Environmental Engineering Trainee (Public Service) | Umweltreferendarinnen / Umweltreferendare (w/m/d) bei den Bezirksregierungen
Ministerium für Umwelt, Naturschutz und Verkehr des Landes NRW
Job Summary
The Ministry of Environment, Nature Conservation and Transport of North Rhine-Westphalia is offering up to 16 trainee positions starting October 2026. This two-year preparatory service (Referendariat) is designed for graduates in technical or scientific disciplines to qualify for senior leadership roles within the state's environmental administration. Day-to-day, trainees rotate through various district governments (Arnsberg, Detmold, Düsseldorf, or Cologne), gaining hands-on experience in environmental technology, water management, and emission control. The program culminates in the Second State Examination to become a certified 'Environmental Assessor'. This role is highly attractive as it offers a clear path to permanent civil servant status (A 13) upon successful completion, along with flexible working hours, mobile work options, and a structured professional development framework within the German public sector.
Required Skills
Education
Consecutive Master's degree or Diploma from a university or accredited university of applied sciences in a technical-scientific field (e.g., Civil Engineering, Biochemistry, Chemistry, Energy Technology, Hydrology, Mechanical Engineering, Physics, Environmental Engineering, or Process Engineering).
Experience
- Professional experience, internships, or academic specialization in waste treatment, water supply, or plant safety
- Optional: At least 3 years of professional experience in genetic engineering or microbiology
- Proven ability in teamwork, initiative, and conflict resolution
- Experience in professional negotiation and organizational management
Languages
Additional
- Must be eligible for appointment as a civil servant on revocable status (Beamtenverhältnis auf Widerruf). Foreign degrees must have official equivalence recognition (Anabin). Application deadline is March 24, 2026. Includes mandatory participation in an assessment center.