What they do all day? Whether finding ways for a company reduce its carbon footprint or helping a client assess the lifecycle of its products, these eco-warriors help businesses align their practices with the principles of sustainability.
How to get the job? Consultants come from a variety of fields -- engineering, building science and environmental studies, to name a few -- but MBA and master's programs devoted to sustainability are on the rise. Creative thinkers must persuade companies to rethink their entire approach to how they affect the environment -- and then make those changes across the whole organization.
What makes it great? Enacting changes that make a real difference is enormously gratifying. "You're changing the world in the right direction," says Marsha Willard, executive director of the International Society of Sustainability Professionals.
What's the catch? To keep up -- and stay ahead -- in this fast-moving field, there's no room for complacency. One has to dedicate a lot of effort to stay abreast of evolving standards and the latest practices.
