- Environmental, Regulatory and Stakeholder Engagement
- Environmental Manager
- NOC #0212
Environmental Manager
Environmental managers want to be part of the solution. They work inside energy companies to ensure their company is not only following environmental regulations, but also consistently doing better each day. They work across the company to develop sustainable practices, standards and goals that will help make the company more environmentally friendly.
Energy companies take their responsibility towards environmental sustainability seriously, with departments and personnel dedicated to ensuring the work of the company aligns with corporate values of environmental stewardship. Environmental protections are regulated in Canada by provincial and federal regulators and meeting these requirements is essential for a company to operate. Many companies are proactive in their management of the environment, reporting publicly on their Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) or sustainability programs.
Environmental managers provide leadership, accountability and direction in the environmental disciplines of their organizations. They work across the company, with a focus on systems thinking. They communicate and coordinate with management, employees, regulators and shareholders to address environmental compliance and oversee the corporate sustainability strategy. Their job is to integrate environmental knowledge, ethics and strategy into the company’s decision-making processes.
I'm interested in a career in
- Sub-sector Exploration and production, Oil and gas services, Pipelines, Oil sands
- Environment Primarily indoor/office work
- Average Salary $73,000 to $156,000
- Education Post-secondary degree
In this occupation activities may include:
- Consulting with businesses, governments and special interest groups to understand and address concerns.
- Understanding and monitoring changes in regulatory requirements and international standards, including anticipating the future impacts of proposed legislation and regulations.
- Developing sustainability goals, standards and practices for the organization to achieve a triple bottom line (accountable to people, planet and profit).
- Researching and collecting information about life cycle impacts, cradle to cradle technologies and sustainability best practices.
- Developing reports or presentations related to sustainability initiatives and their results. This includes overseeing the development of Corporate Social Responsibility reports or Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) compliant sustainability reports.
Education
- A minimum of a four-year university degree in environmental sciences, environmental engineering, biology or a related scientific or technical discipline is usually required.
- A master’s degree in a related discipline may be required.
- Employers often prefer extensive knowledge of Corporate Social Responsibility planning and reporting, the UN Global Compact and/or Global Responsibility Index (GRI) reporting.
Additional Requirements
- Often a minimum of 10 years’ experience in the industry is requested as a deep knowledge of the oil and natural gas industry is critical to understand and mitigate environmental impacts
- Specific health and safety certifications may be required, determined by location of work and company requirements
Nature of work and environment conditions specific to oil and natural gas include:
- Minimal or no travel
- Primarily indoor/office work
- Work not physically demanding
You need to be able to work collaboratively and communicate complex concepts. You have strong research and interpersonal skills. You are also an organized planner and can solve complex problems.
- Laws and Regulations
- Understanding Risk
- Public Speaking
- Writing, Technical Writing, Document Production
- Managing Personnel Resources
- Coordination
- Building a Successful Team
- Negotiation
- Persuasion
- Planning and Organizing
- Collaborative
- Leading / Living the Vision and Values
- Administrative
- Environment Primarily indoor/office work
- Average Salary Equal to oil and gas
- Education Post-secondary degree
- Skills Upgrading None
-
Direct
Good news! The skills gained as an environmental manager in oil and natural gas are directly transferable to the petrochemicals and refining sector.
In this occupation activities may include:
- Consulting with businesses, governments and special interest groups to understand and address concerns.
- Understanding and monitoring changes in regulatory requirements and international standards, including anticipating the future impacts of proposed legislation and regulations.
- Developing sustainability goals, standards and practices for the organization to achieve a triple bottom line (accountable to people, planet and profit).
- Researching and collecting information about life cycle impacts, cradle to cradle technologies and sustainability best practices.
- Developing reports or presentations related to sustainability initiatives and their results. This includes overseeing the development of Corporate Social Responsibility reports or Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) compliant sustainability reports.
Education
- A minimum of a four-year university degree in environmental sciences, environmental engineering, biology or a related scientific or technical discipline is usually required.
- A master’s degree in a related discipline may be required.
- Employers often prefer extensive knowledge of Corporate Social Responsibility planning and reporting, the UN Global Compact and/or Global Responsibility Index (GRI) reporting.
Additional Requirements
- Often a minimum of 10 years’ experience in the industry is requested as a deep knowledge of the oil and natural gas industry is critical to understand and mitigate environmental impacts
- Specific health and safety certifications may be required, determined by location of work and company requirements
Nature of work and environment conditions specific to petrochemicals and refining include:
- Potential for relocation
- Primarily indoor/office work
- Lower-risk tolerant culture
- Safety-sensitive environment
- Transition to a similar level
- Career development fostered/supported
- Rural location
- Potentially unionized
Nature of work and environment conditions specific to oil and natural gas include:
- Minimal or no travel
- Primarily indoor/office work
- Work not physically demanding
You need to be able to work collaboratively and communicate complex concepts. You have strong research and interpersonal skills. You are also an organized planner and can solve complex problems.
- Laws and Regulations
- Understanding Risk
- Public Speaking
- Writing, Technical Writing, Document Production
- Managing Personnel Resources
- Coordination
- Building a Successful Team
- Negotiation
- Persuasion
- Planning and Organizing
- Collaborative
- Leading / Living the Vision and Values
- Administrative
- Environment Primarily indoor/office work
- Average Salary Equal to oil and gas
- Education Post-secondary degree
- Skills Upgrading None
-
Direct
Good news! The skills gained as an environmental manager in oil and natural gas are directly transferable to the LNG facility operation sector.
In this occupation activities may include:
- Consulting with businesses, governments and special interest groups to understand and address concerns.
- Understanding and monitoring changes in regulatory requirements and international standards, including anticipating the future impacts of proposed legislation and regulations.
- Developing sustainability goals, standards and practices for the organization to achieve a triple bottom line (accountable to people, planet and profit).
- Researching and collecting information about life cycle impacts, cradle to cradle technologies and sustainability best practices.
- Developing reports or presentations related to sustainability initiatives and their results. This includes overseeing the development of Corporate Social Responsibility reports or Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) compliant sustainability reports.
Education
- A minimum of a four-year university degree in environmental sciences, environmental engineering, biology or a related scientific or technical discipline is usually required.
- A master’s degree in a related discipline may be required.
- Employers often prefer extensive knowledge of Corporate Social Responsibility planning and reporting, the UN Global Compact and/or Global Responsibility Index (GRI) reporting.
Additional Requirements
- Often a minimum of 10 years’ experience in the industry is requested as a deep knowledge of the oil and natural gas industry is critical to understand and mitigate environmental impacts
- Specific health and safety certifications may be required, determined by location of work and company requirements
Nature of work and environment conditions specific to LNG include:
- Potential for relocation
- Primarily indoor/office work
- Lower-risk tolerant culture
- Safety-sensitive environment
- Transition to a similar level
- Career development fostered/supported
- Rural location
Nature of work and environment conditions specific to oil and natural gas include:
- Minimal or no travel
- Primarily indoor/office work
- Work not physically demanding
You need to be able to work collaboratively and communicate complex concepts. You have strong research and interpersonal skills. You are also an organized planner and can solve complex problems.
- Laws and Regulations
- Understanding Risk
- Public Speaking
- Writing, Technical Writing, Document Production
- Managing Personnel Resources
- Coordination
- Building a Successful Team
- Negotiation
- Persuasion
- Planning and Organizing
- Collaborative
- Leading / Living the Vision and Values
- Administrative
- Sub-sector Geothermal, Solar, Wind
- Environment Primarily indoor/office work
- Average Salary Equal to oil and gas
- Education Post-secondary degree
- Skills Upgrading None
-
Direct
Good news! The skills gained as an environmental manager in oil and natural gas are directly transferable to the renewables sector. A worker may expect that the average salary range earned in the geothermal sub-sector is likely equal to the average salary range earned in oil and gas, however, a worker in solar or wind will likely find the average salary range is lower than in oil and gas.
In this occupation activities may include:
- Consulting with businesses, governments and special interest groups to understand and address concerns.
- Understanding and monitoring changes in regulatory requirements and international standards, including anticipating the future impacts of proposed legislation and regulations.
- Developing sustainability goals, standards and practices for the organization to achieve a triple bottom line (accountable to people, planet and profit).
- Researching and collecting information about life cycle impacts, cradle to cradle technologies and sustainability best practices.
- Developing reports or presentations related to sustainability initiatives and their results. This includes overseeing the development of Corporate Social Responsibility reports or Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) compliant sustainability reports.
Education
- A minimum of a four-year university degree in environmental sciences, environmental engineering, biology or a related scientific or technical discipline is usually required.
- A master’s degree in a related discipline may be required.
- Employers often prefer extensive knowledge of Corporate Social Responsibility planning and reporting, the UN Global Compact and/or Global Responsibility Index (GRI) reporting.
Additional Requirements
- Often a minimum of 10 years’ experience in the industry is requested as a deep knowledge of the oil and natural gas industry is critical to understand and mitigate environmental impacts
- Specific health and safety certifications may be required, determined by location of work and company requirements
The nature of work and environment conditions specific to the renewables sector include:
- Shiftwork/variable work hours (geothermal | solar | wind)
- Travel required (geothermal | solar | wind)
- Primarily outdoor work (geothermal)
- Agile/flexible approach to work (solar | wind)
- Temporary/project-to-project work (geothermal | solar | wind)
- Freelance/contract opportunities (geothermal | solar)
- Lower-risk tolerant culture (geothermal)
- Safety-sensitive environment (geothermal | solar | wind)
- Transition to a similar level (geothermal | solar | wind)
- Rural location (solar | wind)
Nature of work and environment conditions specific to oil and natural gas include:
- Minimal or no travel
- Primarily indoor/office work
- Work not physically demanding
You need to be able to work collaboratively and communicate complex concepts. You have strong research and interpersonal skills. You are also an organized planner and can solve complex problems.
- Laws and Regulations
- Understanding Risk
- Public Speaking
- Writing, Technical Writing, Document Production
- Managing Personnel Resources
- Coordination
- Building a Successful Team
- Negotiation
- Persuasion
- Planning and Organizing
- Collaborative
- Leading / Living the Vision and Values
- Administrative
The renewables sector is further divided into sub-sectors:
Geothermal
- Average salary range: Equal to oil and gas
Solar
- Average salary range: Less than oil and gas
Wind
- Average salary range: Less than oil and gas
What does this mean for workers?
There could be differences in the expected salary range and varying work environments. Further research on the sector or consultation with a career advisor may be required.
- Sub-sector Carbon capture, utilization and storage, Emissions reduction, Well site decommissioning
- Environment Primarily indoor/office work
- Average Salary Equal to oil and gas
- Education Post-secondary degree
- Skills Upgrading None
-
Direct
Congratulations! The skills gained as an environmental manager in oil and gas are directly transferable to the cleantech sector.
In this occupation activities may include:
- Consulting with businesses, governments and special interest groups to understand and address concerns.
- Understanding and monitoring changes in regulatory requirements and international standards, including anticipating the future impacts of proposed legislation and regulations.
- Developing sustainability goals, standards and practices for the organization to achieve a triple bottom line (accountable to people, planet and profit).
- Researching and collecting information about life cycle impacts, cradle to cradle technologies and sustainability best practices.
- Developing reports or presentations related to sustainability initiatives and their results. This includes overseeing the development of Corporate Social Responsibility reports or Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) compliant sustainability reports.
Education
- A minimum of a four-year university degree in environmental sciences, environmental engineering, biology or a related scientific or technical discipline is usually required.
- A master’s degree in a related discipline may be required.
- Employers often prefer extensive knowledge of Corporate Social Responsibility planning and reporting, the UN Global Compact and/or Global Responsibility Index (GRI) reporting.
Additional Requirements
- Often a minimum of 10 years’ experience in the industry is requested as a deep knowledge of the oil and natural gas industry is critical to understand and mitigate environmental impacts
- Specific health and safety certifications may be required, determined by location of work and company requirements
The nature of work and environment conditions specific to the cleantech sector include:
- Shiftwork/variable work hours (emissions reduction | well site decommissioning)
- Travel required (emissions reduction | well site decommissioning)
- Work away from home/in camps (well site decommissioning)
- Primarily outdoor work (well site decommissioning)
- Primarily indoor/office work (CCUS)
- Temporary/project-to-project work (emissions reduction | well site decommissioning)
- Freelance/contract opportunities (emissions reduction | well site decommissioning)
- Lower-risk tolerant culture (CCUS | emissions reduction | well site decommissioning)
- Safety-sensitive environment (emissions reduction | well site decommissioning)
- Transition to a similar level (CCUS | emissions reduction | well site decommissioning)
- Urban location (CCUS)
Nature of work and environment conditions specific to oil and natural gas include:
- Minimal or no travel
- Primarily indoor/office work
- Work not physically demanding
You need to be able to work collaboratively and communicate complex concepts. You have strong research and interpersonal skills. You are also an organized planner and can solve complex problems.
- Laws and Regulations
- Understanding Risk
- Public Speaking
- Writing, Technical Writing, Document Production
- Managing Personnel Resources
- Coordination
- Building a Successful Team
- Negotiation
- Persuasion
- Planning and Organizing
- Collaborative
- Leading / Living the Vision and Values
- Administrative
- Sub-sector Construction
- Environment Primarily indoor/office work
- Average Salary Equal to oil and gas
- Education Post-secondary degree
- Skills Upgrading Minor
-
Refocus
An environmental manager considering a career from oil and natural gas to the construction project life cycle phase of industrial construction and maintenance in energy may need to complete some minor upskilling and gain knowledge about different regulations and requirements to successfully transition to the sector.
In this occupation activities may include:
- Consulting with businesses, governments and special interest groups to understand and address concerns.
- Understanding and monitoring changes in regulatory requirements and international standards, including anticipating the future impacts of proposed legislation and regulations.
- Developing sustainability goals, standards and practices for the organization to achieve a triple bottom line (accountable to people, planet and profit).
- Researching and collecting information about life cycle impacts, cradle to cradle technologies and sustainability best practices.
- Developing reports or presentations related to sustainability initiatives and their results. This includes overseeing the development of Corporate Social Responsibility reports or Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) compliant sustainability reports.
Education
- A minimum of a four-year university degree in environmental sciences, environmental engineering, biology or a related scientific or technical discipline is usually required.
- A master’s degree in a related discipline may be required.
- Employers often prefer extensive knowledge of Corporate Social Responsibility planning and reporting, the UN Global Compact and/or Global Responsibility Index (GRI) reporting.
Additional Requirements
- Often a minimum of 10 years’ experience in the industry is requested as a deep knowledge of the oil and natural gas industry is critical to understand and mitigate environmental impacts
- Specific health and safety certifications may be required, determined by location of work and company requirements
The nature of work and environment conditions specific to the industrial construction and maintenance sector include:
- Travel required (construction)
- Work away from home/in camps (construction)
- Temporary/project-to-project work (construction)
- Transition to a similar level (construction)
- Career development fostered/supported (construction)
Nature of work and environment conditions specific to oil and natural gas include:
- Minimal or no travel
- Primarily indoor/office work
- Work not physically demanding
You need to be able to work collaboratively and communicate complex concepts. You have strong research and interpersonal skills. You are also an organized planner and can solve complex problems.
- Laws and Regulations
- Understanding Risk
- Public Speaking
- Writing, Technical Writing, Document Production
- Managing Personnel Resources
- Coordination
- Building a Successful Team
- Negotiation
- Persuasion
- Planning and Organizing
- Collaborative
- Leading / Living the Vision and Values
- Administrative
