IEMA Skills Map

As the leading body for anyone working in the environmental or sustainability profession, IEMA considers it essential that the knowledge and skills that individuals with environmental responsibility require are clearly set out. Feedback from business, employers and individual members tells us that there isn’t a clear career or development path for the environmental profession and in particular, for those new to the profession who need more direction.

The development of IEMA’s skills map for the environmental profession will address this need.

For the first time, IEMA has set out a cross sector skills map to support:

• Anyone planning their own personal professional development;
• Employers recruiting environmental professionals or preparing job descriptions;
• Recruitment agencies advising on recruitment of an environmental professional;
• HR or Department Heads developing a graduate or management development programmes; and
• Organisations supporting the development and delivery of environmental or sustainability knowledge and skills.

To view IEMA's Skills Map click on the image below.

The framework (pictured above) brings together several years of work, undertaken by IEMA, in the environmental and sustainability skills area. A key factor of this work is recognition that individuals do require specific environmental knowledge, but in general the skills they require are generic leadership and management skills to apply their environmental knowledge effectively.

The framework is designed to be top level and the specifics and detail will sit behind the framework, for example, what environmental policy knowledge IEMA would expect an individual to have.

Why it’s important for the environmental profession

• It enables environmental professionals to see a clear pathway of the knowledge and skills they require throughout their careers
• For early career professionals, it provides direction as to the knowledge and skills they will need to develop to progress to more senior positions
• It sets out the key skills required by individuals in leadership positions, ensuring that the environmental profession is striving for senior strategic roles in organisations – supporting individuals whose role is developing from ‘greening operations’ to ‘greening organisations’
• Enables IEMA to develop structured programmes of support to develop professionals throughout their careers
• The skills map, is more than a top level framework – through ‘click throughs’ it provides detail about what an environmental professional at each operational level in an organisation needs to know and be able to do – this is the dynamic part of the framework that we update with current professional development topics
• It provides examples of the types of job titles the environmental profession is using and sample job descriptions
• It provides clear recognition of the role of the environmental professional and the value an individual can add to an organisation
• It recognises the distinct knowledge and skills an individual requires that makes them an effective environmental professional, recognition of the cross functional, diverse, multi-level, change agent role
• The framework communicates the role of the environmental professional to other professions, peers and colleagues

To find out more and to read the Skills Map in detail, download the file via the link below (please note that as this is a large detailed file it may take a couple of minutes to fully download).

IEMA-Skills-Map-DOWNLOAD.jpg

Skills Map Planning Tools

To download copies of the planning tools distributed with the October and November issues of The Environmentalist, click the links below.

Skills Map - Development Planning Tool

Skills Map Planning Tool - Prioritise Your Learning

Skills Map Planning Tool - Action Plan

Terms and conditions of use:  IEMA Environmental Skills Map (“the Skills Map”)

By downloading any copy of the IEMA Skills Map you agree to abide by these terms Terms and Conditions (“Terms”) – they include practical ways that you can use the Skills Map.

About IEMA (Institute of Environmental Management and Assessment)

IEMA is a not for profit organisation that is dedicated to a sustainable future through environmental knowledge, skills and thought leadership.  IEMA is a professional body with over 15,000 members worldwide.  The Skills Map is designed to support individuals and organisations in identifying the knowledge and skills they need. 

IEMA’s registered office is:

Institute of Environmental Management and Assessment
Saracen House
Crusader Road
City Office Park
Tritton Road
Lincoln
LN6 7AS
UK

Tel:  +44 (0)1522 540069                                 

Email:  info@iema.net

About this document

IEMA has worked with a broad stakeholder group to develop the Skills Map – we want individuals and organisations to use, implement and benefit from this tool. 

We want to ensure that IEMA’s work in developing the Skills Map is recognised as it is disseminated and adopted by individuals and organisations.  We also want to receive feedback from you, as users, on its usefulness and how it could be developed further.  If you have experience of using the Skills Map to share please email info@iema.net

Downloading and accessing the Skills Map:  How you can use it

Both IEMA members and non-members (individuals and organisations) can view and use the Skills Map via a pdf download from the link above.  To deliver IEMA’s vision, IEMA encourages the use and dissemination of the Skills Map for the development of competencies and skills of environmental practitioners.  There are a number of ways in which you can use the Skills Map on a non-commercial basis, as set out below.

How you as an individual can use the Skills Map:

1. Map your existing knowledge and skills to the Skills Map
2. Do a gap analysis - where are you now and where do you want to be?
3. Plan your own personal professional development and develop a professional development plan to fill the gaps
4. Tell people about it!  You can reproduce the Skills Map (in its entirety and without modification) to raise awareness of it or promote it in your organisation or your clients’ organisations. 

How businesses and organisations can use the Skills Map internally or with their supply chain:

1. Map your organisation’s environmental skills against the Skills Map
2. Identifying gaps in the knowledge and skills of the organisation – who in your organisation is responsible for these activities?  Do you have the internal capability? 
3. Use it to develop job role profiles
4. Promote it in your supply chain
5. Map training and academic programmes against the competencies
6. Using the Skills Map to perform a training needs analysis
7. Tell people about it!  You can reproduce the Skills Map (in its entirety) to raise awareness of it or promote it. 

Terms of Use

In downloading a copy for use, and in using the Skills Map:

• you agree not to reproduce, duplicate or copy the Skills Map or any part of it, save in accordance with these Terms; or
• you agree not to sell or offer for sale the Skills Map or any part of it.
• you must ensure please that you are using the most up to date version – by checking the IEMA website from time to time;
• you must identify clearly and prominently IEMA as author and copyright owner of the Skills Map and provide a link to the download site www.iema.net/skills.

Do you want to use the Skills Map in a different way?  Then contact us to discuss your idea – email info@iema.net

Prohibited Uses

Your use of the Skills Map is for the permitted non-commercial uses only as set out above.  If you wish to use the Skills Map for any other purpose, including in the manner set out above but for commercial gain (for example as a consultancy tool; to perform a training needs analysis for a client or potential client; or to market training programmes), you may only do so under a licence granted by IEMA at its sole discretion.

Further details on licensing are available from IEMA on (0)1522540069 or email info@iema.net

Intellectual Property Rights

IEMA is the owner of all intellectual property rights (including, without limitation, copyright and trade marks) associated with the Skills Map and any associated materials, services or products. All such rights are reserved.

In respect of the uses set out above, you are not entitled to modify paper or digital copies of the Skills Map.  When we update the Skills Map on our website, you must replace copies you have of any existing Skills Maps with the updated version as soon as is reasonably practicable following the update.

Use of the Skills Map is permitted strictly in accordance with these Terms.

Our liability

The information given in the Skills Map is provided as part of the services offered on the IEMA website and is provided in good faith with the intention of furthering the understanding of the subject matter.

Whilst IEMA believes the information to be accurate at the time of publication, IEMA and its staff cannot, however, accept any liability for any loss or damage occasioned by any person or organisation acting or refraining from action as a result of any views expressed therein (save where attributable to IEMA’s negligence or in respect of death or personal injury caused by IEMA or its employees agents or contractors).

If the reader has any specific doubts or concerns about the subject matter they are advised to seek legal advice based on the circumstances of their own situation. 

Suspension and termination

IEMA will determine at its sole discretion whether there has been a breach of these Terms through your use of the Skills Map.  If a breach of these Terms occurs, IEMA may take such remedial action as it deems necessary.

If you have a question or concern

If you have any questions or concerns about the information contained in these Terms please contact IEMA’s Head of Support Services.

If you would like to receive updates about the Skills Map, please click here.