Sustainability and the Environment

An increase in environmental legislation has led to a greater number of opportunities within pollution control, waste management, recycling and carbon management. Likewise, increased public awareness of environmental issues has led to considerable investment in sustainable development and renewable energy sources. Many organisations have also realised that it is both practical and responsible to develop more efficient processes, use fewer natural resources and produce less waste. As such, sustainability and environmental work is becoming more mainstream and the number of opportunities is growing, with large companies providing sustainability reports and audits in the same way they provide financial and audit reports. However, competition can be fierce and vacancies rarely exist for inexperienced graduates. Postgraduate qualifications may be required and short-term and/or low-paid jobs can initially provide valuable experience.

The range of employers who recruit in this area is wide and includes the following sectors:

Voluntary and charity sector, eg, wildlife and habitat conservation charities and environmental NGOs, pressure groups, expeditions, and trusts.
Public sector, eg, regulatory bodies, such as local authorities, the Environment Agency, research institutes, educational establishments, and national parks and monuments.
Intergovernmental and international sector, eg,United Nations (UNEP, UNDP, FAO, WFP), international environmental think tanks and research institutes, commissions and consultative bodies.
Private sector, ranging from sustainability and corporate social responsibility (CSR) teams in large, multinational companies to those involved in environmental protection and resource management, such as the water and forestry industries, nuclear, gas, chemical, electricity, oil and mining companies, environmental consultancies, sustainability consultancies and research firms, eco-tourism businesses, and companies involved in renewable energy sources.

Innovative ideas and solutions in sustainability are more important than ever, and, combined with an entrepreneurial spirit, can make a real impact. Two examples founded by Oxford University alumni are: Oxwash, founded by Dr Kyle Grant, which is aiming to disrupt the industry by reducing emissions, saving water and removing plastic waste; and Better Nature, founded by Elin Roberts and Christopher Kong, which is an innovative meat-free brand on a mission to make protein without compromise.

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Types of Job

Whilst the range of jobs in this sector is tremendously varied, people working in any area will be primarily concerned with the impact of people and industry on the environment – below are some examples:

Environmental conservation

Conservationists and ecologists work in a wide range of urban and rural environments to protect and improve the environment. Most begin their careers in field-based jobs, collecting and analysing data, and progress on to managing projects, liaising with stakeholders and developing strategy. There may also be a community education element to conservation roles.

The main employers are government bodies e.g. The Environment Agency, Natural England and DEFRA and local and national charities (find a list at Charity Choice).

It’s a competitive sector. Be prepared to build up experience through volunteering with conservation organisations. If you are interested in a specific organisation try to find out how they recruit (through an agency or specific websites?) so that you can target them in the most effective way. Use the resources listed at the bottom of the webpage to research your options.

Climate change

Many scientists are engaged in analysing and predicting climate change and developing models to assess its potential impact. The range of scientific disciplines is immense: remote sensing, atmosphere sampling and modelling, oceanography, study of ice caps, sea ice, glaciers and the extent of frozen tundra and carbon sequestration studies, to name a few. Experience of handling large datasets can be important. Non-technical roles also exist in creating strategies to mitigate the risks of climate change, in advocacy, campaigning and in education. Your work on climate change could be based in a university, a government body or the private sector. Charities and campaign groups are also active in this area.

Renewable energy

Please see our webpage on Energy careers for information about this popular sector.

Sustainability

Sustainable management of processes and resources is a growth area as businesses and governments strive to meet national and EU environmental impact targets. Opportunities exist in carbon management, as well as in the development of cleaner industrial processes, sustainable procurement, low carbon energy generation and improved energy efficiency. Many businesses and government bodies are develop sustainability policies and procedure. Some produce these in-house, others turn to the growing numbers of sustainability consulting firms.

Environmental protection & control

This involves pollution prevention and control, ensuring compliance with laws and regulations regarding industrial and other waste. The Environment Agency and the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) are the UK’s governmental agencies responsible for administering laws to control and reduce pollution. Large companies may have in-house teams looking after this area, but much of the work is undertaken by specialist consulting firms.

Environmental scientists & engineers

People working in this sector apply science and engineering principles to improve the environment, to clean up polluted sites and to provide clean water, air and land. They are often responsible for designing public and industrial water treatment systems, as well as conducting hazardous waste management studies, providing advice and developing regulations. They are concerned with environmental issues, such as the effects of acid rain, pollution and ozone depletion.

Roles will also be found within large engineering firms; water, energy and utility companies; transport, shipping and logistics. When researching options, look at other sectors such as the Engineering, Energy and Scientific R&D webpages and graduates careers website like the Prospects and Gradcracker for more information and vacancies.

A large number of companies also promote holidays as ‘Eco-tourism’ – see The International Ecotourism Society (TIES) for more information.

Environmental law & litigation

Practitioners are concerned with a body of law that seeks to protect the environment that may be affected, impacted or endangered by human activities. Some environmental laws regulate the quantity and nature of the impact of human activities. An example might be setting allowable levels of pollution or requiring permits for potentially harmful activities.

Other environmental laws are preventive in nature and seek to assess the possible impacts before the human activities can occur. While many countries worldwide have accumulated impressive sets of environmental laws, their implementation has often been poor. Nowadays, environmental law is seen as a critical means of promoting sustainable development. Policy concepts such as the precautionary principle, public participation, environmental justice and the “polluter pays” principle have informed many environmental law reforms in this respect.

The environmental law sector encompasses legal careers in a variety of public and private organisations, including providing legal advice, prosecuting offenders for breaches of environmental law, and advising on environmental law and policy initiatives. For more information see our pages on Solicitors and Barristers, as well as the UK Environmental Law Association (UKELA) and Foundation for International Environmental Law and Development (FIELD).

Environmental policy

Policy is usually decided at a national or international level. International Environmental Co-operation involves assessing global, regional and national environmental conditions and trends, addressing existing and emerging environmental issues at the global and regional levels and bringing environmental experts together. For example, the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) acts as a catalyst, advocate, educator and facilitator to promote the wise use and sustainable development of the global environment. It works with other United Nations entities, international organisations, national governments, non-governmental organisations, the private sector and civil society to achieve this.

The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, Environment Directorate works together with the 30 member countries of the OECD and selected non-members to improve country environmental policies.

Organic Agriculture

Research and opportunities associated with Organic Agriculture are increasing, as demand for organically produced food rises. Organic and biodynamic farming systems have been designed to produce food with care for human health, the environment and animal welfare. For more information, search for industry bodies, individual producers and organisations like World Wide Opportunities on Organic Farms (WWOOF) that promote opportunities for people to connect, volunteer and gain promote an educational exchange, and build a global community conscious of ecological farming practices experience.

Environmental & special interest advocacy

Working with pressure groups often means adopting a highly visible public profile, although not all groups are frontline. Opportunities in many of the smaller groups for paid work are few, but volunteers are often needed. The purpose of the groups is to increase awareness of particular issues, and to campaign directly for change.

Skills and Experience

Skills needed

Environmental work is of particular interest to life scientists (eg: those who have studied subjects such as biology, biochemistry, zoology etc.), as the sector has expanded and diversified so has the range of opportunity available to graduates of all disciplines.

The broader 'sustainability' field encompasses all kinds of industries and roles. People with engineering backgrounds, and analytical and technical skills will find many opportunities, and there are jobs in eveerything from communications, finance, planning, policy and more.

Apart from having a good degree and a real commitment to the work, other useful skills include the following:

The ability to work in a team
Strong communication skills
Computer literacy
Relevant environmental/practical knowledge and experience
Appropriate postgraduate qualifications or experience of the sector
Self-confidence – particularly if you are in a role in which you need to convince others about an environmental concern
In some areas, a degree of commercial awareness
And, if you are thinking of working internationally, an additional language can be an asset.

Getting experience

For most fulltime roles in this sector it is important to have some real world experience that demonstrates your motivation and interest as well as offering some foundational skills. It is essential to be proactive and seek relevant work experience, and volunteering is an important first step for many interested in working in these sectors.

Volunteering

Environmental charities offering voluntary placements include The Conservation Volunteers (TCV) , the Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire Wildlife Trusts and other regional Wildlife Trust organisations.
The Environmental Change Institute (ECI) at Oxford University runs a sustainability internship programme.
Oxford Hub is the focal point for students interested in charitable and development-related activity at Oxford and advertises volunteering opportunities. Sign up for ‘The Week’ to get a regular email advertising new opportunities, or fill in their volunteering form online to be contacted with volunteering ideas relating to your areas of interest.
Several websites act as hubs for finding voluntary work in a range of areas. Try Charity Jobs, Volunteering Matters, Do-it, Vinspired (14-25-year-olds) and TimeBank.

Work-shadowing & information interviewing

Talking to people about their work provides valuable insights and helps you to develop hone your career ideas and strategy. Work-shadowing can be a useful way of finding out more about a particular area, as well as providing a source of contacts. Be prepared to be proactive in your search and make speculative applications. Research organisations to approach using the resources listed below, and use alumni networks on LinkedIn and the Oxford Alumni Community to identify Oxford graduates to approach for a conversation.

Internships

You will find some of these advertised on CareerConnect and on graduate careers websites such as Prospects, Target Jobs and Gradcracker. Many large organisations post opportunities on Twitter and on their Facebook and LinkedIn pages so it is worth using social media to keep an eye on your chosen sector.

Smaller companies may not have a regular advertised internship programme, and will either advertise ad hoc as positions arise or they may rely on speculative applications.

The Summer Internship Programme run by The Careers Service offers placements in a wide range of organisations, all over the world.
The Micro-Internship Programme offers short-term work experience placements, which take place in 9th or 10th week. Each internship gives you the opportunity to observe and assist with a notable project and research-based projects are often available.

Student societies and college activities

Many College JCR/MCR committees have an “Environment Officer” or similar post, or seek volunteers to set up and/or, manage recycling schemes.
The Oxford Climate Society organises events, seminars, publications and campaigning.
Oxford Networks for the Environment links researchers and other groups across the University.
Oxford Waste Society
Student Switch Off. Become a student ambassador for the campaign run at Oxford by the Environmental Sustainability team but nationally by the National Union of Students.
Green Impact is an environmental programme that enables staff and students to play an active role in improving the sustainable practices of their building, department or college.

Expeditions

You may come across a number of charities and other organisations that offer opportunities to get involved with environmental and sustainable development projects, often in countries that would be difficult to visit independently. Some of these programmes charge students to take part. While we have seen students who have gained useful experience through these programme, particularly in the conservation sector, the costs involved can be prohibitive for many and we would encourage you to book an appointment with a Careers Adviser to explore all of your options.

There is often confusion about whether you should be paid to do an internship or work experience. It will depend on your arrangement with the employer, the status of the employer and the location of your employer as employment laws vary from country to country. To find out if you are entitled to be paid when undertaking work experience or an internship in the UK, visit the Government’s webpages on the National Minimum Wage.

Entry Points

Building relevant experience (see below) is key for accessing many careers in sustainability and the environment. This could be through relevant student societies, volunteering, internships, choice of academic papers or projects or perhaps via a relevant course of postgraduate study.

A postgraduate qualification is often required to follow a career in this sector. Further study may be at either Masters or PhD level, depending on the particular career you wish to pursue. For example, whilst a PhD is important for a career in research, taught Masters courses are popular when entering the field of environmental consultancy. Not all environmental lawyers or consultants studied law, or specifically environmental law, at undergraduate level – however they are all qualified solicitors or barristers (in the UK), so it is worth exploring the different degrees, courses and qualification options available.

There are a wide range of specialist courses at the Masters level, providing a focus on particular environmental issues. Consider:

How relevant is the course to the environmental field within which you want to work?
What do students leaving the course go on to do? Contact the institution offering the course and ask about destinations data. Try to talk to alumni who graduated in the previous 1 or 2 years and ask them how well the course enabled their transition to working, including the extent to which course (curriculum content and support) brought them into contact with attractive employment options and professionals willing to offer advice, mentorship or practical experience.
Does the course have a strong practical element? Often, vocational courses that have a strong practical element and/or project placements in environmental organisations (through which you can make valuable contacts with potential employers) will provide you with enhanced job prospects.
Talk to employers and find out which courses they particularly recommend or like to recruit from.

Getting a Job

Many environmental organisations are small, and have only occasional vacancies that arise on a sporadic basis, so you may have to be proactive and contact companies you are interested in yourself. See our webpage on Making Speculative Approaches.

The lack of large mainstream graduate recruiters in the sector makes it essential that you network as much as possible, and let your contacts know if you are available for work. Likewise, be aware of current environmental issues. Often, if you are willing to work on a short-term, voluntary basis for an employer, then you are in a stronger position should a paid vacancy arise.

Other sources of job opportunities include the New Scientist and The Guardian, both available at the Careers Service. You will also find vacancies on the internet, for example on the Environmental Data Services (ENDS) website and the environment and sustainability recruitment website ACRE. In addition, many environmental charities advertise jobs on their websites, e.g. TCV and Friends of the Earth. Local and county councils will also advertise environment-related positions on their respective websites.

You might also consider a slightly longer-term strategy where you initial pursue a career path to gain a professional qualification (eg, qualify as a lawyer; accountant; communications specialist) or build real expertise in a valuable transferable skill (eg, planning; policy; project management). Larger employers offering structured graduate programmes have the resources and experience to provide this kind of initial platform in a way that smaller organisations with small budgets are unable to match. Maintain your commitment and track record to environmental or sustainability issues through leading relevant projects/groups within your organisation, or volunteering and involvement within external organisations and projects. This will help you to continue to build your knowledge, relevant experience and contacts, and ensure that you are well placed to make a stronger application to your destination sector when you are ready.

Our Resources

Past events: Working Towards a Sustainable Future - Building an Impactful Career 2021

A series of speaker panels, info sessions and workshops to help students explore career paths in sustainability. Read the speaker bios.

Top tips and takeaways from the 2021 Sustainability Careers Week

As the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP26) the Oxford Careers Service held a week dedicated to career paths in sustainability: Working Towards a Sustainable Future: Building an Impactful Career. Read highlights from the events.

Access employers' green credentials

Make informed decisions about the organisations advertising vacancies and events in CareerConnect. Find out how.

External Resources

Equality, Diversity and Positive Action

Recruiters are keen to have a diverse workforce, and many will have policies and processes that are proactive in recruiting students and graduates from diverse backgrounds. An increasing number of recruiters are offering traineeships, internships and insight events that are aimed at specific groups and many are being recognised for their approach to being inclusive employers.

Try the following to discover more about the policies and attitudes of the recruiters that you are interested in:

Read their equality, diversity and inclusion policy
Search their website to see if they have any specific staff networks
Look for external accreditation such as whether they are a Disability Confident employer, a Stonewall Diversity Champion or part of the Mindful Employer charter promoting mental health at work
Check to see if they are partnering with organisations such as Rare Recruitment, SEO London, MyPlus Students' Club, EmployAbility or one of the many other organisations that are working for specific communities
Explore what they do to celebrate diversity on their Facebook and Twitter pages.

The UK Equality Act 2010 has a number of protected characteristics to prevent discrimination due to your age, disability, gender reassignment, race, religion or beliefs, sex or sexual orientation. For further information on the Equality Act 2010 and to find out where and how you are protected, and what to do if you feel you have been discriminated against, visit the Equality and Human Rights Commission’s webpage on the Equality Act and the Government’s webpages on discrimination.

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Sustainability and the Environment