You don’t have to become a solar installer or an engineer at a carbon capture company to find employment in sustainability or climate positive work.
There are many ways that you can contribute your skills to cleantech. A good way to find these types of jobs is through the Climate Career Portal Job Board, or Goodwork.ca, or check out a local or virtual cleantech/environmental job fair.
University websites can also be a great place to learn about what types of jobs are out there. For example, University of Alberta’s Environmental Science program has a great environmental career guide to potential roles for their graduates. In some cases, making a change may require additional training - there are great opportunities, like Iron & Earth's On-the-Job-Training Opportunities. Let’s explore what some of those roles could be.
Finance & Accounting
Companies working in cleantech and sustainability fields all need folks in finance and accounting, just like any other company. For instance, this Financial Accounting Clerk role with Fortis BC, or this Financial Reporting Manager role with CanadianSolar. If you don't have experience in the renewables sector but you’re passionate about applying your skills to support climate solutions, check out this six-week paid training opportunity through Iron & Earth’s Net-Zero Pathways program!
Project Management
Every climate solution project needs a management team. There are many opportunities in project management across a wide variety of sectors, including energy suppliers (like this one with BC Hydro) and energy efficiency, (like this one with RDH). To build your skills in Project Management while working in cleantech, consider this six-week, paid Project Manager-In-Training opportunity.
Human Resources
Every climate solution project needs a management team. There are many opportunities in project management across a wide variety of sectors, including energy suppliers (like this one with BC Hydro) and energy efficiency, (like this one with RDH). To build your skills in Project Management while working in cleantech, consider this six-week, paid Project Manager-In-Training opportunity.
Warehouse Staff/General Labour
Do you have experience operating a forklift? Or perhaps you’re an expert in shipping and receiving. There are skills in demand for warehouse positions across cleantech, like this Warehouse Assistant role, through our Net-Zero Pathway Program.
There are many other skills such as sales, marketing, and software development that can all be applied to the cleantech industry. If you are keen to enter cleantech but need some upskilling or re-skilling, check out programs at Iron & Earth as well as microcredentials (like those BCIT has to offer), or continuing education opportunities (like these courses at University of Alberta) that might help you fill the gaps. You can have your dream job and support a cleaner, brighter future too.
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Iron & Earth’s training programs are funded in part by the Government of Canada's Sectoral Workforce Solutions Program.
The opinions and interpretations in this publication are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of the Government of Canada.
Post by freelance writer Anna Kobb