How much does an Environment Manager earn? 

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Our aim when researching and producing the Environment and Sustainability Remuneration Report was to fill a gap in the market that we found to exist around robust remuneration data. Over the coming months we will be profiling each role contained within the report and you can read the full Executive Summary here. To enable us to produce the report we collected information from over 200 companies with 412 distinct data sets provided across eight different roles . This data has come from a variety of industries and locations, across both Australia and New Zealand.

Chart by Visualizer
Chart by Visualizer

What should an Environment Manager job description look like?

The role of an Environment Manager is pivotal in any modern organisation, with their main remit to ensure that a business commits to an agenda that will lead to a secure future. This multi-faceted role involves working to achieve the most efficient use of resources, de-risking the business from an environmental perspective and voluntary and mandatory industry-wide reporting.

In the wake of the Australian bushfires, there is an increased focus on climate change, and the role this plays in such devastating events. How Australian corporations can work to address the effects of climate change falls largely into the remit of Environment Managers, and this renewed focus has driven an increase in interest in the role. With the role being an unusual and varied one, finding the right person for the role can be an interesting challenge. The role is, above all, tasked with helping a company uphold environmental standards and take steps towards a greener future. It is a role that will appeal to someone who wants to make a real difference to the way an organisation affects the environment and help them implement strategies that reduce ecological damage and promote long-term sustainability

What Skills Should Hiring Managers Look For?

The skills an Environment Manager requires are varied. They are required to work across many different functions, from managing a budget, to liaising with cross functional stakeholders to develop and promote an environmental strategy, and communicating plans to directors, colleagues, stakeholders, vendors and customers. An Environment Manager holds an important and increasingly visible role in any organisation that is required to manage and reduce waste and promote ecological sustainability. As this is increasingly on the forefront of the Australian consumer’s mind, any business who is not seen to be taking these practices seriously, and have a strong and visible plan in place, risks suffering significant losses.

To attract the right candidate to an Environment Manager position, a hiring manager must understand everything the role entails. Of course, the role must then be positioned with the right package to ensure strong candidates are attracted to the role.

Remuneration for a Environment Manager

After surveying over 200 companies, our research has shown that the average Total Remuneration (TR) package paid for an Environment Manager was $186,662 , made up of an average Total Fixed Remuneration (TFR) of $173,079 , and a Short-Term Incentive (STI) of 8.2% paid out from a possible 11.7% average potential bonus. The majority (81%) of respondents were eligible for Short Term Incentives; while Long Term Incentives are rare at this level.

Environment Manager – Gender

Nearly twice the number of females vs males hold the Environment Manager position in Australia. Total Fixed Remuneration is nearly on par, with males receiving slightly higher bonuses (including Long Term Incentives) and therefore a higher overall package.

Environment Manager – Location and Sector

Environment Managers in Queensland are paid well above the national average (driven by the Mining and Metals sector), with New South Wales and Victoria significantly lower. Mining and Metals along with Utilities and Energy sit well above the national average at this level.

Environment Manager – ASX vs Non ASX Listed

ASX listed entities are remunerated at a lower level than private or non-listed entities by nearly 7%.

What does this mean?

To attract a skilled and qualified Environment Manager, the package depends on the sector, but generally it should comprise a base salary in the ballpark of $186,000 , with a short-term incentive of ~11% in place, the component paid dependent on business and individual performance.

Beyond the Resume

To attract and retain an Environment Manager who not only has the required skillset but also the passion for the role, it’s important to delve deeper than a CV. What you can learn about a candidate on paper, or even in an interview situation, is limited- often you don’t know who you’ve really hired and how they really fit until they’re a few weeks or months into the role.

The best and most reliable way to hire the talent you need is through a robust and high quality network. A referral from a trusted source within your network is going to carry more weight than a myriad of qualifications and the most impressive work experience on paper. In our experience, the very best Environment Managers are those who not only have the skills but have a passion and desire that the work they do truly makes the world around them a better place. This plays out not only in the workplace, but in their personal life and with every interaction they have. People like this often aren’t actively searching for roles, but given the right opportunity at a company that fits, can be motivated to move (if the conditions are right).

Talent Nation has recruited within the Environment industry for the past decade. As one of Australia’s only specialised Environment & Sustainability recruitment agencies, we are passionate about connecting purpose-driven people with purpose roles and companies within Australia and New Zealand. This report provides information of a general nature across a number of sectors, however we are more than happy to give more specific advice relevant to individual or company circumstances. For a detailed discussion on how we can help, contact us on  +61 3 9600 0115.

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