Careers in Sustainability

By Willy Franzen

Looking for an entry level job or internship in sustainability? This is an overview of how to approach the search and a list of companies that might have relevant entry level and internship opportunities.

Photo Credit: Flickr user epSos.de

One of our greatest challenges is maintaining this planet so it can continue to support human life. People working in sustainability study and tackle this challenge. While keeping Earth livable isn’t the only sustainability challenge, it is a big one. Others include supporting economic and social infrastructures, such as designing new buildings and businesses to be sustainable over time.

Because of the many challenges of maintaining a planet or other structure, there are many areas to work in, depending on your area of focus. Here are a few possibilities:

Research and Development
Sustainability Education
Nonprofits and Charitable Organizations
Social Responsibility
Government Agencies
Marketing and Communications
Alternative Energy Research

While you’ll need a bachelor’s degree to get started in many positions these areas offer, that bachelor’s degree doesn’t have to be in sustainability. A few good majors include biology, environmental science, economics, engineering, and urban planning. Courses that connect your field to the environment and society are also useful.

Companies with Entry Level Jobs and Internships in Sustainability

Stone Barns Center for Food and Agriculture - Stone Barns Center for Food and Agriculture is a Pocantico Hills, NY based non-profit that's "working to improve the way America eats and farms.”

See the complete Stone Barns Center for Food and Agriculture profile

Old Sturbridge Village - Old Sturbridge Village is the “largest outdoor history museum in the Northeast” and it “depicts a rural New England town of the 1830s.”

See the complete Old Sturbridge Village profile

Tri-State Transportation Campaign - The Tri-State Transportation Campaign is a New York, NY based “non-profit advocacy organization dedicated to reducing car dependency in NY, NJ, and CT.”

See the complete Tri-State Transportation Campaign profile

Mass Farmers Markets - Mass Farmers Markets is a Waltham, MA based non-profit that aims "to foster, enhance and sustain farmers market in Massachusetts."

See the complete Mass Farmers Markets profile

Reformation - Reformation is an LA based “environmentally sustainable fashion brand that repurposes vintage and surplus materials to create a chic, limited edition collection.”

See the complete Reformation profile

Brilliant Earth - Ethically produced diamonds do exist, and Brilliant Earth is a San Francisco, CA based company that is hoping to make them the norm.

See the complete Brilliant Earth profile

Seattle Tilth - Seattle Tilth aims “to inspire and educate people to safeguard our natural resources while building an equitable and sustainable local food system.”

See the complete Seattle Tilth profile

Smart Growth America - Smart Growth America is a Washington, DC based non-profit organization that believes “smart growth solutions support thriving businesses and jobs."

See the complete Smart Growth America profile

GRID Alternatives - GRID Alternatives is taking on pollution, poverty, and unemployment all at once. If you want to be part of that mission, check out their Jobs page.

See the complete GRID Alternatives profile

OPOWER - If you're excited by OPOWER and how they're promoting efficient energy use to consumers, then you should check out their Careers site.

See the complete OPOWER profile

Transportation Alternatives - If you like what you see in their Advocacy Campaigns, then you’ll want to head over to the Transportation Alternatives Jobs page.

See the complete Transportation Alternatives profile

Better Place - If you want to be part of the transition to sustainable transportation, then it’s time to take a look at Better Place’s jobs.

See the complete Better Place profile

Perkins+Will - I’m not much of an architectural critic, but Perkins+Will's projects look great and so do their entry level jobs for recent college grads.

See the complete Perkins+Will profile

Alliance to Save Energy - The Alliance to Save Energy promotes “energy efficiency worldwide to achieve a healthier economy, a cleaner environment and energy security,” and they're hiring.

See the complete Alliance to Save Energy profile

RecycleBank - If you’re excited about the nexus of marketing and recycling, then you should check out jobs at RecycleBank.

See the complete RecycleBank profile

Conrad Foundation - If you are a fan of innovation, entrepreneurship, and education, there couldn’t be a better place for you than Conrad Foundation.

See the complete Conrad Foundation profile

Framework:CR - Framework:CR is a Stamford, CT based sustainability consulting firm that is hiring a Junior Analyst. It's the perfect green entry level job.

See the complete Framework:CR profile

Duron Energy - How does Duron Energy provide affordable and reliable electricity? They’ve built the Duron, an “all-in-one, off-the-shelf solar system” for rural users.

See the complete Duron Energy profile

Rodale Institute - If you want to be part of the organic movement, then you should consider jobs at the Rodale Institute in Kutztown, PA.

See the complete Rodale Institute profile

Disaster Accountability Project - If you’re passionate about how our government deals with disasters, then you should get involved with the Disaster Accountability Project.

See the complete Disaster Accountability Project profile

Alteris Renewables - Luckily, Alteris Renewables is more consumer focused, so they have some green energy job options that aren’t super technical.

See the complete Alteris Renewables profile

Warrior Group - If you’ve always wanted to work in the construction industry, but have been thwarted until now by the recession, give Warrior Group a look.

See the complete Warrior Group profile

Global Green USA - Right now Global Green USA is looking for a Database & Development Associate, and they are also involved with the The Herbert Scoville Jr. Peace Fellowship.

See the complete Global Green USA profile

Ceres - Ceres is a Boston, MA based non-profit that aims to “integrate sustainability into capital markets" and they're hiring right now.

See the complete Ceres profile

CoFed - If reading about CoFed is making you hungry to learn more, then you should check out their Jobs and Internships page.

See the complete CoFed profile

Summit Energy - If you like the way an EnergyBurrito tastes (it's the name of their blog), then you should check out Summit Energy’s Careers page.

See the complete Summit Energy profile

National League of Cities - Right now the National League of Cities has a few jobs posted including Sustainability Fellow and Member Relations Representative.

See the complete National League of Cities profile

Second Nature - Second Nature is a Boston based non-profit organization that aims to promote sustainability on college campuses, and they're hiring.

See the complete Second Nature profile

Check out the latest job and internship postings in sustainability.

Careers in Sustainability

Companies with Entry Level Jobs and Internships in Sustainability

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