Our lobby is open 9:00-5:00. We also offer virtual appointments.

Sustainability / Conservation / Energy

Welcome to the Sustainability, Conservation and Energy interest community!

Members of this community are interested in careers that 1) Provide sufficient amounts of energy for today’s world without undermining environmental integrity or draining future resources. 2) Produce a good or service that benefits the environment or conserves natural resources. This good or service could be renewable energy, pollution reduction, an organic product, or environmental compliance. 3) Reduce the environmental impact of an organization’s production processes. Responsibilities might include establishing cost-cutting initiatives such as energy efficiency, renewable energy sources, waste management, or resource conservation.

People who pursue careers in Sustainability/Conservation/Energy may focus on issues ranging from reducing ecological footprint and minimizing pollution to working directly on environmental and sustainability issues in various sectors, or in areas like solar energy, wind power, hydropower and more. These jobs exist in emerging green sectors and in traditional sectors such as manufacturing, technology, insurance, and the state and federal government, making the world of sustainability/conservation/energy one that is both deeply rooted in our day-to-day life and the subject of much innovation and research.

Examples of career pathways include (but are not limited to): Air Quality Forecaster; Aquatic Biologist; Biofuel Production Operator; Ecotourism Guide; Environmental Public Relations Specialist; Geoscientist; Hydrographic Surveyor; Landscape Architect; Soil Conservation Technician’ Sustainability Program Coordinator; Watershed Manager; Watershed Science Technician; Wetland Specialist; Wind Energy Engineer

Feeling Hopeless About Climate Change? Try Playing These Video Games (from Science Friday)

Read the full article or listen to the transcript on the Science Friday website. Begin reading below…

“Five years ago, Stephanie Barish was tired of the public’s attitude about climate change. “Most people at that time were just so negative …

By Meaghan Wood (She/Her)
Meaghan Wood (She/Her) Career Coach
Read more

Marine protected areas are key to actualize conservation vision (from UW Bothell)

Marine protected areas that match megafauna movements can offer important protections

Read the full article on the UW Bothell website to learn more, and you can start reading below…

“BOTHELL, Washington — To tackle the climate crisis at home and abroad, …

By Meaghan Wood (She/Her)
Meaghan Wood (She/Her) Career Coach
Read more

Popular map for exploring environmental health disparities, vulnerabilities in Washington gets an update (from UW News)

Read the full article by Jake Ellison on the UW News website. Start reading below…

“Since it first launched in 2019, Washington state’s Environmental Health Disparities Map has been used to help decisionmakers and government agencies engage with overburdened communities …

By Meaghan Wood (She/Her)
Meaghan Wood (She/Her) Career Coach
Read more

Citizen science project is helping Washington scientists refine water supply models (from OPB)

Snow Spotter is a citizen science project where volunteers around the world scan time lapse images of forested canopies in Washington, Alaska, Colorado and Europe for the presence of snow on tree tops. Since its launch in 2017, the …

By Meaghan Wood (She/Her)
Meaghan Wood (She/Her) Career Coach
Read more

Summer Volunteering Opportunities (From the UW’s Whole U)

Read the full article by Nicole Reeve-Parker to learn about even more opportunities to get involved. There are about twice as many opportunities listed on the website!
Get outside

Washington Trails Association offers a variety of opportunities, from local one-day …

By Meaghan Wood (She/Her)
Meaghan Wood (She/Her) Career Coach
Read more

Sidebar

Job Market Trend DataIn partnership withLightcast logo

Explore occupations by career categories and pathways and use real time labor market data to power your decision making.

First, choose an industry of interest, then filter for occupation. (If you'd like to see data for a specific location only, filter by state.)

Type in a keyword to select a relevant occupation. (If you'd like to see data for a specific location only, filter by state.)

Student Stories & Advice

Cesar Robles

Student Stories & Advice
  • Edison Engineering Development Program GE Vernova
Meet Cesar >

Margot Adam

Student Stories & Advice
  • School for Public and International Affairs Princeton University
Meet Margot >

Greta Weise

Student Stories & Advice
  • Soundwatch Boater Education Program Intern The Whale Museum
Meet Greta >

Mitsuki Shimomura

Student Stories & Advice
  • M.S. in Aeronautics & Astronautics University of Washington
Meet Mitsuki >

Peyton R

Student Stories & Advice
  • Master's of Science in Energy & Sustainability Northwestern University
Meet Peyton >

Ashleigh Bell

Student Stories & Advice
  • Grad Student - Sustainability in the Outdoor Industry University of Colorado, Boulder
Meet Ashleigh >

Tanner Poling

Student Stories & Advice
  • AUV Operations Engineer Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute
Meet Tanner >

Evan Mickelson

Student Stories & Advice
  • Electrical Engineer Electric Reliability Council of Texas
Meet Evan >

Featured Resources

CoolWorks

Since 1995, CoolWorks has been a leader in CONNECTING PEOPLE seeking meaningful and exciting work with the EMPLOYERS who are …

Nethubb  

Nethubb makes it easy to start building your professional network to be discovered for career opportunities. They provide you the …

Sustainability / Energy / Conservation Search Engines

Energy Jobs Network

The Energy Jobs Network (EJN) has been helping employers find qualified candidates for their energy related positions …

Scholarships & Fellowships Supporting Sustainability/Conservation/Energy Career Goals

Many different types of organizations, companies and agencies provide scholarship opportunities to support students in preparing for careers related to …

Tips for Job Searching in Handshake – Sustainability/Conservation/Energy

With thousands of jobs and internships for students on Handshake, how can you find the ones that are right for …

Virtual Interview Practice

StandOut is a mock video interviewing platform. You can access an Environmental Science practice interview.

Career & Industry Guides

Vault Guide to Energy Jobs, Third Edition

The Vault Guides to Jobs series provides essential information about key careers and industries, with an emphasis on preparing for …

Vault Guide to Alternative Energy Jobs, Third Edition

The Vault Guides to Jobs series provides essential information about key careers and industries, with an emphasis on preparing for …

Vault Guide to Nonprofit Jobs, Third Edition

The Vault Guides to Jobs series provides essential information about key careers and industries, with an emphasis on preparing for …

Vault Career Guide to Energy, Third Edition

In the midst of an energy boom that has positioned the United States as one of the world’s top oil-producing …

Vault Guide to Utilities Jobs, Second Edition

The Vault Guides to Jobs series provides essential information about key careers and industries, with an emphasis on preparing for …

Vault Guide to Nuclear Power Jobs, Second Edition

The Vault Guides to Jobs series provides essential information about key careers and industries, with an emphasis on preparing for …