The experience can surround learners with industry professionals, and it can provide interns an opportunity to learn from those around them. Interns can use their experience to ask questions, work with others and make positive impressions for the future. Additionally, partaking in the day-to-day job duties related to environmental planning can help you understand what to expect to in your chosen specialty or field.
4. Find a career mentor
Finding a career mentor provides many benefits. Learning from their real-life working experience, gaining access to their professional network, and having a trusted advisor to discuss ideas, concerns, hopes and aspirations are some of the most important activities mentorship provides.
Finding a mentor may help you identify your greatest strengths, and it can also potentially help you to find an area in need of improvement. Working with a mentor can create networking opportunities and it is likely to help you to develop a greater understanding of work expectations. This deeper understanding and broadened professional network is likely to help you find direction in your career path.
5. Earn certification
Most employers require or prefer that environmental planners earn a certification from The American Institute of Certified Planners (AICP). To earn this certificate, you must first pass and exam and apply for membership to the AICP. It’s important to know that there is an exam fee, and maintaining this type of certification involves a renewal every two years.
6. Create a digital portfolio
A digital portfolio is a dynamic and forward-thinking way to showcase your accomplishments in an appealing and efficient manner. Here are five things to consider including in your portfolio:
a. Digital resume: Include a clickable link to your resume within your portfolio for easy access to details about your credentials and experience.
b. Recommendations: Include links to professional references and any public or private praise you have received regarding your work performance. This can include performance reviews or letters of recommendations.
c. Awards or accolades: Display accomplishments and document outcomes to demonstrate your work ethic.
d. Professional photo: Use a professional photo help the reader feel as if they are meeting you face-to-face.
e. Personal branding statement: Include a one to two sentence blurb about who you are as a professional and what people can expect from you at work. It helps if this statement is clever or catchy, and it should convey something that is authentic to you and your work.
7. Make professional connections
Professional networking related to making personal and professional connections, and it can be helpful in growing your career. Networking allows people to strengthen their business connections. Which often leads to increased visibility amongst potential colleagues and employers, and may even lead to job connections.
8. Create a resume
Crafting a focused and tailored resume highlighting educational background, certifications acquired and pertinent prior experience is crucial to getting a career in environmental planning. Your resume should communicate your most impressive achievements from prior roles and demonstrate your career focus. It should also provide a clear overview of your skills, knowledge and talents.
9. Apply to an entry-level position
An entry-level job is an ideal way for workers to gain experience and learn the day-to-day expectations of a company or industry. These positions are often the first step in developing a long and sustaining career. Entry-level positions may also allow for advancement within the company, as many employers first consider to promote from within.
10. Consider earning a license
Becoming an environmental planner requires a license in professional engineering. Here are four requirements for earning this license:
a. Education: A bachelor’s degree from an accredited engineering program
b. Standardized test: Passing score for the Fundamentals of Engineering (FE) exam
c. Work history: A minimum of four years of relevant work experience
d. Final exam: Passing score on the Professional Engineering (PE) exam
Skills needed for career success
Here are six key skills to develop and foster for success in your career as an environmental planner:
1. Written communication
Excellent written communication is crucial to career success as it forms the basis of job requirements. Environmental planners need excellent communication skills when report writing and making presentations. They also use this skill when emailing, consulting and writing resource material.
2. Research and analysis
Effective research and analytical skills are hallmarks of great career performance. Research skills lead to concrete benefits in the workplace, like someones’s ability to identify the needs of a company or organization’s target customer or audience are crucial to success. Also, strong environmental planners need to research to better design better products and services. It’s important that they stay up-to-date with industry trends and learn new ways to adapt and evolve to meet changing workplace demands.
3. Ethical thinking
Ethical is thinking is a framework of thought that is guided by the desire to have a positive impact both on the workplace and the world. Environmental planners need to demonstrate ethical thinking because their actions directly impact the lives of plants, animals and humans. They serve the municipalities, states or nations that they work for by protecting the water, soil and enforcing regulations regarding sustainability.
4. Regulatory knowledge
Intimate knowledge of environmental rules, regulations, and legislation is a large component of the environmental planner’s skill set. Understanding the content and goals of those regulations—along with understanding the real-world impacts they have on business and mitigating environmental risk—are crucial to this field.
Additionally, knowing where to research regarding changing regulations in very important. Environmental planners need to be aware of pending legislation that may impact construction from an environmental management perspective.
5. Creative problem-solving
Creative problem-solving is comprised of a person’s ability to identify and balance divergent and convergent thinking. Creative problem-solvers know when to as questions problems, how to suspend personal judgment and focus on positive outcomes.
6. Conflict resolution
Conflict resolution refers to a person’s ability to resolve conflicts between two parties. When conflicts are managed properly, both parties feel heard and understood. Those skilled in conflict resolution help people agree and collaborate to overcome challenges and differences. Environmental planners need this skill to help navigate challenges and conflicts between regulatory agencies and organizations proposing construction plans.
