How to hire an environmental project manager

How to hire an environmental project manager, step by step

Here's a step-by-step environmental project manager hiring guide:

• Step 1: Identify your hiring needs
• Step 2: Create an ideal candidate profile
• Step 3: Make a budget
• Step 4: Write an environmental project manager job description
• Step 5: Post your job
• Step 6: Interview candidates
• Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new environmental project manager
• Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

What does an environmental project manager do?

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   Before you start hiring an environmental project manager, identify what type of worker you actually need. Certain positions might call for a full-time employee, while others can be done by a part-time worker or contractor.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

   Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

   Yes

   No

   Hiring the perfect environmental project manager also involves considering the ideal background you'd like them to have. Depending on what industry or field they have experience in, they'll bring different skills to the job. It's also important to consider what levels of seniority and education the job requires and what kind of salary such a candidate would likely demand.

   Here's a comparison of environmental project manager salaries for various roles:

   Type of Environmental Project Manager	Description	Hourly rate
   Environmental Project Manager	Environmental engineers use the principles of engineering, soil science, biology, and chemistry to develop solutions to environmental problems. They are involved in efforts to improve recycling, waste disposal, public health, and water and air pollution control.	$25-56
   Engineering Coordinator	An engineering coordinator organizes and oversees engineering projects. They typically perform administrative support tasks such as conducting extensive research and analysis, arranging schedules with clients, handling calls and correspondence, liaising with internal and external parties, reviewing contracts and other documentation, and managing the flow of documents and information across different teams... Show more	$19-37
   Environmental Engineering Internship	An environmental engineering intern is someone who provides environmental compliance. Environmental engineering interns assist environmental program administrators... Show more	$12-23

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Project Management
   • Business Development
   • Renewable Energy
   • Environmental Projects
   • Environmental Compliance
   • OSHA
   • Technical Reports
   • Regulatory Agencies
   • Environmental Regulations
   • Oversight
   • EPA
   • Due Diligence
   • GIS
   • Cost Estimates

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Manage and coordinate the preparation and production of high-profile and complex environmental documents in compliance with CEQA and NEPA.
   • Manage EPA representatives, consultants, and lawyers to change environmental law to protect the best interests of the base.
   • Manage a staff of engineers and geologists providing environmental restoration support services at various CERCLA NPL and RCRA sites nationwide.
   • Manage environmental restoration waste site characterization activities in support of CERCLA cleanup.
   • Manage sewage treatment plant direct discharge monitoring, operation, reporting and recordkeeping requirements.
   • Project manage the environmental testing component of numerous Superfund, RCRA and state-mandate site investigations.

   More environmental project manager duties

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your environmental project manager job description helps attract top candidates to the position. An environmental project manager salary can be affected by several factors, such as geography, experience, seniority, certifications, and the prestige of the hiring company.

   For example, the average salary for an environmental project manager in South Dakota may be lower than in California, and an entry-level environmental project manager usually earns less than a senior-level environmental project manager. Additionally, an environmental project manager with certifications may command a higher salary, and working for a well-known company or start-up may also impact an employee's pay.

   Average environmental project manager salary

   $78,417yearly

   $37.70 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level environmental project manager salary

   $52,000 yearly salary

   Updated January 22, 2026

   Average environmental project manager salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	California	$112,020	$54
   2	Oregon	$91,821	$44
   3	District of Columbia	$91,391	$44
   4	Pennsylvania	$88,969	$43
   5	Arizona	$88,894	$43
   6	Washington	$88,292	$42
   7	Nevada	$86,642	$42
   8	Virginia	$85,516	$41
   9	Massachusetts	$84,144	$40
   10	Texas	$82,935	$40
   11	Maryland	$81,814	$39
   12	Louisiana	$81,160	$39
   13	New York	$80,128	$39
   14	New Mexico	$77,309	$37
   15	New Hampshire	$75,612	$36
   16	Colorado	$73,972	$36
   17	Rhode Island	$72,765	$35
   18	North Carolina	$69,555	$33
   19	Illinois	$69,331	$33
   20	Georgia	$67,805	$33

   Average environmental project manager salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	Los Alamos National Laboratory	$102,174	$49.12	2
   2	GasTechnology	$99,800	$47.98
   3	Carollo Engineers	$98,072	$47.15	69
   4	Mccormick Taylor, Inc.	$96,361	$46.33	1
   5	SoCalGas	$96,183	$46.24
   6	Ch2M Hill	$95,983	$46.15
   7	Garver, LLC	$95,977	$46.14	51
   8	Burns & McDonnell	$95,830	$46.07	273
   9	Booz Allen Hamilton	$95,601	$45.96	4
   10	Halff Associates	$95,460	$45.89	12
   11	Timmons Group	$95,305	$45.82	16
   12	Parsons	$95,276	$45.81	58
   13	Lenovo	$94,179	$45.28	1
   14	Fuss & O'Neill	$94,033	$45.21	1
   15	Morris & Ritchie Associates, Inc. (mra)	$93,686	$45.04	3
   16	Brown & Gay Engineers	$93,497	$44.95
   17	Veolia Water Tech	$93,233	$44.82	47
   18	WestLand Resources	$93,136	$44.78	4
   19	CyberCoders	$91,753	$44.11
   20	HBK Engineering	$90,912	$43.71

4. Writing an environmental project manager job description

   A good environmental project manager job description should include a few things:

   • Summary of the role
   • List of responsibilities
   • Required skills and experience

   Including a salary range and the first name of the hiring manager is also appreciated by candidates. Here's an example of an environmental project manager job description:

   Environmental project manager job description example

   • B.S. degree in Environmental Science, Environmental Engineering or related degree is required; Master's degree preferred
   • Must have 10 years of experience with the responsibilities listed above
   • Excellent communication and organizational skills required
   • Rosgen levels 3 through 4 or other stream assessment and design training highly desired
   • PE, EIT, or other license preferred but not required
   • Proficiency with AutoCad preferred but not required
   • Must be able to travel overnight occasionally

   At Gannett Fleming, we believe in improving the lives of the people we serve. We believe in innovation and social responsibility. We believe in the diversity of our team and the creative solutions they provide. We believe in embracing change and emerging technologies while maintaining an unmatched standard of quality. We believe in creating an environment where employees can thrive at home and at work. We believe in engaging our employees, building lasting relationships with our clients, and, in turn, making a difference in the world.

   We offer a comprehensive benefits program, which includes medical, dental, vision and life insurance, our tax-deferred 401 (K) savings plan, and the opportunity to incentive compensation for eligible positions. We are committed to your personal growth and professional development, so we offer tuition reimbursement, access to internal and external training programs and support active participation in professional organizations.

   Gannett Fleming is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer. All qualified candidates will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, veterans' status or other characteristics protected by law.

   Gannett Fleming will not sponsor an employment visa (e.g., H-1B visa), including any visa renewal during employment, for any candidate for this position. No relocation assistance will be provided for this position. Local candidates will be given preference.

   NO AGENCIES PLEASE : Unsolicited resumes from third party agencies will not be accepted.

   Location: Raleigh, NC

   Core Business Hours: 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   To find the right environmental project manager for your business, consider trying out a few different recruiting strategies:

   • Consider internal talent. One of the most important sources of talent for any company is its existing workforce.
   • Ask for referrals. Reach out to friends, family members, and current employees and ask if they know or have worked with environmental project managers they would recommend.
   • Recruit at local colleges. Attend job fairs at local colleges to recruit environmental project managers who meet your education requirements.
   • Social media platforms. LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter now have more than 3.5 billion users, and you can use social media to reach potential job candidates.

   Post your job online:

   • Post your environmental project manager job on Zippia to find and recruit environmental project manager candidates who meet your exact specifications.
   • Use field-specific websites.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   During your first interview to recruit environmental project managers, engage with candidates to learn about their interest in the role and experience in the field. During the following interview, you'll be able to go into more detail about the company, the position, and the responsibilities.

   It's also good to ask about candidates' unique skills and talents. You can move on to the technical interview if a candidate is good enough for the next step.

   The right interview questions can help you assess a candidate's hard skills, behavioral intelligence, and soft skills.

7. Send a job offer and onboard your new environmental project manager

   Once you've found the environmental project manager candidate you'd like to hire, it's time to write an offer letter. This should include an explicit job offer that includes the salary and the details of any other perks. Qualified candidates might be looking at multiple positions, so your offer must be competitive if you like the candidate. Also, be prepared for a negotiation stage, as candidates may way want to tweak the details of your initial offer. Once you've settled on these details, you can draft a contract to formalize your agreement.

   It's equally important to follow up with applicants who don't get the job with an email letting them know that the position has been filled.

   After that, you can create an onboarding schedule for a new environmental project manager. Human Resources and the hiring manager should complete Employee Action Forms. Human Resources should also ensure that onboarding paperwork is completed, including I-9s, benefits enrollment, federal and state tax forms, etc., and that new employee files are created.

8. Go through the hiring process checklist

   • Determine employee type (full-time, part-time, contractor, etc.)
   • Submit a job requisition form to the HR department
   • Define job responsibilities and requirements
   • Establish budget and timeline
   • Determine hiring decision makers for the role
   • Write job description
   • Post job on job boards, company website, etc.
   • Promote the job internally
   • Process applications through applicant tracking system
   • Review resumes and cover letters
   • Shortlist candidates for screening
   • Hold phone/virtual interview screening with first round of candidates
   • Conduct in-person interviews with top candidates from first round
   • Score candidates based on weighted criteria (e.g., experience, education, background, cultural fit, skill set, etc.)
   • Conduct background checks on top candidates
   • Check references of top candidates
   • Consult with HR and hiring decision makers on job offer specifics
   • Extend offer to top candidate(s)
   • Receive formal job offer acceptance and signed employment contract
   • Inform other candidates that the position has been filled
   • Set and communicate onboarding schedule to new hire(s)
   • Complete new hire paperwork (i9, benefits enrollment, tax forms, etc.)

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How much does it cost to hire an environmental project manager?