Opinions, Employment
Outlook & OpportunitiesOpinions, Employment
Outlook & Opportunities
Dateline: As of: May 6, 2004
Houston, Texas
INTRODUCTION
The Institute of Environmental Technology (IET) will be publishing reports on this Web page on the employment outlook and opportunities in the Houston area and elsewhere to support the efforts and understanding of IET graduates. A number of employment agencies, temporary services and recruiters will be contributing to this web page. Both the Texas Workforce Commission (TWC), Interfaith Training and Employment Project (ITEP), and others will be offered space for announcements regarding potential job placement and continuing education opportunities that may arise.
In the future, IET plans to make all appropriate employment announcements from these services available to the graduates, members and friends of the Institute through this Web page. Therefore, please note that sections of this web page will change as new information becomes available. Note the "Dateline" at the top of this page indicating announcement updates in either industry conditions, employment outlook or employment opportunities in the Houston area and elsewhere. If you would like to be notified automatically of any changes on this particular Web page, add your e-mail address to the form provided at the bottom of this Web page.
The IET also provides continuing technical support for each IET graduate, as well as for the large faculty and the many friends of IET in the Houston area and elsewhere, by making available a comprehensive source of information via the Internet (see IET's Internet Resources / Newsgroups page) as well as via the new IET Bookstore (see IET's Publications, Reviews, and Bookstore page).
From time to time, editorials on topical subjects will be presented
on this page by a member of the faculty, by friend(s) of the IET, or by
person(s) making important contributions to developments in science and
technology.
We have included two editorials from respected sources on the subject of creationism and evolution:
From the Editors of Scientific American, click (here), and
From Michael Shermer, Vox Populi, click (here).
Good News: For the complete guide to evaluating religion vs. science:
Click (here).
Memes, Genes, and Ideas (here).
And Other Sources on the Subject: (here).
Previous Editorials:
Campbell, M. D., 2000, "The Role of Environmental
Technology in Developing, Maintaining, and Protecting Ground-Water Supplies
in the 21st Century: An Update," The
U.S. Water Report,
Saringa Group, Inc., San Francisco, CA., pp. 264-271. (PDF File)
Cehrs, D., and W. C. Bianchi, 1996, "Are Consulting and
Good Science Compatible?" Ground
Water, Vol. 34, No. 6, November-December, 1996, p. 961. (PDF File)
Campbell, M. D., 1996, "State
of the Environmental Business, to the Graduates, Students, and Friends
of the IET, An Editorial," November 1, IET Website. (PDF File)
Campbell, M. D., 1995, "On
the Spelling of the Term: Ground Water," An Editorial, IET, February,
HGS Bull. Letter. (PDF File)
EMPLOYMENT
OUTLOOK IN TEXAS:
The employment market remains spotty, sluggish, and bottom driven. There are job opportunities for technicians, staff and project-level professionals, but few jobs for true senior and corporate-level professionals as a result of corporate consolidations and mergers.
Graduates of the IET program continue to do well in finding employment in the Houston area and elsewhere. As they gain experience, they are also improving salary levels and moving into managerial positions. Once connected in the network, they are finding that when one door closes another opens, somewhere in the environmental field. They are also finding that job security does not exist, at least for the time being.
The employment outlook will remain sluggish in the Houston, Texas area,
at least, as long as State and Federal regulators languish in political
turmoil. If the regulators do not regulate, then the regulated need do nothing
but business as usual.
EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES IN THE HOUSTON AREA:
MAJOR CONSULTING COMPANIES:
ERM-SW remains busy, still.
Harding Lawson Associates( HLA) has been acquired by Mactec.
Mactec has also acquired Environmental Science and Engineering.
On February 15, 2002, LAW Companies Group, Inc. and MACTEC, Inc. finalized the merger which was announced on November 20, 2001. Effective 01-01-03, Law Companies no longer exists, known as MACTEC Engineering & Consulting and are consolidated in the old Law office on Guhn Road. Reportedly, Law sold the building and MACTEC, HLA, and LAW are now all in the "new" half of the "old" building that they are leasing from the new owner of the building.
The IT Group purchased OHM first in ~1998, then Fluor GTI in ~1999, and Emcon in ~2000. In May 2002, the Shaw Group bought IT out of Chapter 11 for $105 million ($52.5 million in cash and 1.67 million shares of Shaw Common Stock and the assumption of certain liabilities) and formed Shaw Environmental & Infrastructure, Inc
URS Corporation has expanded with the acquisition of Greiner Engineering in 1996, Woodward-Clyde Group in 1997, UK-based Thorburn Colquhoun in 1998, and Dames & Moore Group in 1999. The Dames & Moore Group was comprised of a number of engineering, construction services and environmental organizations, including the original Dames & Moore company, Radian International & Dow Environmental Inc, BRW, O'Brien Kreitzberg, and Walk Haydel. More recently, URS acquired EG&G Technical Services bringing
URS to 25,000 employees in 300 offices in 20 countries.
Brown & Root Environmental has allegedly been sold to Tetra Tech
(who have since been
purchased by Duke Engineering).
The health of the environmental field, under the last four U. S. presidents, may be measured by the number of ads placed in the major technical journals in the field. Here is just one: (here).
For oil and gas-related statistics, the Houston Geological Society monitors a variety of parameters that will provide information on the health of the field of geoscience in general (here).
Note: additional input from our readers is encouraged.
1) The environmental marketplace will become more global. There are educational needs in developing countries regarding protection and remediation of ground water.
2) There appears to be a shift to looking to international markets.
Regarding the stability of the market:
Regarding ground-water professional services:
1) There is a concern about "commodization" of ground-water consulting services, because many companies provide similar services of similar quality. There are few niches.
2) Remediation is becoming driven by a "check the box" approach.
Regarding the future:
1) Growth areas will move away from cleanup and move toward water rights and water supply/sustainability issues.
2) Waste-water treatment at economical prices is needed.
* Note: Published in Ground Water Monitoring & Remediation, Fall, 2001, p.14.
EnviroStaff is a nationwide provider of environmental professionals on temporary assignment to laboratory, consulting, remediation and disposal segments of the environmental industry as well as general industry. They have openings that must be filled as soon as possible so be prepared to be on the move, if selected. The local opportunities are for: Geologists and Hydrogeologists Field Environmental Chemists Environmental Engineers Compliance, Permitting & Regulatory Specialists Licensed Asbestos / Lead Abatement Professionals Industrial Hygiene Professionals Health & Safety Professionals Field Technicians Sampling Technicians Experienced Civil CAD Operators Heavy Equipment Operators and Other Specialized Environmental Professionals The OSHA 40-Hr Hazwoper Training is required. All IET graduates have been awarded the OSHA 40-Hr. Certification. EnviroStaff stated they offer competitive wages and a benefits package. If interested in learning more about EnviroStaff services, call: Mr. Tony Houdyshell, (713) 439-1330.
INTERNET SOURCES:
CareerBuilder
America's Job Bank
Careers in Government 
Careerpath
Earth Works
Texas Workforce Commission
Houston Chronicle Classifieds
Houston News Groups: (Jobs Wanted)
Houston News Groups: (Jobs Offered)
EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES
ELSEWHERE IN THE U.S.:
Employment opportunities elsewhere in the U.S. are best evaluated by locating
web sites sponsored by employment services handling environmental companies
with multi-state locations. IET will make information available on these sites.
IET has not checked, evaluated or tested any of the sites presented here so
proceed with appropriate caution:
Domestic & International Jobs:
Conservation & Natural Resources Jobs
Environmental Policy, Legislation & Regulation JobsEnvironmental Advocacy, Outreach & Communications Jobs
Environmental Science & Engineering Jobs
Outdoor & Environmental Education Jobs
Environmental Jobs in Higher Education
A service of outstanding reputation is offered by Lybrook Associates,
Inc. LAI serves the chemical, environmental and other industries. Phone: 401-254-5840, Fax: 401-254-7626;
e-mail to: david@lybrook.com .
The new internet job center for chemists
called "Chemistry Job Center" was launched
January 1, 2002. Candidates can now register. Registration will always be free to individuals seeking new positions.
Candidates are encouraged to browse a representation of the various jobs
currently available and send Lybrook Associates an e-mail about the jobs
which interest them (there are currently more than 200 positions available in the
various fields of chemistry). Candidates have three options. They can opt
for:
1) full disclosure where their name, contact and employer information are made available directly to potential employers and allow potential employers to contact them directly;
2) Limited disclosure where their name, contact & employer information are suppressed and not available to potential employers (employers contact Lybrook Associates for the information); or
3) "Private" - where the information is available to Lybrook Associates only and will not be included in the data base available to potential employers.
LAI offers employers access to their database of candidates on a subscription basis. The subscription includes web posting of jobs at no additional fee.
Have a look -- www.ChemistryJobCenter.com
.
INTERNET SOURCES:
JobNext Career Network,
Provides job search, resume and job-posting services.
Federal Job
Search
Opportunities in Federal Agencies
Environmental Careers Organization
Hydrogeology-Related Employment
CareerMosaic
Careerpath
Jobs in Government
America's Job Bank
International Research Center (Canada)
National Ground Water Association
On-Line Job Opportunities
Also see IET's new Web Resources Portal, click (here).
Also see IET-Sponsored Research Projects, click (here).
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