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Green Careers are Blooming in NZ: Exploring Careers in Renewable Energy & Environmental Conservation

April 16, 2024

It’s April, which means Earth day is right around the corner. In light of this, we wanted to share how the job market has reflected the world's growing effort to go green and attempting to reduce carbon emissions across a number of industries. This change has resulted in not only new opportunities for combating climate change but has also spawned a new wave of careers in renewable energy and environmental conservation with New Zealand being at the forefront of this shift. In this blog we will discuss the various new career opportunities that have arisen as a result of the green revolution.

The Rise of Renewable Energy

The rise of renewable energy sources like solar wind and hydroelectric power are a result of the fight against climate change. As we transition from fossil fuels, there is a growing demand for skilled professionals in the renewable energy sector. Careers in renewable energy span a wide range of disciplines, including engineering, project management, research and development, and policy advocacy. New Zealand is positioned as a world leader in using renewable energy, with around 40% of its primary energy coming from renewable sources. This means the changes in the green careers job market is amplified in New Zealand when compared to a lot of countries. There are also lots of upskilling opportunities in sustainability from various courses and programs in New Zealand making it an ideal place to pursue a green career.

Exploring Career Paths in Renewable Energy

Solar Energy:

Solar has seen a huge rise in not only commercial, but also residential properties recently with data suggesting the solar PV market to increase at an annual compound growth rate of over 20% between 2021 and 2026. With such a high demand for solar, there is also a high demand for people to help install and manage the projects. This has resulted in an increase in job opportunities in a number of disciplines.

Careers include:

  • Panel installers
  • Engineers
  • Technicians
  • Project managers 

Specific expertise for extra opportunities: 

  • Photovoltaic (PV) technology
  • Electrical engineering
  • Solar project development

Wind Energy:

Like solar, wind energy production has seen huge growth over recent years with large scale wind turbine projects occurring in various places in the world, and even in the ocean. 

Careers include:

  • Turbine technicians
  • Mechanical engineers
  • Environmental consultants
  • Wind farm developers

Specific expertise for extra opportunities:  

  • Turbine maintenance
  • Wind resource assessment
  • Project finance

Hydroelectric Power:

Hydroelectric power refers to using moving water to generate electricity, such as a dam. Hydroelectricity, whilst being one of the oldest forms of renewable energy, is the largest renewable energy source in the world, producing more than 54% of the global renewable power generation capacity. Additionally, this sector is also growing like the previous two, meaning career opportunities are constantly emerging.

Careers include:

  • Hydrologists 
  • Civil engineers
  • Environmental scientists
  • Dam operators 

Specific expertise for extra opportunities:  

  • Water resource management
  • Hydropower engineering
  • Environmental impact assessment 

Careers in Energy Efficiency and Environmental Conservation

Energy efficiency and conservation efforts play a huge role in the green revolution. Whilst they may sound similar, they have distinct meanings. Energy efficiency refers to the use of technology that will produce functions using less energy, whilst conservation refers to behavioural or habitual changes that will result in less power consumption. 

Energy Efficiency:

Careers in energy efficiency are rapidly growing as a result of the increased adoption of renewable energy overall.

Careers include:

  • Energy auditors
  • Sustainability consultants
  • Building energy engineers
  • Green building designers

Specific expertise for extra opportunities:

  • Energy management
  • Building science
  • Renewable energy technologies

These skills will help businesses and organisations reduce energy consumption and carbon emissions through energy efficiency measures.

Careers in Environmental Conservation:

Careers in environmental conservation cover multiple areas. From protecting endangered species to restoring ecosystems and combating pollution, there are lots of diverse and rewarding opportunities for those interested in preserving the planet.

Wildlife Conservation:

For lovers of the great outdoors, wildlife conservation is a great opportunity to help protect endangered species, conserve biodiversity, and manage wildlife habitats. 

Careers include:

  • Wildlife biologists
  • Conservation scientists
  • Park rangers
  • Wildlife rehabilitators

Many of the opportunities in wildlife conservation require a strong background in:

  • Biology
  • Ecology
  • Environmental science 

This makes this sector a higher barrier to entry compared to many of those on our list.

Forestry and Natural Resource Management:

Forestry and natural resource management professionals play a critical role in managing and conserving forests, watersheds, and other natural resources.

Careers include:

  • Foresters
  • Forest technicians
  • Conservation planners
  • Timberland managers

Specific expertise for extra opportunities:

  • Forest ecology
  • Ecosystem management
  • Sustainable forest practices

Forestry and natural resource management has a lower barrier to entry than some other fields in conservations, although if you’re an expert there’s certainly lots of high level decision making careers such as conservation planners.

Environmental Advocacy Policy:

Organisations and government agencies ultimately have the power to influence policies and regulations, meaning they have a key role in shaping our attitude towards the environment.

Careers include:

  • Environmental lawyers
  • Policy analysts
  • Lobbyists
  • Environmental educators

Many opportunities in this field require prior education or experience as many of the roles involve decision making on highly influential policies or regulations. Although, if you’re an individual with a strong passion for environmental justice, policy advocacy and community engagement you can impact conservation and sustainability at local, national and even international levels.

Pursuing a Career in the Green Revolution

The rise of sustainable awareness provides a number of opportunities for those seeking meaningful and rewarding careers in renewable energy and environmental conservation. The abundance of diverse career paths, catering to individuals with varying levels of experience across specific sectors, offers ample opportunities to make a positive impact on the planet.

For individuals looking to upskill and enter the field, there are numerous opportunities available in New Zealand. Many Universities like the University of Auckland provide courses in environmental science and the Southern Institute of Technology offers sustainability courses such as Environmental Management. Those who do not want to study in University can look into the New Zealand Qualifications Authority (NZQA) for accredited courses in sustainability.

If you’re interested in exploring opportunities available in a number of industries and sectors, please don’t hesitate to reach out to us at Paragon Recruitment.

Green Careers are Blooming in NZ: Exploring Careers in Renewable Energy & Environmental Conservation

April 16, 2024

It’s April, which means Earth day is right around the corner. In light of this, we wanted to share how the job market has reflected the world's growing effort to go green and attempting to reduce carbon emissions across a number of industries. This change has resulted in not only new opportunities for combating climate change but has also spawned a new wave of careers in renewable energy and environmental conservation with New Zealand being at the forefront of this shift. In this blog we will discuss the various new career opportunities that have arisen as a result of the green revolution.

The Rise of Renewable Energy

The rise of renewable energy sources like solar wind and hydroelectric power are a result of the fight against climate change. As we transition from fossil fuels, there is a growing demand for skilled professionals in the renewable energy sector. Careers in renewable energy span a wide range of disciplines, including engineering, project management, research and development, and policy advocacy. New Zealand is positioned as a world leader in using renewable energy, with around 40% of its primary energy coming from renewable sources. This means the changes in the green careers job market is amplified in New Zealand when compared to a lot of countries. There are also lots of upskilling opportunities in sustainability from various courses and programs in New Zealand making it an ideal place to pursue a green career.

Exploring Career Paths in Renewable Energy

Solar Energy:

Solar has seen a huge rise in not only commercial, but also residential properties recently with data suggesting the solar PV market to increase at an annual compound growth rate of over 20% between 2021 and 2026. With such a high demand for solar, there is also a high demand for people to help install and manage the projects. This has resulted in an increase in job opportunities in a number of disciplines.

Careers include:

  • Panel installers
  • Engineers
  • Technicians
  • Project managers 

Specific expertise for extra opportunities: 

  • Photovoltaic (PV) technology
  • Electrical engineering
  • Solar project development

Wind Energy:

Like solar, wind energy production has seen huge growth over recent years with large scale wind turbine projects occurring in various places in the world, and even in the ocean. 

Careers include:

  • Turbine technicians
  • Mechanical engineers
  • Environmental consultants
  • Wind farm developers

Specific expertise for extra opportunities:  

  • Turbine maintenance
  • Wind resource assessment
  • Project finance

Hydroelectric Power:

Hydroelectric power refers to using moving water to generate electricity, such as a dam. Hydroelectricity, whilst being one of the oldest forms of renewable energy, is the largest renewable energy source in the world, producing more than 54% of the global renewable power generation capacity. Additionally, this sector is also growing like the previous two, meaning career opportunities are constantly emerging.

Careers include:

  • Hydrologists 
  • Civil engineers
  • Environmental scientists
  • Dam operators 

Specific expertise for extra opportunities:  

  • Water resource management
  • Hydropower engineering
  • Environmental impact assessment 

Careers in Energy Efficiency and Environmental Conservation

Energy efficiency and conservation efforts play a huge role in the green revolution. Whilst they may sound similar, they have distinct meanings. Energy efficiency refers to the use of technology that will produce functions using less energy, whilst conservation refers to behavioural or habitual changes that will result in less power consumption. 

Energy Efficiency:

Careers in energy efficiency are rapidly growing as a result of the increased adoption of renewable energy overall.

Careers include:

  • Energy auditors
  • Sustainability consultants
  • Building energy engineers
  • Green building designers

Specific expertise for extra opportunities:

  • Energy management
  • Building science
  • Renewable energy technologies

These skills will help businesses and organisations reduce energy consumption and carbon emissions through energy efficiency measures.

Careers in Environmental Conservation:

Careers in environmental conservation cover multiple areas. From protecting endangered species to restoring ecosystems and combating pollution, there are lots of diverse and rewarding opportunities for those interested in preserving the planet.

Wildlife Conservation:

For lovers of the great outdoors, wildlife conservation is a great opportunity to help protect endangered species, conserve biodiversity, and manage wildlife habitats. 

Careers include:

  • Wildlife biologists
  • Conservation scientists
  • Park rangers
  • Wildlife rehabilitators

Many of the opportunities in wildlife conservation require a strong background in:

  • Biology
  • Ecology
  • Environmental science 

This makes this sector a higher barrier to entry compared to many of those on our list.

Forestry and Natural Resource Management:

Forestry and natural resource management professionals play a critical role in managing and conserving forests, watersheds, and other natural resources.

Careers include:

  • Foresters
  • Forest technicians
  • Conservation planners
  • Timberland managers

Specific expertise for extra opportunities:

  • Forest ecology
  • Ecosystem management
  • Sustainable forest practices

Forestry and natural resource management has a lower barrier to entry than some other fields in conservations, although if you’re an expert there’s certainly lots of high level decision making careers such as conservation planners.

Environmental Advocacy Policy:

Organisations and government agencies ultimately have the power to influence policies and regulations, meaning they have a key role in shaping our attitude towards the environment.

Careers include:

  • Environmental lawyers
  • Policy analysts
  • Lobbyists
  • Environmental educators

Many opportunities in this field require prior education or experience as many of the roles involve decision making on highly influential policies or regulations. Although, if you’re an individual with a strong passion for environmental justice, policy advocacy and community engagement you can impact conservation and sustainability at local, national and even international levels.

Pursuing a Career in the Green Revolution

The rise of sustainable awareness provides a number of opportunities for those seeking meaningful and rewarding careers in renewable energy and environmental conservation. The abundance of diverse career paths, catering to individuals with varying levels of experience across specific sectors, offers ample opportunities to make a positive impact on the planet.

For individuals looking to upskill and enter the field, there are numerous opportunities available in New Zealand. Many Universities like the University of Auckland provide courses in environmental science and the Southern Institute of Technology offers sustainability courses such as Environmental Management. Those who do not want to study in University can look into the New Zealand Qualifications Authority (NZQA) for accredited courses in sustainability.

If you’re interested in exploring opportunities available in a number of industries and sectors, please don’t hesitate to reach out to us at Paragon Recruitment.

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