1. Chief Environmental Officer
Bring an organization out of the past and into the green. Find the money and technology that will pump up a company's profits or shrink its carbon footprint.
Why Now?
Going green is mandatory for most organizations today, whether to enhance productivity or image. In December, President Bush signed the Green Jobs Act of 2007, authorizing $125 million for green-job training programs.
Getting In
Becky Lessard, 53, had worked only in finance at Fox River Mills, an Iowa sock maker, until 2006, when she designed a new job and took on the additional role of chief environmental officer. She had already proven to her bosses that smart environmental policies (recycling materials, painting walls lighter colors to save on electricity) could cut costs. She'd also worked in her community with Wes Birdsall, a nationally known green activist, to get feel for local green politics and PR issues.
At smaller organizations, you may be able to carve out a green job -- or part of one -- based on business experience and time spent volunteering on environmental issues. But there are many paths to the top jobs. Some require a science degree and credentials in manufacturing or marketing. Elysa Hammond, 51, staff ecologist at Clif Bar & Company, the Berkeley, California-based maker of energy bars and drinks, has a background in agricultural ecology. Colleges and professional associations are working to add programs that bring people up to speed.
Pay and Perks
Lessard got a raise, a second title, and more influence, she says. Although compensation varies widely, a chief environmental officer will often report directly to a CEO and earn six-figure salaries.
Must Love
Navigating politics, inside and outside your organization.
To Find Out More
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