Imagine you are a geographic information systems (GIS) administrator at a leading GIS software company tasked with managing and optimizing GIS applications and data storage on cloud platforms. Your role is pivotal for enhancing data sharing, collaboration, and scalability, especially in projects with a significant environmental impact.
You are working closely with several municipalities engaged in developing green infrastructure projects. These initiatives are designed to introduce sustainable urban planning solutions, such as creating green roofs, expanding urban forests, and improving stormwater management systems. The challenge lies in efficiently planning and implementing these projects across diverse urban landscapes, each with unique geographical and environmental characteristics.
Your expertise in leveraging cloud technology for GIS comes to the forefront. You optimize GIS applications and ensure seamless access to spatial data in the cloud. This ensures municipalities collaborate effectively, share critical data in real-time, and scale their projects according to their specific needs.
You develop a cloud-based GIS platform tailored for green infrastructure planning. This platform allows municipalities to integrate vast amounts of spatial data, analyze potential sites for green projects, and visualize the environmental impact of proposed developments. Through your efforts, municipalities can now make data-driven decisions, optimize the placement of green infrastructure, and monitor the progress of their projects with greater ease.
Your work underscores the technical and administrative skills required in the GIS field and highlights the role's direct contribution to sustainable development and environmental conservation.
Job duties vary from one position to the next, but in general, geographic information systems (GIS) specialists are involved in the following activities:
*GIS specialists and GIS analysts require strong GIS skills; however, the former focuses on the technical and administrative aspects of GIS, while the latter concentrates on applying GIS technology. For details of a GIS analyst see the Career Profile.
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.
Geographic information systems (GIS) specialists manage and optimize GIS infrastructure, which involves collecting, analyzing, and interpreting geographical data. This role can impact the environment by facilitating environmental monitoring and management, such as tracking changes in land use, assessing water resources, and planning urban development with minimal environmental disruption.
The occupation is environmental when it uses spatial data to support decisions promoting environmental sustainability and conservation. The sustainability impact of a GIS specialist includes promoting efficient resource use, reducing environmental degradation, and supporting conservation projects by providing accurate data and analysis.
Economically, the work of GIS specialists helps in planning and managing resources more effectively, potentially leading to cost savings and better investment decisions. Socially, their efforts can improve community well-being by informing policies and projects considering environmental health, thus ensuring sustainable developments and communities' resilience to environmental changes.
GIS specialists contribute to environmental sustainability, economic efficiency, and social well-being through strategically managing and applying geographic information.
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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We are working to launch the French site very soon!
Thank you for your patience while we finalize the new and improved version of our website.