Imagine it is early in the morning and you are driving along the highway with a cup of coffee in your hand. You are an environmental technical salesperson on your way to your first appointment of the day, with the head of the hazardous waste department of a neighbouring city. You work for a company that sells products for handling and storing hazardous materials.
Today you are going to discuss a new spill barrier product line your company carries. You want to demonstrate to this supervisor how effective these new barriers are and how valuable they would be to the city’s hazardous waste department. Environmental technical salespeople sell a range of environmental products and services, for example, equipment, chemicals, transportation, or laboratory services. Some salespeople are responsible for outside sales calls, where they visit clients to demonstrate products and discuss services. Others spend more time in their office answering technical questions and providing support to clients.
Environmental technical salespeople combine technical knowledge of complex equipment and processes with business and marketing skills to successfully sell their products and services to a wide range of clients. At the end of your demonstration, you give the supervisor copies of technical brochures for the barriers and set a date to follow up on your meeting. You have another appointment this afternoon, but before that, you’ll be in your office following up with other clients and new contacts, as well as with the various manufacturers your company deals with.
Having participated in a full-day training seminar with the barrier’s manufacturer, you know a lot about this product and are able to respond to most of the supervisor’s technical questions. When a question arises to which you don’t have the answer, you promise to ask the manufacturer and get back to the supervisor as quickly as possible.
Duties vary significantly from job to job, but the following list includes typical job duties one might encounter as an environmental technical salesperson:
If you are a high school student considering a career as an environmental geophysicist, you should have a keen interest in:
If you are a post-secondary student considering a career as an environmental geophysicist, the following programs are most applicable.
In most cases, the minimum education requirement to work as an environmental geophysicist is a graduate degree. Pursuing a master’s or doctoral degree in fields related to environmental geophysics can enhance your expertise, career prospects, and ability to contribute to the field. These advanced degrees offer specialized knowledge and skills highly valued in both the professional and academic worlds.
In many provinces, geophysicists must obtain registration and licensure with their provincial association as a Professional Geoscientist (P.Geo.). The certification process for geophysicists is similar to that of engineering professions and is typically overseen by the same regulatory body.
Our Environmental Professional (EP) designation can also help you progress in your chosen environmental career.
Technical Skills
Personal and Professional Skills
Environmental employers look for professionals who can combine technical knowledge with soft skills. Watch our free webinar “Essential Not Optional: Skills Needed to Succeed in Canada’s Environmental Industry” or take our Essential Skills courses.
As key executive leaders who shape their company’s sustainability policy, CSOs work in many different types of organizations. Common employers of CSOs include:
Search for jobs on the ECO Canada Job Board.
If you are a post-secondary student seeking a CSO role in the future, consider pursuing a university degree related to:
In addition to the educational fields mentioned above, you will also need extensive management experience to become a CSO, with well-developed human resources management and leadership skills. Consider educational seminars or post-graduate studies that will hone your analytical thinking, such as:
Our Environmental Professional (EP) designation can also help you progress in your chosen environmental career.
Technical Skills
Personal and Professional Skills
Environmental employers seek professionals who combine technical knowledge with personal and professional skills. Watch our free webinar “Essential Not Optional: Skills Needed to Succeed in Canada’s Environmental Industry” or take our Essential Skills courses.
Cameron Kelly Phillip doesn't have any trouble describing his enthusiasm for his work. "At the end of the day, you know these people are better off. And you know you've come a little bit closer to closing the gap between a third world country and a developed nation. It makes you feel good." Cameron works to improve waste management in developing countries. "Our goal here is to assist developing countries with their waste management infrastructure. So that includes educating them on the issues of waste management and why it's important socially and economically."
The task of selling waste management consulting services in developing countries includes making the economic case for better practices, convincing governments of the business case for better environmental practices. "I need to be able to communicate with people on their terms so that they are educated on how to maximize their benefits and minimize their costs." He didn't follow a straight and narrow path to his job.
In fact, he started out studying math and music at university. "I swam around for a while, moving from one department to the next." At one time, he decided to be a teacher, then he "flipped over to commerce." Then he selected courses to prepare himself for international development and the environment. What type of education does he recommend to those who want to follow his trail? "I think a better understanding of commerce is important. Even in the environment, it all comes down to dollars and cents. The high schools offer credits in those areas, but I don't think enough students take those courses."
Marine geologists are classified into the following occupational grouping:
NOC Code: 21102 – Geoscientists and oceanographers
The National Occupational Classification (NOC) provides a standardized language for describing the work performed by Canadians in the labour market. It gives statisticians, labour market analysts, career counsellors, employers, and individual job seekers a consistent way to collect data and describe and understand the nature of work within different occupations.
See ECO’s Blue National Occupational Standard for a career competency profile for a marine geologist that outlines the specific skills, knowledge, and behaviours required for individuals to perform effectively in this particular role. This profile is a benchmark for training and development, ensuring consistency and quality across professions within the blue economy.
Dans un esprit de respect, de réciprocité et de vérité, nous honorons et reconnaissons Moh’kinsstis, le territoire traditionnel du Traité 7 et les pratiques orales de la confédération des Pieds-Noirs : Siksika, Kainai, Piikani, ainsi que les nations Îyâxe Nakoda et Tsuut’ina. Nous reconnaissons que ce territoire abrite la Nation métisse de l’Alberta, la région 3 au sein de la patrie historique des Métis du Nord-Ouest. Enfin, nous reconnaissons toutes les nations qui vivent, travaillent et se divertissent sur ce territoire, et qui l’honorent et le célèbrent.
In the spirit of respect, reciprocity, and truth, we acknowledge that we live, work, and gather on the traditional territories of the peoples of Treaty 7, including the Blackfoot Confederacy—comprising the Siksika, Kainai, and Piikani Nations—as well as the Îyâxe Nakoda and Tsuut’ina Nations.
This land, known as Moh’kinsstis in the Blackfoot language and encompassing what is now Districts 5 and 6, is also home to the Métis Nation of Alberta, Region 3, within the historical Northwest Métis homeland.
We recognize and honour the deep connection these Nations have to the land, and we are grateful for the opportunity to share in its stewardship.
As we continue our work, we commit to learning from Indigenous knowledge systems, uplifting Indigenous voices, and fostering relationships rooted in equity, understanding, and reconciliation.
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