Entry Level Environmental Manager Jobs
New grad environmental manager jobs welcome recent graduates and entry level candidates with zero to two years of experience, where strong internship work or hands-on fieldwork can carry more weight than a long resume. Most openings are on-site roles across Food & Beverage, Consulting & Professional Services, and Technology & Software, with employers like Sodexo, ECS Limited, and Amazon hiring at this level now.
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Showing 5 of 30+ Entry Level Environmental Manager jobs
INTRODUCTION
Plan, organize, and administer assigned Environmental programs. Establish policies and procedures and provide technical expertise relating to assigned program area(s) to ensure liabilities potentially incurred by VDOT are minimized through interpretation and implementation of federal, state and local laws, regulations and policies. Manage staff of experts to accomplish the Division's goals. Recommend policy, establish procedures and monitor for quality assurance. To lead the program focused on analyzing, documenting, and supporting environmental program performance and project development process recommendations; the environmental locally administered projects program and design-build programs; manage an environmental governance document program.
How you will contribute:
- Design-Build Programs: Provide statewide leadership through management of the environmental Design-Build projects statewide program, project budget and schedule development along with on time and on budget project delivery. Management of the statewide locally administered projects environmental program, providing to statewide environmental and local assistance staff, local government, and others to facilitate the delivery of locally administered projects. Management of the statewide environmental performance measures program to identify and implement project development streamlining opportunities, working with the Environmental Division Director, statewide environmental staff and Location and Design’s Project Management Office, management of the statewide manpower planning program to facilitate the appropriate staffing of District and Central Office environmental programs.
- Documentation: Manage the statewide environmental governance document program, consistent documentation of all critical statewide environmental procedures.
- Law and Regulation Interpretation: Assess the impact of laws and regulations and develop responses and recommendations. Advise management of pending impacts or changes and develop implementation plans for process changes.
- Legislative Review: Provide statewide program leadership through managing the review and analysis of proposed and pending federal and state environmental law and regulation and its impact on all components of VDOT projects (planning, environmental, engineering, right of way, construction, maintenance, etc.), including providing new VDOT procedures to facilitate statewide environmental compliance and project clearances. Advise management of pending impacts or changes and develop implementation plans for process changes.
- Manage Environmental Programs: Provide statewide planning, guidance, and program leadership on assigned programs. Ensure regulatory compliance in all program administration activities. Streamline program activities as needed to ensure efficiency. Ensure program development is based on relevant laws, regulations, policies and procedures. Monitor, review and interpret laws, regulations and policies affecting VDOT. Facilitate statewide training programs. Develop and manage annual budget to support programs assigned.
- Procedural Analysis: Provide statewide program leadership through analysis of all environmental programs based on performance data, coordination with all environmental program managers, Location and Design Division, Infrastructure and Investment Division, etc. and to expedite VDOT project development.
- Procedural Compliance: Identify project specific and program level issues affecting statewide VDOT project management, and recommend and implement solutions to expedite project development. Advise Environmental Division Director and Location and Design Division Director of statewide project development performance issues. Analyze performance of statewide environmental programs and determine the impacts and implications to Department’s overall performance.
- Program Compliance and Guidance: Monitor, review and interpret related laws, regulations and policies affecting VDOT's operations and ensure necessary tools for compliance are available. Develop clear and concise regulatory impact documents, as well as reasonable and effective processes and procedures to facilitate compliance. Advise VDOT management of potentially significant regulatory or legal impacts to VDOT operations.
Team Building: Seek and encourage creative problem solving and information sharing across the Department. Provide professional feedback and create partnerships.
What will make you successful:
- Ability to deliver presentations and interact with all levels of government, legislature, news media and public, as well as experience making technical presentations to large diverse audiences.
- Ability to communicate effectively both orally and in writing to diverse groups of internal and external customers.
- Ability to develop and implement program goals, objectives, strategic plans and operating procedures.
- Ability to effectively manage programs and budgets.
- Ability to facilitate statewide training program.
- Ability to manage multiple programs to include negotiating and resolving problems.
- Ability to manage multiple technical projects and programs and exhibit good planning and organizational skills.
- Ability to solve complex problems effectively and make decisions.
- Ability to supervise and manage individuals and teams.
- Ability to work with a diverse team of experts to analyze program performance and facilitate change.
- Demonstrated ability to apply technical and scientific management and planning principles and practices to all program areas.
- Demonstrated ability to interpret complex legal requirements and data then develop related policies, goals, strategic plans and procedures.
- Demonstrated skill in training others in effectively planning and scheduling work.
- Knowledge of and ability to interpret federal, state and agency environmental laws, regulations, policies and procedures.
- Knowledge of environmental data management, transportation planning, engineering, design and maintenance practices.
- Knowledge of environmental law and regulation and its relationship to resource planning for project and program execution.
- Knowledge of project and performance management.
- Knowledge of supervisory principles and practices to include performance management and discipline.
- Knowledge of transportation project development process.
- Skill in the use of computers and various software applications.
Minimum Qualifications:
- Demonstrated written and oral communication skills including presentations to diverse audiences.
- Experience communicating with a broad range of environmental agency staff and specialists.
- Experience in creating project estimates.
- Experience in scheduling and analysis.
- Experience working with a diverse team of experts to analyze problems and generate solutions. Ability to work with a diverse team of experts to analyze program performance and facilitate change.
- Knowledge of and demonstrated experience in a broad range of environmental programs and functions.
- Knowledge of transportation engineering.
Additional Considerations:
- A combination of training, experience, or education in Environmental Science, Geology, Hydrogeology, Chemistry, Environmental Engineering or related field desired.
- Experience developing environmental procedures; experience working with a diverse group of experts.
- Experience in change management.
- Experience in management of professionals, and working as a part of a multi-disciplinary team.
- Experience in project management principles.
- Experience in the development and management of environmental programs and driving to compliance.
- Experience in the understanding and application of environmental law and regulation in a transportation context.
- Experience managing programs and project management; experience facilitating agency compliance with regulations; experience developing, running and analyzing reports.
Physical Requirements
Physical Requirements
VDOT employees must abide by VDOT's Code of Ethics and the Commonwealth's Standards of Conduct.
INTRODUCTION
Plan, organize, and administer assigned Environmental programs. Establish policies and procedures and provide technical expertise relating to assigned program area(s) to ensure liabilities potentially incurred by VDOT are minimized through interpretation and implementation of federal, state and local laws, regulations and policies. Manage staff of experts to accomplish the Division's goals. Recommend policy, establish procedures and monitor for quality assurance. To lead the program focused on analyzing, documenting, and supporting environmental program performance and project development process recommendations; the environmental locally administered projects program and design-build programs; manage an environmental governance document program.
How you will contribute:
- Design-Build Programs: Provide statewide leadership through management of the environmental Design-Build projects statewide program, project budget and schedule development along with on time and on budget project delivery. Management of the statewide locally administered projects environmental program, providing to statewide environmental and local assistance staff, local government, and others to facilitate the delivery of locally administered projects. Management of the statewide environmental performance measures program to identify and implement project development streamlining opportunities, working with the Environmental Division Director, statewide environmental staff and Location and Design’s Project Management Office, management of the statewide manpower planning program to facilitate the appropriate staffing of District and Central Office environmental programs.
- Documentation: Manage the statewide environmental governance document program, consistent documentation of all critical statewide environmental procedures.
- Law and Regulation Interpretation: Assess the impact of laws and regulations and develop responses and recommendations. Advise management of pending impacts or changes and develop implementation plans for process changes.
- Legislative Review: Provide statewide program leadership through managing the review and analysis of proposed and pending federal and state environmental law and regulation and its impact on all components of VDOT projects (planning, environmental, engineering, right of way, construction, maintenance, etc.), including providing new VDOT procedures to facilitate statewide environmental compliance and project clearances. Advise management of pending impacts or changes and develop implementation plans for process changes.
- Manage Environmental Programs: Provide statewide planning, guidance, and program leadership on assigned programs. Ensure regulatory compliance in all program administration activities. Streamline program activities as needed to ensure efficiency. Ensure program development is based on relevant laws, regulations, policies and procedures. Monitor, review and interpret laws, regulations and policies affecting VDOT. Facilitate statewide training programs. Develop and manage annual budget to support programs assigned.
- Procedural Analysis: Provide statewide program leadership through analysis of all environmental programs based on performance data, coordination with all environmental program managers, Location and Design Division, Infrastructure and Investment Division, etc. and to expedite VDOT project development.
- Procedural Compliance: Identify project specific and program level issues affecting statewide VDOT project management, and recommend and implement solutions to expedite project development. Advise Environmental Division Director and Location and Design Division Director of statewide project development performance issues. Analyze performance of statewide environmental programs and determine the impacts and implications to Department’s overall performance.
- Program Compliance and Guidance: Monitor, review and interpret related laws, regulations and policies affecting VDOT's operations and ensure necessary tools for compliance are available. Develop clear and concise regulatory impact documents, as well as reasonable and effective processes and procedures to facilitate compliance. Advise VDOT management of potentially significant regulatory or legal impacts to VDOT operations.
Team Building: Seek and encourage creative problem solving and information sharing across the Department. Provide professional feedback and create partnerships.
What will make you successful:
- Ability to deliver presentations and interact with all levels of government, legislature, news media and public, as well as experience making technical presentations to large diverse audiences.
- Ability to communicate effectively both orally and in writing to diverse groups of internal and external customers.
- Ability to develop and implement program goals, objectives, strategic plans and operating procedures.
- Ability to effectively manage programs and budgets.
- Ability to facilitate statewide training program.
- Ability to manage multiple programs to include negotiating and resolving problems.
- Ability to manage multiple technical projects and programs and exhibit good planning and organizational skills.
- Ability to solve complex problems effectively and make decisions.
- Ability to supervise and manage individuals and teams.
- Ability to work with a diverse team of experts to analyze program performance and facilitate change.
- Demonstrated ability to apply technical and scientific management and planning principles and practices to all program areas.
- Demonstrated ability to interpret complex legal requirements and data then develop related policies, goals, strategic plans and procedures.
- Demonstrated skill in training others in effectively planning and scheduling work.
- Knowledge of and ability to interpret federal, state and agency environmental laws, regulations, policies and procedures.
- Knowledge of environmental data management, transportation planning, engineering, design and maintenance practices.
- Knowledge of environmental law and regulation and its relationship to resource planning for project and program execution.
- Knowledge of project and performance management.
- Knowledge of supervisory principles and practices to include performance management and discipline.
- Knowledge of transportation project development process.
- Skill in the use of computers and various software applications.
Minimum Qualifications:
- Demonstrated written and oral communication skills including presentations to diverse audiences.
- Experience communicating with a broad range of environmental agency staff and specialists.
- Experience in creating project estimates.
- Experience in scheduling and analysis.
- Experience working with a diverse team of experts to analyze problems and generate solutions. Ability to work with a diverse team of experts to analyze program performance and facilitate change.
- Knowledge of and demonstrated experience in a broad range of environmental programs and functions.
- Knowledge of transportation engineering.
Additional Considerations:
- A combination of training, experience, or education in Environmental Science, Geology, Hydrogeology, Chemistry, Environmental Engineering or related field desired.
- Experience developing environmental procedures; experience working with a diverse group of experts.
- Experience in change management.
- Experience in management of professionals, and working as a part of a multi-disciplinary team.
- Experience in project management principles.
- Experience in the development and management of environmental programs and driving to compliance.
- Experience in the understanding and application of environmental law and regulation in a transportation context.
- Experience managing programs and project management; experience facilitating agency compliance with regulations; experience developing, running and analyzing reports.
Physical Requirements
Physical Requirements
VDOT employees must abide by VDOT's Code of Ethics and the Commonwealth's Standards of Conduct.
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Who's Hiring
Top Industries Hiring
- Food & Beverage
- Consulting & Professional Services
- Technology & Software
- Construction & Real Estate
- Energy
Entry Level Environmental Manager Jobs: Frequently Asked Questions
How do I get an entry level environmental manager job?
Employers at this level look for candidates with a degree in environmental science, environmental engineering, or a related field, plus any hands-on experience from internships, fieldwork, or campus research projects. Familiarity with environmental compliance basics, site assessment methods, and relevant regulations gives candidates an edge. Certifications such as HAZWOPER 40-hour training or a Fundamentals of Engineering credential can also strengthen an early application.
Which companies hire entry level environmental managers?
Companies hiring entry level environmental managers right now include Sodexo, ECS Limited, and Amazon, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of September 2026. At this level, hiring covers engineering and consulting firms, manufacturing operations, government agencies, and infrastructure companies that need junior support for compliance monitoring and site assessments.
Are there remote entry level environmental manager jobs?
Yes, though most roles at this stage involve fieldwork or on-site compliance duties. About 6% of entry level environmental manager openings are remote or hybrid as of September 2026, so fully remote positions exist but are less common than on-site or hybrid arrangements at the junior level.
Are these new grad environmental manager jobs?
Yes, these listings include new grad, recent graduate, and junior roles. A posting is new-grad friendly when it explicitly welcomes zero to two years of experience, counts internships or cooperative education toward the requirement, or accepts a strong academic portfolio in place of full professional history. Searching for roles with these signals is the most reliable way to identify genuine entry points.
Which industries hire the most entry level environmental managers?
Entry Level environmental manager roles concentrate in Food & Beverage, Consulting & Professional Services, and Technology & Software, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of September 2026. Those sectors drive hiring at the junior level because they face ongoing regulatory compliance requirements, site monitoring obligations, and environmental reporting duties that entry level professionals can support directly.