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Introduction

Meeting Northern Ireland’s climate goals, including achieving net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050 and adapting to climate impacts, will require transformational change across the economy and society.

This transition creates real opportunities for employment, training, and skills development in what are often called green jobs. While technical skills will be essential, communication, collaboration, community engagement, and other so-called ‘soft-skills’ will be equally important in driving behavioural change and local solutions.

Why Green Jobs Matter

• Creating secure employment opportunities rooted in social and environmental need

• Help address current and future skills shortages

• Contributing to a just transition as industries change
• Strengthening communities’ skills and local climate action (for more, see our briefing on community skills development for climate change!)

Northern Ireland Environment Link (NIEL) supports this transition by regularly sharing opportunities within the environment sector, helping people access jobs, volunteering, professional development, and upskilling.

Paid Jobs and Volunteering Opportunities:

Environment Focus

• Northern Ireland Environment Link: https://www.nienvironmentlink.org/opportunities-overview

Public Sector

• NICS Recruitment (central government): https://irecruit-ext.hrconnect.nigov.net

• GetGot (local government): https://www.localgovernmentjobsni.gov.uk

Charity and Voluntary Sector

• Community NI: https://www.communityni.org/job

• NI Job Finder: https://www.nijobfinder.co.uk/jobs/charity-and-voluntary

• Job Apply NI: https://www.jobapplyni.com

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/jobs

• Volunteer Now: https://www.volunteernow.co.uk

• Northern Ireland Environment Link: https://www.nienvironmentlink.org/opportunities-overview

Training, Courses, and Events:

Training and events are useful for gaining new skills, networking, and exploring career paths.

• Northern Ireland Environment Link: https://www.nienvironmentlink.org/events

• Climate NI: https://climatenorthernireland.org.uk/events

• Carbon Literacy Project: https://carbonliteracy.com

• NICVA: https://www.nicva.org/training

• Keep Northern Ireland Beautiful: https://www.keepnorthernirelandbeautiful.org

• Sustainable NI: https://www.sustainableni.org/services/training

• Eventbrite: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk

• Education for Sustainable Development Forum: https://www.esdforum.org.uk/thinking-about-furthering-your-education-in-the-environment-in-northern-ireland

University Courses:

• Queen’s University Belfast: Biological Sciences & Natural and Built Environment

• Ulster University: Environment & Climate

• Open University: Environment & Climate  

Regional Colleges:

• Belfast Metropolitan College: https://www.belfastmet.ac.uk

• North West Regional College: https://www.nwrc.ac.uk

• Northern Regional College: https://www.nrc.ac.uk

• South Eastern Regional College: https://www.serc.ac.uk

• Southern Regional College: https://www.src.ac.uk

• South West College: https://swc.ac.uk

Staying Informed:

Many environment organisations lack the resources to advertise roles widely. To stay informed:

• Follow organisations you’re interested in on social media

• Sign up to mailing lists and newsletters

• Attend events and training to build connections