Magnus32Canada’s environmental sector keeps hiring because rules, reporting, remediation, and energy transition work don’t stop when the economy slows. Some employers sponsor foreign workers through an LMIA (Labour Market Impact Assessment) when they can’t fill roles locally, especially in remote sites, project-based work, and specialized technical jobs.
This list focuses on Environmental Jobs in Canada With Visa Sponsorship where LMIA hiring is more common. It also tells you where to apply (without live links), what employers look for, and what pay often looks like based on Job Bank wage ranges.
LMIA basics for environmental jobs (quick, practical)
An LMIA is the employer’s approval from Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC) confirming they can hire a foreign worker because no qualified Canadian or permanent resident is available. For many employer-led work permits, a positive LMIA is a key step before you can apply for the work permit.
In most cases, the employer must advertise the job, show real recruitment results, then submit the LMIA application to ESDC. The LMIA has a limited window for the worker to apply for a permit (often up to 6 months from issuance). ESDC lists an LMIA processing fee of CAD $1,000 per position, paid by the employer, and it’s generally non-refundable. (Sources: Government of Canada, ESDC Temporary Foreign Worker Program LMIA pages; IRCC work permit guidance.)
Why these environmental roles can qualify for LMIA sponsorship
Green hiring needs are tied to regulation and long-term plans, not just short-term business cycles. Canada’s clean economy and environmental services still show persistent gaps, especially in science, engineering, and technical roles. Sector research has projected large multi-year hiring needs in green and clean economy work, driven by growth and retirements. (Source: ECO Canada labour market research.)
LMIA sponsorship still depends on role, employer, location, and eligibility. It’s more common where experience is scarce, the site is rural, the work is seasonal, or the skill set is tightly defined (instrumentation, field safety, remediation methods, permitting experience, or specialized software).
Where LMIA environmental jobs show up most often
- British Columbia: forestry, conservation planning, contaminated sites, port and coastal work.
- Alberta: reclamation, industrial compliance, air monitoring, water and soil work around energy and infrastructure.
- Ontario: water, wastewater, Great Lakes-related compliance work, environmental engineering, ESG reporting support.
- Quebec: hydropower-adjacent environmental monitoring, permitting, biodiversity studies.
- Atlantic Canada: coastal and ocean monitoring, fisheries-related environmental work.
- Prairies: agricultural environment, water resources, mining and land reclamation.
For official postings, start with Job Bank (Government of Canada). Many LMIA roles are also reposted on major job boards and consulting firm career pages.
1. Environmental Technician (NOC 22100)
Environmental technicians are hired to keep projects moving and keep companies compliant. This role shows up across remediation, construction, utilities, and resource projects, which is why it’s one of the most common entry points for LMIA sponsorship.
Typical duties include:
- Field sampling (soil, groundwater, surface water, air)
- Operating meters and pumps, maintaining chain-of-custody records
- Writing field notes and contributing to compliance reports
Pay range (typical Job Bank medians): about CAD $28 to $38 per hour, often higher with remote rotations or specialized monitoring.
Where to apply: Job Bank; environmental consulting company career sites; large infrastructure contractors’ hiring portals.
What helps you get selected: HAZWOPER-style safety background (or Canadian equivalents), strong field documentation, ability to travel, and experience with sampling protocols.
2. Forester / Forestry Professional (NOC 21111)
Forestry professionals support sustainable harvest planning, reforestation, wildfire risk work, and habitat protection. LMIA hiring is more likely when roles are tied to field operations or remote regions where local supply is tight.
Common duties:
- Forest inventory and cruise data collection
- Silviculture planning, regeneration surveys, and block layout
- Supporting wildfire mitigation plans and compliance documentation
Pay range: roughly CAD $32 to $45 per hour.
Where to apply: Job Bank; provincial forestry contractors; timber and forest management firms’ career pages.
What employers screen for: local field readiness, GIS familiarity, and safety training for remote operations.
3. Wildlife Biologist / Biologist (NOC 21110)
Wildlife biology roles are tied to environmental assessments, permitting, monitoring programs, and habitat offsets. Employers may seek LMIA hires when they need niche species experience, multi-season field availability, or remote camp readiness.
Typical duties:
- Wildlife surveys, habitat assessments, and monitoring plans
- Impact assessment support for project approvals
- Data analysis, mapping inputs, and report writing
Pay range: around CAD $35 to $48 per hour depending on seniority and province.
Where to apply: Job Bank; consulting firms specializing in environmental assessment; conservation NGOs and contractors (some project-based).
Best-fit profiles: strong field methods, clean driving record, and experience with Canadian-style environmental assessment reporting (or closely comparable standards).
4. Environmental Engineer (often under Civil Engineers, NOC 21300)
Environmental engineering sits close to high-value advertising categories (infrastructure, insurance, compliance, consulting), and it’s one of the strongest pathways for employer sponsorship when the skill match is tight.
Core duties:
- Designing remediation systems and site management plans
- Reviewing regulations and supporting permits
- Building models, cost estimates, and engineering reports
Pay range: about CAD $40 to $55 per hour.
Where to apply: Job Bank; engineering consultancies; water and wastewater utilities’ hiring pages; major construction consortium career portals.
Hiring filters: licensing pathway (P.Eng route), strong report writing, and project experience in remediation or municipal systems.
5. Geoscientist (NOC 21101)
Geoscientists support mining, groundwater, contaminated sites, and hazard assessments. LMIA sponsorship can appear in mining regions and specialized consulting where the work demands a narrow set of experience.
Key duties:
- Geological mapping and subsurface interpretation
- Hydrogeology and contaminant transport inputs
- Supporting drilling programs, logging, and reporting
Pay range: about CAD $38 to $52 per hour.
Where to apply: Job Bank; mining company careers; geotechnical and environmental consultancies.
What strengthens applications: field logging experience, GIS, and comfort with remote work schedules.
6. Conservation Officer / Environmental Enforcement (often NOC 22232 and related inspection roles)
Enforcement and inspection roles protect wildlife, fisheries, parks, and regulated lands. Many jobs are government-run and may not be LMIA-friendly, but contractor and inspection-adjacent roles sometimes appear with sponsorship depending on jurisdiction and employer.
Main duties:
- Compliance inspections, incident response, and documentation
- Public education and reporting
- Patrol support and coordination with agencies
Pay range: roughly CAD $30 to $42 per hour.
Where to apply: Job Bank; provincial and regional enforcement contractors; inspection service providers.
Important notes: requirements can include background checks, licensing, and specific training that varies by province and employer.
7. Renewable Energy Technician (wind, solar, storage) (often NOC 22310 and related)
Renewable tech roles can offer strong long-term prospects tied to net-zero buildout. Sponsorship shows up when employers need experienced technicians for remote sites, rotations, and safety-critical maintenance.
Common duties:
- Installing and maintaining wind turbines or solar systems
- Troubleshooting electrical and mechanical faults
- Following strict safety and lockout procedures
Pay range: about CAD $29 to $40 per hour.
Where to apply: Job Bank; OEM service providers; renewable project operators’ careers pages.
What gets attention: electrical tickets, tower rescue training, and proven experience on utility-scale assets.
8. Water Resources Specialist / Hydrology Analyst
Water roles stay in demand across municipalities, mining, forestry, and industrial compliance. Employers look for people who can handle field work and technical reporting without heavy supervision.
Typical duties:
- Watershed assessments and sampling plans
- Hydrology and hydraulic modeling support
- Permit and compliance report inputs
Pay expectations: varies widely by province and seniority, often comparable to other environmental professional roles when modeling is involved.
Where to apply: Job Bank; watershed authorities; environmental engineering and consulting firms.
Competitive edge: modeling tools experience, strong QA/QC habits, and knowledge of Canadian water standards (or comparable frameworks).
9. Air Quality Technician / Emissions Monitoring
Air quality work is closely tied to industrial compliance and can be hard to staff in specific regions. LMIA hiring may occur when employers need people who already know stack testing, continuous monitoring systems, or industrial protocols.
Core duties:
- Operating monitoring equipment and calibration routines
- Supporting emissions testing and compliance documentation
- Maintaining logs, sampling records, and instrument checks
Pay range: often aligns with technical environmental roles, commonly in the CAD $28 to $40 per hour band depending on specialization.
Where to apply: Job Bank; industrial testing contractors; environmental compliance service firms.
What helps: instrumentation experience, safety tickets, and comfort working at industrial sites.
10. GIS Analyst (Environmental focus)
GIS roles support conservation planning, land-use mapping, routing for field teams, and impact assessment exhibits. Some employers sponsor when they need someone who can handle ArcGIS workflows plus environmental reporting timelines.
Common duties:
- Spatial analysis, map production, and data QA
- Integrating field data (GPS), remote sensing, and survey layers
- Supporting environmental assessments with clear visuals
Pay expectations: varies, often competitive when paired with field and reporting experience.
Where to apply: Job Bank; consulting firms; resource companies with in-house GIS teams.
Signals employers like: ArcGIS Pro proficiency, database skills, and clean portfolio maps.
11. Ecologist (field surveys and impact assessment)
Ecologists are used heavily on development projects where baseline data and mitigation plans are required. Sponsorship depends on project load and niche expertise (wetlands, rare plants, aquatic habitat).
Typical duties:
- Vegetation surveys, wetland delineation support, habitat mapping
- Mitigation planning and monitoring programs
- Technical writing for assessment reports
Pay expectations: often similar to biologist roles, varying with specialization.
Where to apply: Job Bank; ecology boutiques; multidisciplinary consultancies.
Best-fit traits: strong field stamina, tidy data habits, and experience turning field results into clear reports.
12. Arborist / Urban Forestry Specialist
Urban forestry is expanding with municipal tree inventories, risk mitigation, and canopy targets. Some employers sponsor for experienced climbers and certified arborists when local supply is limited.
Core duties:
- Tree risk assessment and pruning plans
- Treatment recommendations and inventory work
- Supporting urban greening and storm response
Pay expectations: varies by city and certification level, sometimes boosted by storm call-outs.
Where to apply: Job Bank; municipal contractors; tree service companies with utility line clearance work.
Hiring proof points: ISA certification, climbing experience, safety record, and ability to supervise crews.
13. Sustainability Consultant (ESG, reporting, audits)
Sustainability roles connect to high-value commercial needs like risk, compliance, procurement, and reporting. Sponsorship happens more with firms that need specific reporting frameworks experience and client-ready communication.
Typical duties:
- Emissions inventory support and reporting assistance
- Policy and supplier data collection
- Client presentations and improvement plans
Pay expectations: broad range, often higher with experience in reporting standards and audit support.
Where to apply: Job Bank; consulting firms; large employers with ESG teams posting on their corporate career pages.
What employers want: strong writing, spreadsheet skills, and experience with common reporting frameworks used by global companies.
14. Waste Management Specialist / Recycling and Landfill Operations
Waste roles exist in both public and private operations. LMIA sponsorship can show up in operations-heavy roles where compliance and safety experience matters, and where sites are outside major cities.
Common duties:
- Supporting diversion programs and recycling operations
- Coordinating hauling, sorting, and documentation
- Regulatory compliance checks and contractor oversight
Pay expectations: varies, often solid in operations and compliance roles.
Where to apply: Job Bank; municipal contractors; private waste and environmental services companies.
Strong signals: experience with regulated operations, safety leadership, and documentation discipline.
15. Climate Change Analyst (policy, modeling, adaptation support)
Climate analyst roles can be competitive, but some employers sponsor when they need advanced modeling, scenario work, or a rare mix of technical analysis plus policy writing.
Typical duties:
- Climate risk assessments and adaptation planning support
- Data modeling and scenario analysis
- Drafting reports and briefing materials for stakeholders
Pay expectations: ranges widely based on technical depth and employer type.
Where to apply: Job Bank; research institutes and consulting firms; large infrastructure owners building adaptation plans.
What stands out: strong quantitative skills, clear writing, and a portfolio of completed analysis work.
How to apply for LMIA environmental roles (where to apply and what to submit)
Most candidates get traction by applying in three channels and keeping documents consistent across all of them.
- Job Bank (Government of Canada)
- Use environmental keywords and add location filters for provinces with resource and infrastructure work.
- Focus on postings that mention employer support for work permits or openness to foreign workers.
- Employer career pages (consulting, engineering, forestry, renewables, waste services)
- Apply directly on the company site when available.
- Keep your resume targeted to the exact duties in the posting, using the same wording where it matches your real experience.
- Recruitment agencies and project contractors
- Many field-heavy environmental jobs are staffed through contractors.
- Submit a clean Canadian-style resume, plus short proof of tickets and training.
What to include with your application (common request list):
- Canadian-style resume (reverse chronological, clear dates)
- Copies of degrees and relevant certs
- Reference letters that match your stated duties
- A short cover letter that states availability, mobility, and field readiness
Official sources to verify basics: ESDC Temporary Foreign Worker Program (LMIA) guidance and IRCC work permit instructions. For labour market context, ECO Canada’s green workforce research is widely cited for clean economy hiring needs.
Conclusion
Environmental Jobs in Canada With Visa Sponsorship tend to cluster in work that’s regulated, technical, and hard to staff, such as field monitoring, remediation, forestry operations, and engineering support. LMIA roles also show up when projects run on tight timelines and employers need proven skills right away.
If you’re applying from outside Canada, target employers with recurring project demand, align your resume to Canadian job descriptions, and apply through official postings plus employer portals. Some employers sponsor, and outcomes depend on role, employer, and eligibility.
Visa sponsorship, salary ranges, and requirements vary by employer, location, and your qualifications. This article is general information, not legal advice. Always verify requirements on official government sites and with the hiring employer.
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