Career Path Of An Environmental Project Manager At HELIX Environmental Planning

A little about my background: I attended Oregon State University for my degree, graduating in 2019. I majored in Environmental Science with a focus on policy and economics.

In college, I explored different paths. I initially started in environmental engineering, trying to figure out my exact career goals. I knew I wanted to work in the environmental field but wasn't sure about the specific career options available. College offered a great opportunity to explore these possibilities.

While at OSU, I also worked for about three and a half years at the career center. I began in career assistance, helping students with resumes and cover letters, and assisting with career fairs. After a couple of years in an office setting, I was promoted to managing Handshake, the school's job posting platform.

This role provided valuable experience working with advisors and other students, and I worked about halftime while attending school. It was a beneficial experience, especially since I was also navigating my own job search. It helped me understand resume and cover letter development, and how to connect with potential employers at career fairs. This experience helped me build project management, task management, and event management skills.

I also completed an internship the summer before graduation with the California Council of Land Trusts. I was placed at the Bear Yuba Land Trust in Nevada County. This nonprofit organization focuses on land acquisition and management for conservation. I assisted with various tasks related to natural resources management.

Additionally, I participated in a short, faculty-led study abroad trip focused on ecology and oceanography in a small island nation in the Pacific. This was a unique experience.

I graduated in 2019 and began working at Helix in August of that year as an Assistant Project Manager. I had been job searching since February 2019, trying to find the right role. I looked at many environmental consulting companies but struggled to find a position that fit, as I was unsure if I wanted to be a biologist, environmental planner, or archaeologist.

The Assistant Project Manager role at Helix was a great entry-level opportunity for those interested in environmental studies and looking to build experience. My project management background from college made me a good candidate. Helix was growing its Northern California group at the time, and I was one of the first full-time employees in my group.

Since then, I've been at Helix for five years. After two years, I was promoted to Project Manager One, and now I am a Project Manager Level Two. The company has different levels, including Senior Project Manager and Group Manager. This outlines how I reached my current position.