What does a senior environmental scientist do?
A senior environmental scientist specializes in conducting studies to identify environmental problems and develop solutions to improve its condition. The daily responsibilities of a senior environmental scientist often depend on their place of employment. Still, they typically include performing research and analysis, conducting observations and interviews, gathering samples, preparing documentation, and spearheading laboratory experiments and procedures. Through their research findings, they must produce reports and presentations along with appropriate recommendations. Furthermore, as a senior scientist, it is essential to lead and serve as a mentor to junior scientists while enforcing the company's policies and regulations.
Senior environmental scientist responsibilities
Here are examples of responsibilities from real senior environmental scientist resumes:
- Develop and manage equipment handling training seminars for EPA personnel.
- Develop and manage company EHS compliance processes in accordance with current and upcoming regulatory mandates.
- Provide oversight of and time-critical technical support for emergency/disaster response calls, and train and supervise staff.
- Lead a team that perform groundwater remediation on DoD facilities.
- Lead interdisciplinary teams in gaining ISO 9000 and ISO 14000 compliance/certification.
- Supervise the design and installation of a slurry wall and soil vapor extraction system.
- Develop GIS graphics for use in key sections of the document that require visual displays.
- Perform a site visit to assess and review all areas require by SPCC federal and state requirements.
- Provide GIS mapping support for wetland delineations, restoration projects, biological and cultural surveys, and pipeline routing.
- Help clients in obtaining ISO 14000 and OSHAS 18000 certifications, with an eye toward new ISO 45000 standard.
- Collect final samples for third-party RCRA analyses, prepare samples for shipment and provide necessary documentation to ensure sample integrity.
- Assist clients in setting up and maintaining inspection programs for SPCC regulate containers to ensure compliance with 40 CFR 112.
- Develop project alternative assessments following RCRA guidelines.
- Participate in national and international EPA validation studies.
- Assess testing sites utilizing all OSHA regulations to identify potential hazards.
Senior environmental scientist skills and personality traits
We calculated that 7% of Senior Environmental Scientists are proficient in Environmental Compliance, Oversight, and Project Management. They’re also known for soft skills such as Analytical skills, Communication skills, and Problem-solving skills.
We break down the percentage of Senior Environmental Scientists that have these skills listed on their resume here:
- Environmental Compliance, 7%
Developed environmental compliance audit protocols for use during industrial facility audits and trained staff on their applicability.
- Oversight, 6%
Provide oversight for Cooling Canal System algae mitigation projects to ensure safety while maintaining regulatory compliance.
- Project Management, 6%
Served as Technical Manager, providing regulatory review and concurrency support and project management on all aspects of environmental regulatory issues.
- Regulatory Agencies, 4%
Prepared responses and presentations to various regulatory agencies regarding NOV's, future projects and company position on proposed regulatory policies.
- Environmental Regulations, 4%
Developed and planed the technical phases of environmental projects; ensured that city operations comply with applicable environmental regulations.
- OSHA, 4%
Assessed testing sites utilizing all OSHA regulations to identify potential hazards.
"environmental compliance," "oversight," and "project management" are among the most common skills that senior environmental scientists use at work. You can find even more senior environmental scientist responsibilities below, including:
Analytical skills. To carry out their duties, the most important skill for a senior environmental scientist to have is analytical skills. Their role and responsibilities require that "environmental scientists and specialists base their conclusions on careful analysis of scientific data." Senior environmental scientists often use analytical skills in their day-to-day job, as shown by this real resume: "conducted in-depth statistical analysis and modeling of water quality and effluent limits. "
Communication skills. Another essential skill to perform senior environmental scientist duties is communication skills. Senior environmental scientists responsibilities require that "environmental scientists and specialists may need to present and explain their findings to audiences of varying backgrounds and write technical reports." Senior environmental scientists also use communication skills in their role according to a real resume snippet: "lead supervisor for multiple vendors to ensure all pertinent nepa environmental regulations were met for the nation'slargest telecommunications company. "
Problem-solving skills. This is an important skill for senior environmental scientists to perform their duties. For an example of how senior environmental scientist responsibilities depend on this skill, consider that "environmental scientists and specialists try to find the best possible solution to problems that affect the environment and people’s health." This excerpt from a resume also shows how vital it is to everyday roles and responsibilities of a senior environmental scientist: "applied knowledge of local, state and federal environmental regulations concerning ohm to problem-solving results for clients and their attorneys. ".
The three companies that hire the most senior environmental scientists are:
- Florida Power and Light 16 senior environmental scientists jobs
- ERM13 senior environmental scientists jobs
- Gannett Fleming10 senior environmental scientists jobs
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Compare different senior environmental scientists
Senior environmental scientist vs. Technical fellow
Natural Resource Specialists are usually employed in a university, conservation center, or research center. As their title suggests, they are in charge of initiatives related to natural resources. They may lead to research projects, fieldwork activities, or conferences related to natural resources' general topic or specialization. Natural resource specialists may specialize in wildlife, forestry, land management, marine life, and the environment. A lot of their tasks are dependent on their specialization. They may be assigned to manage paperwork related to permits and other important documents. They may also be assigned to monitor a specific sector in their specialization. They may also be assigned to work on conservation programs.
There are some key differences in the responsibilities of each position. For example, senior environmental scientist responsibilities require skills like "environmental compliance," "oversight," "project management," and "regulatory agencies." Meanwhile a typical technical fellow has skills in areas such as "sql," "statistical analysis," "intellectual property," and "photoshop." This difference in skills reveals the differences in what each career does.
Technical fellows really shine in the automotive industry with an average salary of $75,007. Comparatively, senior environmental scientists tend to make the most money in the manufacturing industry with an average salary of $87,346.technical fellows tend to reach similar levels of education than senior environmental scientists. In fact, technical fellows are 1.4% more likely to graduate with a Master's Degree and 13.2% more likely to have a Doctoral Degree.Senior environmental scientist vs. Natural resource specialist
A scientist is responsible for researching and analyzing the nature and complexities of the physical world to identify discoveries that would improve people's lives and ignite scientific knowledge for society. Scientists' duties differ in their different areas of expertise, but all of them must have a broad comprehension of scientific disciplines and methods to support their experiments and investigations. They collect the sample for their research, record findings, create research proposals, and release publications. A scientist must know how to utilize laboratory equipment to support the study and drive results efficiently and accurately.
In addition to the difference in salary, there are some other key differences worth noting. For example, senior environmental scientist responsibilities are more likely to require skills like "oversight," "osha," "business development," and "renewable energy." Meanwhile, a natural resource specialist has duties that require skills in areas such as "usda," "gs," "natural resource management," and "environmental assessments." These differences highlight just how different the day-to-day in each role looks.
Natural resource specialists may earn a lower salary than senior environmental scientists, but natural resource specialists earn the most pay in the professional industry with an average salary of $68,366. On the other hand, senior environmental scientists receive higher pay in the manufacturing industry, where they earn an average salary of $87,346.Average education levels between the two professions vary. Natural resource specialists tend to reach similar levels of education than senior environmental scientists. In fact, they're 4.4% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree and 13.2% more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.What technology do you think will become more important and prevalent for senior environmental scientists in the next 3-5 years?
Andrea Welker Ph.D.
Associate Dean for Academic Affairs, College of Engineering Professor, Civil and Environmental Engineering, Villanova University
Senior environmental scientist vs. Water quality analyst
The required skills of the two careers differ considerably. For example, senior environmental scientists are more likely to have skills like "oversight," "project management," "regulatory agencies," and "environmental regulations." But a water quality analyst is more likely to have skills like "laboratory equipment," "laboratory procedures," "water quality samples," and "water quality analysis."
Most water quality analysts achieve a similar degree level compared to senior environmental scientists. For example, they're 2.1% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree, and 0.0% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Senior environmental scientist vs. Scientist
Types of senior environmental scientist
Updated January 8, 2025
