The Sustainability Career Track is available on this web page only. Explore the content to learn more about the field and check back periodically for updates.
Explore the diverse and growing field of sustainability, where roles span consulting, government, business, nonprofits, international development, and more. This page highlights essential skills, typical entry-level positions, job search strategies, and campus resources to help you launch and advance your sustainability career.
Students enrolled in SEAS, PiTE, or SEAS/PiTE academic programs should consult their respective career offices for specialized guidance and support!
Necessary Skills
Everyone brings unique strengths and skills, but here are several foundational skills that many employers value. Please keep in mind that these skills can and do vary by role.
- Foundational Scientific Literacy
- Quantitative & Analytical Skills
- GIS & Spatial Analysis
- Policy, Law & Regulatory Understanding
- Research Skills
- Communication & Outreach
- Project Management & Collaboration
- Technical and Engineering Skills (if relevant)
- Cultural Competency & Working with Communities
- Professionalism
What to do Now to Prepare
Campus Resources & Student Orgs: Explore U-M’s student orgs that align with sustainability and environmental interests. Start with: Maize Pages. Search “sustainability” or “environment” to find clubs to join!
Experiential Learning: Watch Handshake for opportunities to chat with employers and get hands-on experience!
- UCC Immersions: Half-day field trips to employer sites to experience a day-in-the-life at various companies.
- UCC Employer Challenges: Team opportunities to practice innovation and collaboration while “pitching” material to company leaders.
Skill Building: Take advantage of learning opportunities through UM or otherwise!
- Online Courses: Consider courses or certifications on platforms like Coursera, Udemy, LinkedIn Learning, or Google Career Certificates. Focus on skills relevant to your position(s) of interest.
- Micro-Internships or Job Simulations: Websites such as Parker Dewey and Forage allow students and alumni to test fields of interest and gain experience through short-term projects.
- Please note that if you are an international student, it is likely that you will need some type of work authorization to pursue a micro-internship. Please visit the International Center to see if you are qualified for OPT/CPT before engaging in a micro-internship experience.
- Personal Projects: Start a project on your own or with a team, such as developing a website or social media channel, or creating a portfolio of writing, data/research, or coding projects. It’s a great way to show initiative and build a body of work that can impress future employers.
- Internships: Participating in internships and jobs can also help build the skills and competencies needed to enter and succeed in the nonprofit sector.
- The Development Summer Internship Program (D-SIP) allows students to not only gain experience but also course credit and compensation while doing meaningful work with organizations and companies that align with their values.
- The Public Service Intern Program (PSIP) prepares undergraduate students to obtain summer internships in
Internship and Job Essentials
Job and Internship Search Boards:
- Handshake
- Businesses for Social Responsibility
- ClimateBase
- Conservation Job Board
- Cyber-Sierra Natural Resources Job Search
- EcoClub
- EcoJobs
- Environmental, Health, and Safety Careers
- Environmental Careers
- Science and Technology (ScienceCareers)
- Science Societies Career Center
- Jobs in Extension, Outreach, Research and Higher Education
- AgCareers
- New Impact
- Trellis Jobs (Sustainability, Climate Tech, ESG, etc.)
- Green Jobs Board
- Green Jobs Network
Also: check company career pages directly, sign up for email alerts and newsletters, or submit general interest applications!
When to Apply: Key Timelines
| Sector | Primary Hiring Window |
|---|---|
| Management Consulting | Sept-Oct (Some Jan) |
| Corporate Sustainability | Sept-Nov, rolling |
| Government (Federal, State) | Oct-Feb (new grad programs/fellowships; entry level roles may be rolling) |
| Nonprofits & NGOs | Jan-April |
| International Development | Dec-March |
| Conservation/Field Work; Local Government | Feb-May |
Tip: Roles may not be widely posted. Network or reach out directly on LinkedIn or UCAN to unlock hidden opportunities.
For Internship and Job Search support, you can make an appointment with Sustainability Career Track Manager, Cierra Sutherland ([email protected]), on Handshake!
Typical Entry Level Jobs
Common Entry-Level Roles by Sector
- Management Consulting
- Sustainability Analyst / Associate
- ESG Analyst
- Climate & Decarbonization Analyst
- Environmental or Climate Risk Analyst
- Energy & Sustainability Consultant (Junior)
- Government (Local, State, Federal)
- Environmental Protection Specialist (Junior)
- Policy Analyst / Policy Assistant
- Sustainability or Climate Action Coordinator
- Environmental Scientist / Biologist I
- GIS Technician
- Private Firms and Business (Corporate Sustainability)
- Corporate Sustainability Analyst
- ESG Reporting Analyst
- Environmental Compliance Coordinator
- Energy and Carbon Analyst
- Sustainable Supply Chain Analyst
- Nonprofits and NGOs
- Program Assistant / Program Associate
- Policy or Research Assistant
- Climate or Environmental Campaign Organizer
- Conservation Technician / Restoration Technician
- Community Engagement Coordinator
- International Development
- Program or Project Assistant / Coordinator
- Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning (MEL) Assistant
- Climate Resilience or Adaptation Analyst (Junior)
- Sustainable Development Research Assistant
- Grants and Project Support Officer
Key words and searching for roles:
Search on Handshake for internships, jobs, or development opportunities by using any of the key words above.
Handshake search tips:
- Filter by industry:
- In Handshake: Agriculture, Energy, Environmental Services, Government - Local, State, Federal, Natural Resources, NGO, Scientific and Technical Consulting, Utilities and Renewable Energy
- Other industries to consider: Research & Academia, Environmental Policy & Law, Business Sustainability, Environmental Justice & Advocacy, Circular Economy, Landscape Architecture, Philanthropy, Corporate Social Responsibility
- Check out the specially curated Sustainability Career Track collection in Handshake.
Industry Trends
Key Sustainability Market Trends
- Sustainability work is becoming more data- and compliance-driven
- Roles increasingly center on ESG reporting, carbon accounting, and regulatory compliance.
- Data analysis, reporting, accounting, and GIS skills are now highly valued at the entry level.
- Entry-level roles are often operational, not strategic
- Early-career work focuses on data collection, monitoring, reporting, and coordination.
- Operational experience is the primary pathway to later strategy or leadership roles.
- Hiring is fragmented and less centralized than in other industries
- Sustainability jobs are spread across departments, with wide variation in titles and timing.
- Project-based, grant-funded, and contract roles are common entry points.
- Demand is growing fastest at the intersection of sustainability and another skill
- Employers increasingly seek sustainability paired with data, operations, policy, or engineering.
- Standalone “sustainability generalist” roles are declining relative to hybrid skill roles.
Stay up-to-date: Follow top companies and professional associations on LinkedIn and Handshake. Subscribe to and read newsletters such as the following: