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I've decided that sitting behind a desk all day isn't for me.
My current role is okay with a rather good salary but it's not particularly satisfying and sitting behind a desk all day is driving me mad.
I've got an MSc and BSc in an Environmental/Business related area with 4 year professional experience as a (Systems) Business Analyst with two different businesses.
I'm looking for a role that is based part in an office and part outside an office (site or field) with plenty of technical content and data. The salary isn't important to me as I'm young with no commitments. I'm just looking to push myself and take on some complex/hard work. I loved working on projects I find interesting and enjoyed putting in (unpaid) overtime. That's what I miss. I also don't mind getting muddy and travelling.
Can anyone inspire me with roles? Where would I find these roles?
Currently looking at utility, agriculture and energy companies.
My other half works as a project manager for a environmental remediation company. (Cleaning up domestic oil spills mainly) I'd say she's about 50/50 office/site. She seems to do lots of unpaid overtime as I barely see her. Quite complex/technical environmental and building issues to deal with. Bit of pressure to hit invoicing targets every month (although she smashes these regularly and has been made a "senior" quicker than anyone else in the company ever has - so progression very much linked to all that unpaid hard work) What part of the country are you based in?
Something like that would be ideal! I've loved working with remediation in the past. I did a placement with a waste management firm.
I'm based in Reading(ish) area but I'm not counting out any relocation- including abroad.
I've dropped you an email 🙂
Thank you!
Would still love to hear from other.
Environmental auditing might suit you - a lot of site visits, assessing building/plant efficiency, making recommendations, cost/benefit analysis, etc.
My other half used to do this for a company called AEA Technology, no idea if they're still around under that name.
join the army.....
Excellent, thanks stevomcd! Another interesting company.
I have considered the forces Burko73, but there's a lot of reason why I won't be perusing a career with them.
RAW are a remediation company that work all over but are based in the South East.
Mrs Binners works for the Wildlife trust as a project manager. There are a few similar environmental charities out there with roles that tick all your boxes
The salary isn't important to me as I'm young with no commitments.
That's a bonus then. These roles aren't the best paid in the world. Because they're actually enjoyable and rewarding. She took a pretty big salary cut to take the job, but she did it for the same reasons as you. I can't tell you how much happier she is as a result. If you want to drop me an email, I'll sure we can sort you out with some people to get in touch with
Thanks Pigface and Binners.
I'll drop you an email shortly if you don't mind Binners.
I imagine I'll be taking a substantial salary cut wherever I go. I earn plenty now, but what use is it when you don't enjoy work and it impacts negatively on your life. I'd prefer to be proud of what I do and enjoy it.
Environmental sector in a multi disciplinary engineering consultancy. Aecom, mott Macdonald, hydrock, rsk, arup, wsp etc. The business and env combination will result in potent a management type or senior role. The field work can also be there. Even better if you get on international projects. I am similar but géotechnicall side and been working on oil pipeline projects in Turkey Azerbaijan and Georgia for last 4 or so years along with gold mining etc in n Africa and elsewhere. ....However have opted out of the corporate life and pimp myself out..
National Trust are just along the M4 in Sindon, worth signing up for their alerts even if half what they send are 'internal applicants only'.
join the army.....
Join the Navy - less chance of getting shot at...
Thanks Brassnech and Mugsys_m8.
Looks like I'm on the right tracks now! Lots of firms I've not heard of and others I hadn't considered.
Maybe the likes of a regulator, SEPA or EA, or the local authorities usually have contaminated land officers or EHO which may suit your ambitions?
You just described my job as a Geoenvironmental/Geotechnical Engineer. For most companies it's well good.
Edit: Although not for any of the companies listed above. Aim for a small consultancy and you'll be much happier.
AgriTech is a growing area in the East of England.
I work with some of the established and upcoming companies. And some of their work matches your job description.
I'm not aware of a central agritech job site but there are various industry events promoted on the [url=
East[/url] site.
How about someone like Garrad Hassan (renewables consultancy)
If you're looking at energy companies, then any power station is going to have environmental people on site permanently, with a computer in an office somewhere but spending a lot of time out on the site. If you've got no ideological objections to it nuclear is probably a bit more interesting than most. The nuclear plants also tend to be remote so there are some very well placed for mtb if that's a factor (think Heysham and Sellafield rather than Sizewell and Dungeness).
The major regulators (EA, SEPA, ONR) are a good shout too.
We'd get you travelling. And with a consultancy you get to work for all sorts of different companies and industries.
[url= https://www.uk.capgemini.com/careers/jobs/insight-data-consultant ]https://www.uk.capgemini.com/careers/jobs/insight-data-consultant[/url]
Sounds like our engineers, if by "data" you can turn your hand to either networks or phone systems. Offices in Scotland, Lancashire and a couple near London (Weybridge and Fareham). Yell if any of that appeals (I get a kickback for recommendations).
http://www.azzurricommunications.com/
Woah, op you've just written my exact same sentiments so I'll be checking into these too.
Cougar I'm In Edinburgh and IT background. Could be interested but ideally mid-2016.
Thanks very much all!! Plenty of links to follow up here. I'm glad I haven't been shot down for my plans. Everyone seems positive. Thanks!
First one on mugsy's list, not coincidentally ? . we are recruiting all over UK and rest of world !
**Tunes in to thread as someone who is considering changing from Cert Higher Ed Geology to the full-fat BSc**
Cougar I'm In Edinburgh
Our office up in Scotlandshire is in East Kilbride.
IainC, just you concentrate on winning work that you can't resource please 😉
🙂 😀
Heh. Kraftyone. I've just worked out who you're likely to be. I work with your other half I reckon.
Reading is a great location. I'm a Project Manager for the EA, it's good but as with most jobs the more money you get the further from the field and data you go until you go back to contracting.
Aecomm, CH2M, Mott MacDonald, Capita, all work in that field and have local bases.
If I was you I'd look down towards Southampton and Pompey for some of the oil company emergency response and remediation firms. A couple of friends work in this field, it sounds interesting.
You could go survey? Fugro?
Don't Microsoft have a big presence in Reading also?