Why EHS Career Paths exists
In the past few years, I have had the privilege of speaking with hundreds of early and mid-career people interested in environmental and safety roles. I have witnessed firsthand the passion and curiosity they bring. The vast majority deeply care about their communities and the companies and people they work with.
Through my experience, I have recognized a significant gap between what folks learn in schools or while studying for certifications and what is truly needed to craft a meaningful career in this field. The range of things one must master to become an expert is vast, and there is considerable variation in EHS roles depending on the industry and company culture.
I find myself spending a significant amount of time discussing future career paths with early to mid-career professionals, and discussing choices made and experiences had with more seasoned people in this industry.
Unlike some other professions, there are not countless blogs and podcasts devoted to EHS careers. There are even fewer public stories about the professionals who work day in and day out to safeguard lives, environments, and businesses. I know such success stories are plentiful.
EHS Career Paths is my project to address this gap and educate both myself and others on the various forms this career path can take. We publish the information I always wished I could hand people: real data on what EHS jobs pay and require, clear guides to the certifications and paths that actually move careers, and honest explanations of how hiring works in industry, consulting, and government. Over time, we will also tell the stories of the professionals who do this work, because those stories deserve a wider audience than they get.
The goal is simple: make the EHS profession more accessible, and highlight its meaningful impact.
Join a community of people building successful and fulfilling EHS careers.
A note on how I got here, since it is a career story of its own: I did not grow up in this profession. I spent my earlier career in quantitative finance, building investment systems at places like BlackRock. When it was time for a new chapter, I chose EHS. What convinced me was the people: a profession full of professionals doing consequential work that almost nobody writes about. I switched careers to be part of it, and today I lead a California EHS consulting firm. This publication is one of the ways I pay that back.
Sajama Mitta
Founder, EHS Career Paths
A note on independence: EHS Career Paths is powered by CDMS, a California EHS consulting firm I lead. The publication runs on its own editorial standards, which you can read in full on the editorial standards page. Short version: we publish real numbers, we say what we would say to your face, and nothing in our editorial content is for sale.