This is an emerging field and some disciplines fields are expected to have significant job density in the future. Many of these jobs right now are through national to regional governments but energy and engineering companies are building new programs and looking for employees especially researchers.
ESG—Environmental, Social, and Governance Expert
ESG are a set of standards for a company’s operations that socially conscious investors use to screen potential investments. Environmental criteria consider how a company performs as a steward of nature. Social criteria examine how it manages relationships with employees, suppliers, customers, and the communities where it operates. Governance deals with a company’s leadership, executive pay, audits, internal controls, and shareholder rights. ESG specialist requires excellent written and verbal communication skills, especially when explaining technical processes and solutions to business stakeholders and management. Many of the jobs listed are for senior level employees.
Educational Requirements:
- BS-MS degree in geoscience and/or economics; advanced degrees preferred
- Edu/training in environmental geology
Experience and Expertise:
- Strong understanding of ESG issues in the investment process and potential impacts on portfolio management, in particular, a strong awareness of climate change risks and opportunities
- Contribute to the creation of best practices and guidelines for governance
- Proven ability to use technology to innovative data products and processes
- Applied proficiency with one or more programming/scripting languages (e.g. Python, R, JavaScript, Java) as well as SQL
- Experience using statistical and machine learning methods
Professional Opportunities:
- Environmental specialist
- Social policy analyst
- Governance review analyst
- ESG specialist
Compensation:
- Pay ranges from $30-75k/yr
Potential Clients:
- Energy companies
- Engineering / Environmental companies
- Investment / Asset management companies
- Government agencies
Opportunity Ratio:
- Emerging industry=2/2.5=Medium Job Density
Examples:
- ESG-Data Analyst, Bloomberg, New Your, NY (BS+): Apply to company (5/12/20)
- ESG Analyst, Brookfield Asset mgmt., Toronto, OH (BS Env+2-3yrs): Apply to company
- Corporate ESG Specialist, Spectrum Brands, Middleton, WI (BS=2-4yrs): Indeed (4/10/20)
CUS—Carbon Capture, Utilization and Storage Geoscientist
This is new industry and there are some jobs available both in government and private industry mostly for research into potential for applications for storage. Major energy companies are looking for research geologist in carbon capture. CCUS does not have a high job density for geologists at this time (most related jobs are for engineers); however, significant growth is expected in the next two decades.
Educational Requirements:
- BS Geology, geophysics, or engineering
Experience-Expertise:
- Basic understanding of CO2 capture, transport and economics
- Detailed subsurface knowledge:
- Reservoir characterization & mapping potential reservoirs for utilization and storage
- Volumetrics for storage capacity (effective vs absolute subsurface pore volume available for CO2 storage
- Geomechanics (for evaluating induced & natural stress regime impacts of CO2 injection & migration
- Geochemistry (understanding rock/fluid interaction resulting from CO2 staorage and migration
- Petrophysics (understanding of capillary pressure, relative permeability and wettability requirements for CO2 storage
- Seal Evaluation (for safe, long-term CO2 containment)
- Modelling (long and short term injection/migration/geomechanical/geochemical processes
Global policies and regulatory frameworks around CCUS
Drilling operations specialist
Experience with clean technology
Professional Opportunities:
- Stratigrapher/Mapper
- Reservoir analyst
- Drilling and injection
Compensation:
- Pay ranges from $40-$120k/yr
Potential Clients:
- EOR companies using CO2 injection
- Energy company research
- Government grants
- University research programs
Opportunity Ratio:
- Early Development=1.5/1=Low Job Density
Examples:
- Post-Doc, ORAU-DOE, Washington, D.C.: Get Geoscience Jobs (5/22/20)
- Research Associate, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA (MS+/$35-65boe): ZipRecruiter (4/04/20)
Geothermal Scientist
This is a relative established industry but it is expanding because of energy needs and could experience growth in the next decade. Developing hot water reservoirs requires geologists, geochemists, geophysicists, hydrologists, reservoir engineers, mud loggers, hydraulic engineers, and drillers to locate, assess, and access the reservoirs. Environmental scientists prepare environmental impact studies and permit, and leasing specialists obtain the land rights. There are a number of start-ups around the county that will need geoscientists as part of their team.
Educational Requirements:
- BS geology, geophysics, or engineering
Experience-Expertise:
- Direct use technology for building and agricultural industries.
- Electricity development on designing and constructing power plants.
- Manufacturing and installation of GHPs.
- Ongoing R&D
Professional Opportunities:
- Hot water geology
- Geophysics
- Mudlogging
Compensation:
Potential Clients:
- Multi-national energy companies
- Geothermal energy companies
- Power companies
- Government entities
- Universities
Opportunity Ratio:
- Expanding=3/2=Low Job Density
Examples:
- Earth research scientist, Lawrence Berkley Nat. Lab., Berkeley, CA (PhD+PD): Indeed (5/19/20)
Wind Technician
Onshore wind projects do not provide a lot of geoscience jobs; however, offshore wind farms require geophysical/ geological characterization of the seabed. Nevertheless, offshore wind energy at least in the U.S. is an emerging industry and job density will be low for the near future.
Educational Requirements:
- BS geoscience
- Training or minor in geomorphology
Experience-Expertise:
- Geomorphology expertise
- Experience with weather forecasting and wind patterns
- Basic understand on land permitting and law
- Ability and willingness to climb stairs and ladders 60-125 meters in height, ability to lift push, pull, carry items up to 50 lbs in weight, and the ability to stand, stoop, kneel, and ben for prolonged periods of time.
Professional Opportunities:
- Geomorphology
- Surface/soil geology
- Wind modeler
Compensation:
Potential Clients:
- GE Energy
- Siemens
- Vestas
- Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI)
Opportunity Ratio:
- Emerging=2/.5=No to Low Job Density
Examples:
- Wind Technician, GE, Burbank or Sulfur, OK (HS): Glassdoor, Indeed, etc.
Note: Most jobs do not require a degree and are for maintenance and repair.
MicroGeneration Expert
Geological knowledge helps with the suitability studies for a) streams / rivers; b) flooding behavior; c) energy generated, with the end goal of positioning micro-turbines for local-use electricity generation. They are often located in the spot where early flour mills were located (assuming that the river has not been dammed up in the years subsequent to the flour mill).
Educational Requirements:
- BS Geology, geophysics, or engineering
- Edu/training in hydrogeology
Experience-Expertise:
- Geologic knowledge of fluvial systems
- Sedimentology
Professional Opportunities:
- Hydrologist
- Geomorphologist
Compensation:
Potential Clients:
- Power companies
- Local COOPs
- Government entities
Opportunity Ratio:
Examples: