Environmental Management Officer

What Is an Environmental Management Officer?

Environmental management officers are not generally required by the environmental management system standard of following a standard ISO 14000 checklist. Nevertheless, every environmental management system needs a person responsible for environmental management. Someone who coordinates and supervises the work on the environmental management system.

To be able to take on the responsibility of corporate environmental management, the person must attend a corresponding course. There, all relevant competencies concerning the ecological standard and its application are acquired. In addition to the legal bases applicable to the environment, the risk-based approach and process orientation, these also include context analysis and the continuous improvement and optimisation of measures.

Typical Tasks of an Environmental Management Officer

Each company decides individually which tasks are important for its own environmental management system. Then the activities for the environmental management officer are determined.

1. Project management of the team
   When a new environmental management system is introduced, the environmental officer acts as the project leader. This person determines the reasons for introducing an environmental management system. At the same time, the proper introduction is monitored.
2. Preparation of the environmental policy
   During the preparation for the implementation of the environmental policy in the company, the environmental management officer outlines the further procedure and plans the introduction.
3. Support in the introduction of the environmental management systems
   This step should ensure that the environmental standards are introduced and maintained in accordance with the standards.
4. Investigating the issues relevant to the environment
   The main objective of this task is to identify the issues relevant to environmental management from the context of the organisation. In doing so, the environmental management officer supports the management in its decision-making.
5. Conducting the environmental inventory
   This involves identifying and coordinating the significant environmental aspects of the company. Such an inventory is conducted by an environmental management officer with the respective employees.
6. Review of legislation
   The environmental management officer is responsible for identifying and ensuring compliance with legislation relevant to environmental management.
   • The environmental management officer is responsible for identifying and ensuring compliance with legislation relevant to environmental management.
   • The environmental management officer is responsible for identifying and ensuring compliance with legislation relevant to environmental management.
7. Planning and control
   It is important that all environmentally relevant activities are planned and controlled in accordance with standards.
8. Communication & contact person
   Good communication, both internally and externally, is essential for the implementation of standard-compliant environmental management systems. An environmental management officer ensures transparent communication and serves as a contact person for open questions and suggestions for improvement.
9. Documentation
   Maintenance of detailed and comprehensive documentation in the form of a manual is also part of the area of responsibility.