Graduate Environmental Scientist

GHD Group Pty Ltd • Omaha, IL

9h • Hybrid

About The Position

GHD is hiring an entry-level Graduate Environmental Scientist for its Omaha, Nebraska office. Recent graduates and early-career candidates are welcome, and no prior experience in this role is needed. The position offers hands-on field experience, coaching from experienced scientists and program leaders, and gradually more complex work as skills develop. The role supports projects for major U.S. clients across industries, including contaminated-site monitoring, environmental compliance, emergency response, and natural-resource work.

This is a full-time hybrid role. Employees work in the office or in the field at least three days per week, with scheduling flexibility agreed upon with the manager. Field work may take up to half of the working time and varies from week to week. Duties include travel within Nebraska and surrounding states, work at client facilities and project sites in varied weather, and occasional environmental emergency response.

The position is part of GHD’s two-year Graduate Development Program, which includes core learning modules, learner groups, a buddy, a technical development plan, and quarterly career and goal check-ins. The role also offers access to coaching, project discussions, client conversations, and GHD’s Employee Resource Groups.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent level in environmental science or a related field, such as civil engineering, environmental engineering, hydrogeology, geology, biology, natural resources, or sustainability.
• 0–2 years of experience in a related field; field courses, research, lab or field internships, part-time or campus jobs, volunteer work, and military service count.
• Self-motivated, comfortable working independently, and able to work well with others.
• Able to ask questions and persist in working through problems until they are understood.
• Attentive to detail and committed to quality.
• Can-do attitude, strong work ethic, and eagerness to take on responsibility, build skills, and grow professionally.
• Interest in field work, including occasional emergency response, and ability to travel within Nebraska and surrounding states.

Responsibilities

• Perform routine groundwater monitoring at contaminated sites, including petroleum-, VOC-, and fertilizer-impacted sites, and conduct routine visits to a managed native grassland.
• Inspect properties for potential environmental concerns based on their use and history.
• Collect water and soil samples for characterization and proper disposal; maintain thorough field notes and follow established procedures.
• Support environmental, health, and safety compliance plans and reports, including SWPPPs, SPCC plans, and EPCRA reporting, as well as hazardous-waste compliance and other onsite tasks.
• Support occasional environmental emergency response under the guidance of experienced responders, including overseeing response contractors, conducting air monitoring, and performing related field tasks.
• Help prepare data summaries, technical documents, and reports, and assist with data entry for programs such as asbestos management.
• Support project managers, including assisting with simple proposals.
• Maintain field equipment and the company truck, and keep the field room organized.
• Follow health and safety policies, procedures, and instructions; identify and mitigate risks, promote safe work practices, and report hazards.
• Develop professional skills through coaching, field work, team discussions, formal training, and ongoing learning about technology, regulations, and industry practices.

Benefits

• Structured two-year Graduate Development Program with core modules and learner groups.
• Buddy support for settling into the organization.
• Technical development plan and quarterly check-ins on goals and career.
• Learning time built into the schedule.
• Coaching and professional development from experienced colleagues.
• Access to nine Employee Resource Groups, including the active North America Young Professionals group, with networking, mentoring, professional development, and community volunteering.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level