Career pathways
If you want to focus on sustainability as a career there are a multiple directions you can take depending on your specific interests.
Sustainability as a response to finite resources on our planet impacts most aspects of our lives, from business and technology to environment and the social sciences. Organisations and businesses are now looking to embed sustainability across their values and practices. If you want to involve sustainability in your career pathway there are a number options open to you depending on your specific interests.
Natural environment
If you want to focus on sustainability in the natural environment, employment opportunities include:
- Government agencies focused on conservation, environmental policy, and operation
- local government
- consulting firms
- non-government organisations (NGOs)
- research institutes.
There are a large range of roles in this field including:
| climate scientist biosecurity officer data analyst environmental educator field engineer geophysicist hydrologist marine biologist oceanographer research scientist risk manager ecologist | entomologist environmental technician environmental geologist fisheries/fish health technician hazard planner laboratory technician meteorologist ranger research scientist science writer water resource specialist |
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Built environment
If you are interested in focussing on sustainability in the built environment, employment opportunities include:
- Government agencies (such as the Ministry for Business, Innovation and Employment)
- local government
- architectural practice
- engineering
- project management
- construction.
There are many roles within this field, based on a range of qualifications:
architect | landscape architect lighting designer project manager property manager sustainable engineering systems designer building materials consultant |
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Sustainability in society
If you want to focus on sustainability in society, opportunities can be found in:
- Government agencies
- local government
- larger companies
- non-government organisations
- consultancy
- public relations
- public health
- tourism
- social services
- education.
If you want to focus on sustainability in society, employment opportunities include:
Business development adviser | project manager risk analyst science writer sustainability adviser trainer volunteer coordinator |
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You can find out more about ways to plan your career from the Careers and Employment team at the University, how to access and apply for sustainable roles with your degree and what these kind of roles involve.