| Detail | For this role |
|---|---|
| Department | Environment, Health and Safety |
| Level | Manager |
| Reports to | Plant Head |
| Direct reports | Environment Engineer, Environment Officer |
| Experience | 6 to 10 years in environmental management |
Environment Manager job description template
Copy this job description, replace the text in square brackets and post it on your careers page or a job portal.
Job title: Environment Manager
Department: Environment, Health and Safety
Reports to: Plant Head
Location: [City], [office, branch or site]
About the role
An Environment Manager keeps a plant or site compliant with environmental law and drives its environmental performance. They manage effluent and emissions, hold and renew consents, run environmental monitoring, and handle waste and pollution control. The role reports to the Plant Head or Head of EHS. A good environment manager keeps effluent, emissions and waste within legal limits, maintains valid consents and clean records for inspections, and reduces the plant's environmental footprint through practical projects.
Key responsibilities
- Manage the plant's environmental compliance with pollution control board requirements.
- Operate and oversee the effluent and sewage treatment plants to meet discharge norms.
- Monitor emissions, effluent, ambient air and noise against the prescribed limits.
- Obtain and renew consents to operate and other environmental clearances.
- Manage hazardous and solid waste storage, records and authorised disposal.
- Prepare and submit statutory environmental returns and reports on time.
- Handle pollution control board inspections and respond to their observations.
- Run projects to reduce water, energy, emissions and waste at the plant.
- Lead environmental audits and drive closure of the findings.
- Train staff on environmental practices and spill and emergency response.
Requirements
- Degree in environmental engineering or science
- Postgraduate in environmental management is an advantage
- Knowledge of pollution control regulations
- 6 to 10 years in environmental management
KRAs and KPIs for a Environment Manager
Key result areas for the appraisal form, each with a KPI you can measure every month or quarter.
| Key result area | How to measure it |
|---|---|
| Discharge compliance | Effluent and emissions within prescribed limits on every monitoring result |
| Consents | Consents to operate and clearances kept valid with no lapse |
| Waste management | Hazardous and solid waste disposed through authorised channels with full records |
| Statutory returns | Environmental returns and reports submitted by the due dates |
| Footprint reduction | Water, energy or waste reduced against the annual target |
| Audit closure | Environmental audit findings closed within the agreed time |
Skills and tools
Tools used day to day: Effluent treatment plant, Emission and ambient monitors, Environmental monitoring reports, Compliance trackers, MS Excel.
Reporting line and career path
Next roles: Senior Environment Manager, Head of EHS, Sustainability Manager
Interview questions for a Environment Manager
- How do you keep effluent within discharge norms when load varies?
- How do you manage consents and statutory environmental returns?
- How do you handle hazardous waste storage and disposal correctly?
- How do you respond to a pollution control board inspection observation?
- How do you run a project to cut the plant's water or waste?
- Tell me about an environmental compliance issue you resolved.
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What does an environment manager do?
An environment manager keeps a plant or site compliant with environmental law and drives its environmental performance. They manage effluent and emissions, hold and renew consents, run monitoring, and handle waste and pollution control. They keep discharges within limits, maintain valid consents and clean records, and reduce the plant's environmental footprint.
What qualifications do you need to be an environment manager?
Most environment managers hold a degree in environmental engineering or science, and a postgraduate in environmental management helps. Employers look for knowledge of pollution control regulations, experience with effluent and emission control, consent and waste management, statutory reporting, and the ability to run footprint reduction projects and handle inspections.
What is a consent to operate?
A consent to operate is a permission granted by the state pollution control board that allows a plant to run while meeting set conditions on effluent, emissions and waste. It must be renewed periodically. An environment manager keeps the consent valid, ensures the plant meets its conditions, and handles inspections and renewals.