Ongoing climate change is something that is affecting not only us but the natural environment and endangered species across the globe.
This is the main reason why placing focus on sustainability is so important.
Luckily, the awareness of sustainability is growing in the US with each passing year, so there are more job positions available in modern sustainable development. Let’s take a look.
About the Types Of Jobs In Sustainable Development
The first thing that you should understand is that defining the field of sustainable development is not that easy. This is not because the US Bureau of Labor and Statistics doesn’t want it to be clearly defined.
It is just that once you are in a relevant job position, your duties are widespread, and you are often not working for just one single company.
Are you someone who is strongly conscious about ecology, natural resource management, and the environment? If so, completing a course in sustainability and getting a Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in sustainable management seems like the right thing to do.
Once you have been educated, there is a plethora of job positions that will open up.
Among the most popular positions is Sustainability Specialist. Your main duty in this position is to report existing issues, as well as suggest procurement plans and green building actions. Also, you will be responsible for introducing new ways of managing waste production.
Another job position that you will be eligible to apply for is Climate Change Analyst. Your responsibility here is to track the effects of climate change and spread awareness, as well as suggest legislation and potential fundraising methods.
One of the most attractive jobs in sustainable development is the Supervisor of Production and Operating Workers. Here, you will be basically monitoring a plant and system production operation from beginning to end, making sure to reduce wastewater and cut costs.
Lastly, you can apply for the job of Sustainability Consultant. In this role, you will be mostly working for certain companies and giving them tips on how to develop sustainability in their manufacturing or business practices.
Payscale/Salary Info
To be quite fair, jobs that exist in the field of sustainable development are well paid in most cases.
Apart from offering a good job outlook and being something that you can be proud of on your resume, the average salary for a Sustainability Specialist is between $60-$70k annually.
Keep in mind that you may climb the compensation ladder further with a Master’s degree or after years of experience and success.
The salary is similar for the other examples that we have mentioned, including Climate Change Analyst, Sustainability Consultant, and Supervisor of Production and Operating Workers. In most cases, you will not be earning below $60,000 annually.
Who Is Eligible?
There are certain companies hiring consultants who have nothing but a high school diploma or a GED. However, if you want to find a good job in sustainable development, having a Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in sustainability management is preferred.
Keep in mind that you can also apply for a career-specific program and increase your chances of getting the job once you have the certificate.
Apart from the education level, you also need to have profound knowledge and be interested in learning more about ongoing climate change. That also includes learning more about ecology, environment, and methods to reduce pollution and waste production.
How To Apply
Whether you will be applying for an internship or a full-time job position in sustainable development, the process itself is not anything complicated.
We found that the best method is to go through relevant job offers and then contact the company you are interested in working with through their suggested online form.
Benefits You Can Get With These Jobs
While the benefits that a company might give to their employees may vary from paid vacations to bonuses, one thing is certain – working in this field is incredibly fulfilling.
Knowing that you are making an impact and helping Planet Earth on a daily basis is more than satisfying, along with the fact that the financial compensation is adequate.
Summary
Interest in Sustainable Development is constantly growing. If you are someone who is not only aware of the existing issues, but you also have the desire to make a change, then you should go ahead and apply for a job in this field!