Description

This qualification covers the skills and knowledge required by technical specialists who already have a relevant higher education or vocational qualification, or have extensive vocational experience without formal qualifications and require the competence to coordinate environmental monitoring and management activities at a site, or for a significant environmental management program or project.

This qualification was developed in response to a widespread industry shortage of technicians and (para) professionals who have the detailed knowledge and practical skills required to oversee day-to-day environmental monitoring and management programs and remediation or rehabilitation activities. It has strong industry support.

Job roles/employment outcomes
The MSS70211 Vocational Graduate Certificate in Environmental Management provides training in advanced environmental monitoring, technology and data analysis techniques for individuals who have some previous training or work experience in environmental monitoring and technology at AQF V or higher. Job roles targeted by this qualification include environmental site coordinators, environmental managers and senior environmental officers employed by enterprises/authorities in a wide range of industry sectors, such as:
environmental monitoring and management services (e.g. air, water, soil and noise)
environmental compliance, auditing and inspection
geotechnical services
natural resource management
occupational hygiene monitoring (e.g. air, noise and radiation)
water supply and treatment, storm and wastewater management
solid and hazardous waste management
site remediation or rehabilitation
resource efficiency consultancy (e.g. energy, water and waste auditing).
Note that the term ‘manager’ is used to refer to management of a function, project and /or program and does not necessarily imply line management.

The specific job role of personnel will depend on whether they are employed in the private or public sector and which industry sector. They may individually, or as part of a team:
interpret and implement environmental monitoring, management and/or sustainability policies, plans and strategies for sites, catchment areas and regions
plan, resource and execute a wide range of environmental management activities (e.g. sampling, monitoring, impact/risk assessments, remediation and rehabilitation) for sites, catchment areas and regions
undertake complex environmental management project work
monitor legislative requirements and develop responses on behalf of the enterprise/authority
ensure enterprise legislative compliance through performance monitoring and auditing
process, verify and analyse monitoring data
develop and trial environmental management options
liaise with regulatory bodies about permits, approvals and compliance matters
liaise with local stakeholders, contractors and consultants about environmental issues and/or technical matters
present environmental information to clients and members of the community
contribute to environmental decision making
provide information and training to site personnel (e.g. environmental management obligations and responsibilities, specific sampling/monitoring methods and instrument use)
develop, implement and improve procedures and work instructions for enterprise personnel who conduct, sampling, field testing, hazard control, waste minimisation, site remediation and environmental audits/inspections
define and solve complex problems by investigating, developing and/or testing alternatives that may involve incomplete or ill-defined information
contribute to improving enterprise/authority environmental performance
prepare costings and proposals, and manage project finances
report environmental performance and the progress and outcomes of projects within broad scope of accountability.

Environmental site coordinators, environmental managers and senior environmental officers require a detailed knowledge of the environmental management policies and legislative requirements that are relevant to their enterprise or authority’s business activities and must be able to explain these to other site personnel. They require highly specialised knowledge of environmental monitoring methods, instrumentation and processing of large data sets. They must also understand the complexity of industry processes and/or ecosystems that they are working with; the likely environmental impacts of development and human activities (e.g. air, soil, noise, water and resource use); as well as strategies for minimising these impacts and the remediation or rehabilitation of sites/areas. They need well developed operational planning and complex problem-solving skills, supervision and communication skills along with liaison, negotiation skills and report writing skills. They work under broad direction from environmental scientists, engineers and planners.

Application
This qualification applies to environmental site coordinators, environmental managers and senior environmental officers who oversee environmental monitoring and management activities at a site or for a significant environmental management program or project.