Graduate Environmental Scientist



Note: This profile provides a market aligned view of this job’s typical core requirements, informed by Korn Ferry’s Success Profile methodology, and will evolve over time.

Provides specialised geoscience expertise on challenging investigations and technical analyses. Collects, organises and documents environmental data under guidance to support assessments, management plans and client delivery needs. Learns GHD’s environmental approaches through use of tools, templates and safe field practice, including basic contributions to required safety documentation. Develops capability by deepening environmental knowledge and taking on progressively more complex tasks.

Responsibilities

Responsibilities describe the typical accountabilities and scope of work for this job,  while recognising that individual objectives are set with the manager and may vary over time.

• Bid Solicitation/Request for Proposal/Tender Preparation: Gather information and resources to assist in drafting requests for bid solicitation requests for proposal (RFP) and requests for tender (RFT) on the requester side.
• Client & Customer Management (External): Help senior colleagues manage client and customer relationships by using relevant sales or client systems.
• Community of Practice Management: Participate in a community of practice in a defined area of expertise or consulting to begin to build own expertise.
• Data Collection and Analysis: Produce accurate reports for others by collecting data from a variety of standard sources and inputting it into standard formats.
• Document Preparation: Organize and prepare complex documents using a variety of applications for technology devices, such as standard office software. Also responsible for gathering and summarizing data for special reports.
• Environmental Impact Assessment: Conduct routine tasks related to environmental impact assessments using specified systems and protocols.
• Environmental Risk Management: Contribute to the process of environmental risk management, ensuring actions align with environmental regulations and corporate sustainability goals.
• Health, Safety, and Environment: Follow the organization's health, safety, and environment (HSE) policies, procedures, and mandatory instructions to identify and mitigate environmental risks and risks to the well-being of self and others in the workplace; instruct the team in safe working methods; identify instances of risky behaviors within the team and take appropriate action, escalating serious issues as appropriate.
• Personal Capability Building: Develop own capabilities by participating in assessment and development planning activities as well as formal and informal training and coaching. Develop and maintain an understanding of relevant technology, external regulation, and industry best practices through ongoing education, attending conferences, and reading specialist media.
• Project Management: Support others by carrying out a range of project management activities.
• Sampling and Testing: Collect a range of straightforward samples and undertake testing as directed and in accordance with defined processes and requirements to support regulatory compliance activity.

Competencies

Competencies describe the observable behaviours that differentiate effective performance in this job and guide expectations, feedback, and development discussions.

• Business Insight – Applies knowledge of business and the marketplace to advance the organization's goals. For example, shows considerable business insight, beyond the fundamentals. Asks probing questions and draws on a variety of sources to gain insight and to explore business drivers or industry trends.
• Collaborates – Builds partnerships and works collaboratively with others to meet shared objectives. For example, finds many ways to add value to the team; probes to draw out richer input from others; is a valued resource who goes out of the way to help others.
• Communicates Effectively – Develops and delivers multi-mode communications that convey a clear understanding of the unique needs of different audiences. For example, seeks out others' perspectives and asks good questions. Shares information that people want to know; gives appropriate context and details when speaking.
• Ensures Accountability – Holds self and others accountable to meet commitments. For example, holds self to high standards and consistently honors policies, procedures, and work requirements. Scrupulously ensures all work is correct.
• Manages Complexity – Makes sense of complex, high quantity, and sometimes contradictory information to effectively solve problems. For example, quickly determines the most critical data and focuses analysis there; recognizes even subtle symptoms that indicate problems; probes deeply for root causes; uses systematic problem-solving methods. well.
• Optimizes Work Processes – Knows the most effective and efficient processes to get things done, with a focus on continuous improvement. For example, uses metrics and benchmarks to monitor accuracy and quality. Takes steps to make methods productive and efficient. Promptly and effectively addresses process breakdowns.
• Plans and Aligns – Plans and prioritizes work to meet commitments aligned with organizational goals. For example, outlines clear plans that put actions in a logical sequence; conveys some time frames. Aligns own work with relevant workgroups. Takes some steps to reduce bottlenecks and speed up the work.
• Self-Development – Actively seeks new ways to grow and be challenged using both formal and informal development channels. For example, creates a development plan that states clear goals and the tactics to achieve them. Gathers information on where to focus. Makes efforts to apply new skills on the job.

Skills

Skills reflect the technical, professional, and functional capabilities required to perform the job effectively at the expected level, and guide assessment and development.

• Action Planning – Works at an intermediate level to review and evaluate recommendations and requirements and to develop appropriate plans or deliver actions required. Typically works with guidance.
• Adaptive Mindset – Works at an intermediate level to shift into and out of a mental mindset associated with assessing the facts and circumstances of the current situation and/or environment, and making the appropriate/innovative adjustments to thinking and work habits to thrive in any scenario. Typically works with guidance.
• Analytical or scientific software – Works at an intermediate level to perform advanced data analysis, modeling, and simulation tasks to gain insights, make predictions, or solve complex scientific problems. Typically works with guidance.
• Analyze Alternatives and Recommend Solutions – Works at an intermediate level to analyze potential solutions and create recommendations based on the expected benefits, costs, and overall value of the solution for key stakeholders. Typically works with guidance.
• Assessment – Works at an intermediate level to assimilate and understand data and information from various sources in order to draw appropriate conclusions and make relevant recommendations. Typically works with guidance.
• Data Collection and Analysis - Health and Environment – Works with full competence to gather, manage, and analyze data related to health and environmental factors to support public health and sustainability initiatives. Typically works without supervision and may provide technical guidance.
• Environmental Hazard Mitigation – Works at an intermediate level to specialize in environmental hazard mitigation involves identifying potential hazards, assessing risks, and implementing strategies to minimize adverse impacts on human health and the environment. Typically works with guidance.
• Reporting – Works at an intermediate level to create reports for various audiences as relevant, in a lucid and effective manner, keeping in mind the purpose of reports. Typically works with guidance.
• Safety & Environmental Monitoring Plan – Works at an intermediate level to manage the process of proactively identifying potential safety issues, enhancing sanitary conditions, and ensuring regulatory compliance. Typically works with guidance.
• Sustainable Environmental Management – Works at an intermediate level to specialize in sustainable environmental management involves developing and implementing strategies to promote environmental sustainability while ensuring health and safety standards are met. Typically works with guidance.

Education

• Bachelor's Degree or Equivalent Level

Experience

• General Experience: Sound experience and understanding of straightforward procedures or systems (7 to 12 months)
• Managerial Experience: Very limited (0 to 3 months)