Environmental Monitoring Officers combine desk-based and outdoor work. A typical day might include a combination of the two, depending on ongoing projects and schedules. When monitoring is needed to assess the impact of a project, an officer may be required to travel to the appropriate site and conduct investigations. This may mean collecting and analysing samples from soil, water sources, or groundwater, as well as surveys of local wildlife.  

Depending on expertise, these samples may then have to be analysed to reveal any anomalies or pollutants. This can be a chemical analysis, but can also mean observing water samples under a microscope to identify aquatic invertebrates – an indicator of ecosystem health.  

Once assessed, this data is then digitally collated and transformed, using computer software to produce graphs and databases that can be interpreted to reveal any trends. These findings are then presented to stakeholders and government agencies, meeting both commercial and legislative requirements to ensure environmental protection. 

The exact focus of an Environmental Monitoring Officer’s work can vary greatly. Officers employed by the government may focus on a wider range of areas, checking for any issues with the natural environment. In comparison, work in the private sector may revolve around the support of construction projects or national environmental monitoring programmes to aid the nuclear decommissioning industry. Many Environmental Monitoring Officers are employed by the government in organisations such as the Environment Agency, as well as in private companies in sectors such as construction, nuclear energy and decommissioning, and environmental consultancies. 

Nuclear sites must have an environmental permit to operate, which requires them to monitor radiation levels from their discharges and any effects on the environment. For example, Sellafield Ltd carries out extensive environmental monitoring around the Sellafield site, including sampling and analysis of local food, plants, and the direct monitoring of local beaches. The Environment Agency routinely assesses the results of Sellafield Ltd’s programme.