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Environmental Social and Governance Manager

Environmental social and governance (ESG) managers are pivotal in steering a company toward sustainable and ethical practices. They assess and integrate ESG criteria into business strategies, ensuring compliance with environmental laws, fostering social responsibility, and upholding governance standards. Their work supports long-term value creation and risk management, which is crucial for a company's reputation and success.

At a Glance

Imagine you are the new sustainability and environmental social and governance (ESG) strategy Manager at a renewable energy company, tasked with integrating ESG criteria into the company's operations to align with corporate objectives. You have a solid background in ethical governance, transparency, corporate social responsibility, and sustainability strategies, alongside skills in ESG reporting, regulatory compliance, and stakeholder engagement. The challenge is transparent but manageable.

Upon starting, you assess the company's current ESG practices, identifying areas for improvement in environmental reporting, compliance, and stakeholder communication. The renewable energy industry is competitive, and the company must leverage its ESG potential to attract investors and customers focused on sustainability.

You develop a comprehensive ESG framework, starting with analyzing existing data against industry standards. You develop a transparent reporting system showcasing the company's commitment to sustainability and ethical practices. The company strengthens its position in the market through improved regulatory compliance and enhanced stakeholder relations.

Your work contributes to refining the company's business model, making it more sustainable and profitable. Your work highlights the role of ESG management in aligning business operations with sustainability goals, highlighting the tangible impact achievable through dedicated effort and expertise in the field.

Job Duties

Job duties vary from one position to the next, but in general, environmental social and governance (ESG) managers are involved in the following activities:

  • Create and implement strategies that integrate ESG criteria into the company's business model and operations, aligning with overall corporate objectives.
  • Adhere to global reporting standards and prepare detailed reports on the company's sustainability initiatives, including progress on environmental targets, social contributions, and governance practices.
  • Communicate with shareholders, employees, customers, and the community to gather feedback and build consensus on ESG initiatives, enhancing transparency and stakeholder relations.
  • Ensure the company's operations comply with local, national, and international ESG-related regulations, preventing legal issues and penalties.
  • Identify and assess potential ESG risks to the company, developing strategies to mitigate these risks and protect the company's reputation and financial performance.
  • Oversee the planning, execution, and monitoring of sustainability projects, ensuring they meet objectives, deadlines, and budgets.
  • Evaluate the environmental impact of current and proposed operations, recommending practices or technologies to minimize adverse effects.
  • Develop and manage programs that support the company's social responsibility goals, such as community engagement, labour practices, and charitable giving.
  • Review and enhance governance structures and practices, including board diversity, executive pay, and ethical business conduct.
  • Organize training sessions for employees on ESG principles, encouraging a culture of sustainability and ethical behaviour within the organization.

Work Environment

Education

If you are a high school student considering a career as an environmental geophysicist, you should have a keen interest in:

  • Earth Sciences
  • Mathematics and Physics
  • Environmental Protection
  • Technology and Innovation
  • Sustainability and Resource Management

If you are a post-secondary student considering a career as an environmental geophysicist, the following programs are most applicable.

  • Geophysics
  • Environmental Geoscience
  • Geological Engineering
  • Environmental Engineering
  • Environmental Science and Policy

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.

Skills

Technical Skills

  • Seismic data interpretation
  • Geophysical survey techniques
  • Geographic information systems
  • Data analysis and modelling
  • Remote sensing
  • Hydrogeology
  • Environmental impact assessment
  • Sample collection and analysis
  • Software proficiency, geophysical and modelling
  • Regulatory knowledge

Personal and Professional Skills

  • Analytical thinking
  • Attention to detail
  • Communication skills.
  • Critical thinking
  • Teamwork and collaboration
  • Adaptability
  • Project management
  • Leadership
  • Interpersonal skills
  • Creativity and innovation

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.

Where to Work

As key executive leaders who shape their company’s sustainability policy, CSOs work in many different types of organizations. Common employers of CSOs include:

  • Municipal, regional, provincial or federal governments
  • First Nations, Métis and Inuit community organizations
  • Environmental professional or advocacy organizations
  • Large corporations that have incorporated sustainability into their core business activities
  • Utility companies
  • Natural resource extraction corporations, such as those in oil & gas, mining, and forestry


Search for jobs on the ECO Canada Job Board.

Education and Skills

Education

If you are a post-secondary student seeking a CSO role in the future, consider pursuing a university degree related to:

  • Business administration or management
  • Public administration
  • Organizational management
  • Social sciences
  • Law
  • Green business administration
  • Environmental studies

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:

 

  • Organizational or administrative management
  • Environmental law
  • Public speaking
  • Finance or Accounting

Our Environmental Professional (EP) designation can also help you progress in your chosen environmental career.

Skills

Technical Skills

  • Environmental Law
  • Green business administration
  • Environmental Sciences
  • Human Resources Management
  • Public Administration
  • Public Speaking
  • Finance and Budgeting

Personal and Professional Skills

  • Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
  • Superlative and creative problem-solving
  • Analytical skills.
  • Excellent organizational skills
  • Attention to detail.
  • Presentation 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.

Role Models

Your Impact

Environmental, social, and governance (ESG) managers are pivotal in steering organizations toward sustainable and responsible business practices. By integrating ESG criteria into corporate strategies, this occupation promotes practices that reduce ecological footprints, enhance resource efficiency, and ensure the preservation of natural habitats.

It is inherently an environmental role as it focuses on evaluating and mitigating the environmental risks associated with business operations, advocating for sustainable resource use, and fostering biodiversity conservation. The sustainability impact of this role is profound, as ESG managers lead initiatives that aim for environmental protection and ensure that business practices are economically viable and socially responsible. They work towards minimizing waste and emissions, mitigating climate change issues, and promoting a circular economy.

Economically, they help companies navigate environmental and social trends' financial risks and opportunities, enhancing long-term profitability and stakeholder value. Socially, ESG managers drive positive change by promoting labour rights, community engagement, and ethical governance. Their work is critical in aligning business operations with sustainability principles, ensuring that organizations contribute positively to environmental conservation, economic resilience, and social well-being.

Occupational Classification

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.

Reconnaissance des terres

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.

Land Acknowledgment

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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