Careers in Management Systems & Environmental Sustainability are Booming
- But why?
- What do these careers look like?
- How do I access these careers?
First of all, we need to be clear on what Management Systems and Environmental Sustainability is;
Every organisation has a Management System, whether it’s in the head of the owner, a filing cabinet in the corner of the room or embedded in a business wide piece of software.
The Management System is the way that you do things in your business. The Process; maybe the sales process, or the administration process, or the manufacturing process. The more efficient and effective you make that Process, generally the more money a business will make. If you are the one who makes that Process more effective that makes you more valuable to the company.
Ultimately, efficient and effective businesses can apply for independent Certification to warrant that, using their management system, they are good at what they do.
Environmental Sustainability, or the betterment of it, is often an objective of a company management system. You all will have heard Environmental Sustainability mentioned on the news or in marketing materials of companies. Perhaps you’ve heard of ESG – Environment, Social and Governance – it’s all related.
A good definition of Environmental Sustainability is doing things in a manner that doesn’t cause problems for those who come after us.
So, Environmental Sustainability is a hot topic in today’s industrial and commercial landscape. Environmental Sustainability initiatives – what you do to improve Environmental Sustainability – are managed from within your Management Systems.
Critically Competent & Confident People are Vital to designing, implementing, managing and improving an organisations Management Systems & Environmental Sustainability. We’ll come back to that.
So why is the business BOOMING?
Certified or not, Management Systems have been around for years, as has Environmental Sustainability. So why is it booming now?
Well, we mentioned earlier the news, and in marketing, and in sponsorship the ENVIRONMENT is big business. Every company wants to be seen to be a good environmental citizen, doing its part to ensure that they conduct their business with Environmental Sustainability in mind. In some cases, they will be compelled to.
What does this mean?
A company will need to figure out how they impact the Environment and what they can do, (what Processes they can change) to reduce that impact.
- A paper manufacturer using less water
- A haulage company moving to electric vehicles
- An international company better using remote communications technology
The things you do, the INITIATIVES, could be many and varied but at some point, someone has to figure these things out and make them happen.
The initiatives need to be defined, designed, implemented and managed – and to do so you will use a Management System.
The ability to use Management Systems, in Environmental but also Quality, H&S, Information Security, Food Safety and many others is ESSENTIAL and people with this skillset are VALUABLE. Organisations cannot afford to do this badly. In a world where money is tight, efficiency is paramount and everything, good or bad, is publicised.
This creates opportunity.
- The opportunity for organisations to create high performance teams, perform well and publicise it
- The opportunity for individuals to upskill to become this invaluable resource.
What does a career in Management Systems or Environmental Sustainability look like?
There are many different types of Management System which, given a broad understanding of the principles of all, allows an individual to specialize in a particular field. Let’s take an organisation as an example;
In the early days of a business a Management System, probably in Quality, will need to be designed and implemented. It takes an understanding of how Management Systems work to ensure your design meets the needs of the business. With bad design and so adding no value to the organisation, Management Systems, can destroy moral in a business so it’s important to get it right.
As a business develops it is likely to seek external Certification. This is where a Certification Body assesses a business for their ability to Plan, Execute, Measure and Improve the way they do things.
A requirement of certification is to measure, or AUDIT, your system yourselves and to do this you will need to train as a Management Systems AUDITOR. The Certification Body also needs to employ these AUDITORS to provide 3rd party Certification to clients.
There are two areas you need to know;
1) Management Systems
2) How to AUDIT Management Systems
You can pursue these qualifications in Quality, Environment, H&S, Data Security, Food – all the sectors we mentioned earlier, and many more.
Organisations using an Environmental Management System, or EMS, will most commonly ‘HOUSE’ (so to design, implement, manage and improve) any Environmental Sustainability initiatives within it.
So, to manage Environmental Sustainability initiatives it would be advantageous to be skilled in Management Systems and Auditing.
How do you get involved in this industry?
Get Qualified. If you can have your organisation fund your training, take advantage of the opportunity.
If you don’t have the opportunity to be trained as part of your current role, invest in your own future.
Or if you’ve some experience you can do it for yourself.
Let’s look at the courses;
Starting out you need some Foundationinformation.
- This is a 1-day course in various discipline which takes you through the standard.
- In this course, delivered remotely by your tutor on Zoom, we’ll discuss what are the requirements of the standard, clause by clause, paying particular attention to why.
Why is that clause there? What is the intention of it?
This gives students a clear understanding of what the standard expects from organisations using it. With this knowledge you’ll have the ability to work in these areas.
If you want to progress in that department, you’re probably going to want to be part of the Internal Audit team next.
- This is a team of people that, as a requirement of the standard, are tasked with auditing the processes of their organization. Becoming an Auditor is aspirational.
- The 2-day Internal Auditorcourse is the entry point to the world of Auditing but the impact it had on those attending is transformational.
During the course, students are exposed to the impact of people who have their eyes open. Open to opportunity, to improvement – because that is what an auditor does. Newly trained with the knowledge and skills to make it happen.
Now imagine the impact of that person on a business. It’s infectious.
You can see where the value is being created, for the organisation, but more importantly for you.
If you choose to progress your career in management systems or auditing the 5-day Lead Auditor is the qualification for you.
- It teaches the tools and techniques to build an audit team, manage the team to plan for and conduct an audit and then report and follow up.
- It will teach you to manage Certifications and hold your supply chain to account.
- And most importantly it will teach you how to use your management system to its full capability.
In organisations, these people are valuable. Understandably.
Adding Sustainability to your CV gives you an extra dimension, Environmental Sustainability Skills courses, accredited by IEMA, will help your CV stand out from a crowd.
Final Thoughts
The sector is Booming and there are opportunities to be seized by those equipped to do so and the career paths are simple. With little experience you can train and access a rewarding career.
So, my question is, what is stopping you?
Contact us here or email enquiries@iqmslearning.co.uk