Hire Waterloo interns/co-op students for environmental protection, resource management and sustainability
From carbon emissions and energy consumption to renewable resources and sustainability, these complex problems are shaping the environment industry today. As Canada’s leading centre for environmental research, Waterloo students offer the skills and critical thinking to design and implement solutions to these problems that will positively impact future generations for years to come.
You can hire adaptable and innovative students with expertise in climate change, pollution, geographic information systems and programming languages right now from Waterloo. With Waterloo’s central hiring platform, environmental organizations can start building their pipeline with future-proof talent today.
Top reasons to Hire Waterloo
#1 in Canada for employer-student connections.
#1 on the QS Graduate Employability Ranking 2020 list. That’s why over 7,100 employers choose to hire Waterloo!
Top 5 in the world.
Ranked amongst the top five institutions in the world for Climate Change research
(QS 2019).
$2 for every $1 invested.
It's an investment in your business. On average, companies see a return of $2 for every $1 invested from hiring Waterloo
co-op students.
Top 4 in Canada.
Waterloo is recognized as one of the top four institutions in Canada for Environmental Studies (QS 2020).
How does co-op work?
1) Register and postAffordable way to fill your talent needs
Access 25,000+ students available for full-time positions.
2) Interview and hireTalent from 120+ accredited programs
Hire a student for 12 to 16 weeks.
3) RepeatStudents are available year-round
Easily repost your job for the next work term on WaterlooWorks.
Join our Co-op Fundamentals Info Session
Gain insights on recruiting co-op talent, navigating Waterloo's hiring process, applying for funding opportunities and how we can support you.
Jobs Waterloo co-op students can fill
Waterloo students have the skills and expertise to fill roles in environmental protection, resource management, green energy and sustainability. Learn more about areas students can support in some common job categories below.
TIP FOR POSTING YOUR JOB: Employers can use clusters to target students they believe would be best suited for the job. Clusters are sorted into academic (course specific) and thematic (industry specific). Learn more about clusters and how to use them to advertise your job.
Environmental protection
Sample jobs:
Waste Management Technician
Sustainability Analyst/Coordinator
Environmental Technician
Safety Research Assistant
Conservationist
Biological Testing
Risk Management
Sample job responsibilities:
Promote waste and environmental
management at special events
Analyze performance metrics, water consumption and waste diversion
Assist with collection, manipulation,
analysis and interpretation of data
Prepare statistical reports
Complete field tasks, including groundwater and surface water sampling, flow measurement and mapping of drainage patterns
Sample thematic job clusters:
Sustainable development
Scientific experimental design & lab assistance
Waste or water management
Insurance & risk management
Natural resource management
Green energy
Sample jobs:
Research Associate
Advanced Planning Intern
Business Analyst
Project Coordinator
Environmental Engineering Associate
Infrastructure Intern
Quality Assurance Specialist
Systems Design Assistant
Marketing and Public Relations Intern
Sample job responsibilities:
Design & operation of fuel cell and battery power systems
Test materials
Handle compressed gasses
Develop reports and presentations to communicate project updates, research findings and backgrounders to various stakeholders
Work with Technical Leads to support testing and operations at pilot sites
Sample thematic job clusters:
Energy production & distribution
Statistical analysis
Sustainable development
Mathematical optimization
Construction & infrastructure development
Computing software
Data analytics
Marketing & communications
Resource management
Sample jobs:
Sport Fish Technician
Ecological Monitoring Technician
Landfill Operations
Species at Risk Research
Food Loss & Waste Data Collection
Habitat Data Officer
GIS Technician
Forest Technician
Telecom Engineering Assistant
Geological Engineering Assistant
Risk Management
Sample job responsibilities:
Prepare data and create summary reports
Service remote wildlife cameras and classify images
Create GIS data
Implement field operations, such as:
tree marking
harvest inspections
record-keeping
developing bid proposals
inventory collection
direct input to forest management implementation
Support field exploration programs, including mapping, sampling and logistical support
Sample thematic job clusters:
Teaching, training & educational services
Energy production & distribution
Sustainable development
Insurance & risk management
Natural resource management
Resource sustainability
Sample jobs:
Research Associate
Outdoor Environmental
Education Instructor
Junior Policy Analyst
Education Consultant
Junior Planning Officer
Geological Assistant
Metallurgical Engineering
Sustainability Analyst
Sample job responsibilities:
Research and analyze topics/trends related to disruptive/transformative
technologies
Produce price forecasts for electricity markets
Assist with geological activities at both the deposit- and regional-scale
Perform metallurgical sample preparation such as sectioning, grinding, polishing, etching
Sample thematic job clusters:
Teaching, training & educational services
Energy productin & distribution
Sustainable development
Data analytics, statistical analysis & optimization
Natural resource management
Don’t see what you’re looking for? With students from 120+ programs available each term, we can help you find the talent you need. Connect with us today!
Industry-leading companies hire co-op students
Businesses of every size choose to hire from Waterloo. Here’s a small snapshot of environmental organizations that hire Waterloo students:
Stantec
QM Environmental
CIMA+
DST Consulting Engineers
ICF International
McElhanney
Teck Resources Limited
AECOM
SNC-Lavalin
Matrix Solutions
Borealis Wind
ecobee
Evercloak
AOMS Technologies Inc.
Carbon Matrix
Betterfrost Technologies
Hear about Avani Bio Energy’s experience hiring Waterloo
co-op students
“We have engaged with all sorts of students from the Waterloo co-op program to not only improve the engineering of technology, but also to study the impact of the technology on the rural communities, and the ecology of the region. I'm very happy to say that the students have done such a wonderful job of on both sides the engineering design, as well as the studying of ecological and socio-economic impact.”
Top wage subsidies and tax incentives for hiring co-op
STUDENT WORK PLACEMENT PROGRAM (SWPP) RECEIVE UP TO $5,000 PER CO-OP STUDENT
Through SWPP, organizations in Canada that offer full-time employment opportunities for full-time
Canadian post-secondary students can receive wage subsidies. Several partners that deliver this funding for the environment and sustainability sector include ECO Canada and Ontario Chamber of Commerce.
How much is this funding?
Funding will cover up to 50% wage subsidy (up to a maximum of $5,000 per 4-month work term).
Organizations within Canada that offer full-time employment opportunities between 8–16 weeks for full-time post-secondary students can receive wage subsidies.
Students hired from under-represented groups may be eligible to have up to 70% of their wages subsidized. This is determined on a case-by-case basis at the end of each work term.
Am I eligible?
Positions must be net new to qualify for SWPP funding (i.e.: positions over and above what employers hired last year at the same time)There is SWPP funding available to employers in all industries.
There is SWPP funding available to employers in all industries.
Employers can hire students in any program (i.e., Arts, Business, Science, Environment, etc.).
Students must be Canadian citizens, permanent residents or a person to whom refugee protection has been conferred under the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act for the duration of employment to qualify for funding from SWPP.
Post-secondary institutions now qualify for SWPP funding as long as the experience is a quality work-integrated learning opportunity that's linked to the student's program of study and career goals. This also applies to research positions.
Provincial and territorial governments are NOT eligible for SWPP funding.
Other provincial-based tax credits and incentives are available based on region. (Learn more)
How much is this funding?
Large corporations can claim 25% of expenditures, up to $3,000, while small businesses can claim 30% of expenditures up to $3,000, per eligible work placement. This tax credit is available for each work placement. Each work placement needs to be a minimum of 10 weeks and maximum of 4 months with no cap on the amount of eligible work placements an employer submits.
Employers may have multiple work placements which take place at the same time and throughout the year (I.e. iIf an organization decides to hire for an eight-month work term, or two students for four-month work terms, both would be considered as two work placements and would be eligible for a total tax credit of up to $6,000).
Am I eligible?
Any Ontario employer hiring students from a post-secondary co-op program
How can I apply?
Corporations claim the tax credit on Schedule 550 of their T2 corporation income tax return. Unincorporated businesses claim the credit on Form ON479 in their tax return. Learn more about the forms you need to submit on the government website.
What's the application deadline?
Tax season each year.
A tip to maximize your funding
Student Work Placement Program (SWPP) funding can be combined with the Ontario
Co-operative Education Tax Credit. This means that you might be eligible to receive both types of funding.
For example: for each student you hire, you could receive up to $5,000 in SWPP funding plus an Ontario Co-operative Education Tax Credit of up to $3,000 in expenditures not covered by SWPP!
We can help you get the funding you need. Get in touch with us!
#1 in Canada for employer-student connections.
Top 5 in the world.
$2 for every $1 invested.
Top 4 in Canada.
1) Register and postAffordable way to fill your talent needs
2) Interview and hireTalent from 120+ accredited programs
3) RepeatStudents are available year-round