Environmental Communication Careers
- Environmental Educator
- Environmental Consultant
- Sustainability Specialist
- Environmental Policy Analyst
- Environmental Public Relations Specialist
Careers in environmental communication allow college and university students to combine exceptional communications skills with an interest in environmental issues. Students who wish to work in this area after graduation have many intriguing career options available to them. Whether they may want to work in education, research, public relations, or sustainability, there is sure to be a position that will help them reach their occupational goals.
Ranking: Top 20 Best Online Communications Degree Programs
1. Environmental Educator
Obtaining a position as an environmental educator is the perfect choice for graduates who would like to teach others about the importance of environmental issues. Although many environmental educators work in schools of all levels, some are employed by nonprofit organizations, nature reserves, national and state parks, zoological parks, and aquariums. Common job duties of environmental educators include teaching students how environmental issues impact the Earth, providing resource material to students, developing lesson plans, and researching current environmental issues.
2. Environmental Consultant
Another great career for environmental communication graduates is known as an environmental consultant. The primary goal of these professionals is to advise clients on such issues as soil contamination, air pollution, and water pollution. Other tasks performed by environmental consultants include conducting environmental assessments, determining levels of contamination, managing legislative issues for clients, and conducting environmental audits. While many environmental consultants work as independent contractors, some are employed by environmental consulting firms, wildlife organizations, government agencies, and conservation groups.
3. Sustainability Specialists
According to information provided by the United States Department of Labor, the main responsibility of sustainability specialists is to help organizations operate in an environmentally sustainable manner. They achieve this by encouraging the use of renewable energy sources, helping organizations design and implement sustainability strategies, and measuring the success of sustainability programs. Persons who choose this career path must have excellent communications, computer, research, problem-solving, and analytical skills.
4. Environmental Policy Analyst
Environmental communication grads may also want to consider positions as environmental policy analysts. Environmental policy analysts are professionals who examine the relationships, data, and current policies surrounding environmental issues. Using the information they collect, they then determine possible solutions and recommend those solutions to their employers. These professionals can be found working in a broad range of settings including government agencies, health groups, and nonprofit organizations.
5. Environmental Public Relations Specialist
Environmental communication majors who are interested in public relations may want to consider obtaining positions as environmental public relations specialists. People who choose this profession work to increase the image of businesses by making the public aware of their employers’ sustainability programs. Their responsibilities most often include designing and implementing media campaigns, locating funds for sustainability and PR programs, helping organizations develop environmental goals, and designing environmental education strategies.
Environmental communications is a terrific field for college and university students who have excellent communications skills and are concerned with the environment. There are many great careers in environmental communication, and the five occupations described above are among the best.