4161-NOC

Natural and applied science policy researchers, consultants and program officers

(NOC 4161)
Annual Earnings
$89,264
Typical Education Background
Degree
Job Openings
(2022-2032)
1,460

Career Overview

Natural and applied science policy researchers, consultants and program officers do research, prepare reports, give advice and manage programs in a variety of areas related to the natural and applied sciences.

People in these careers may be self-employed or work for:

  • Federal, provincial and municipal governments
  • Computer and office furniture manufacturers
  • Educational institutions
  • Research organizations
  • Consulting firms
  • Environmental and conservation organizations

Duties

Ergonomists or human factors specialists:

  • Do research, advise on and get involved in the physical, social and psychological relationships between people, their equipment and working or living environments
  • Make sure that the design, set up and use of equipment, procedures and environmental conditions make the most of safety, productivity and comfort

Occupational or industrial hygienists:

  • Study, evaluate and control physical, chemical and biological hazards and stresses in the workplace
  • Report and document investigations and conclusions
  • Suggest changes to work environments and processes
  • Provide information to workers and managers or employers on methods to reduce the risk of injury or illness from specific occupational hazards
  • May also teach safe work procedures, participate in emergency response planning, testify at hearings and report findings at scientific conferences or in scientific journals

Patent agents:

  • Advise clients on elements of patent law and on the patentability of inventions
  • Do patent searches
  • Prepare patent applications
  • Represent clients before the patent office

Science policy and program officers:

  • Do research and advise on policies or develop or run programs related to transportation, communications, natural resources, agriculture, the environment, energy, land use, recycling and other scientific fields
  • Promote public awareness and education on issues such as the use of natural resources, the environment, and reprocessing and reduction of waste

Technology transfer officers:

  • Are responsible for transferring and integrating new technologies, usually from university or government research and development environments, to commercial and industrial applications
  • Ensure the protection of intellectual property of researchers and developers.

Earnings

Earnings is income that workers receive in exchange for their labour. Depending on the type of employment, earnings can be in the form of wages (hourly), salaries (fixed monthly or annual) or self-employed earnings.

Annual Earnings

$89,264

Provincial Hourly Rate

High$69.23/hr
Median$42.80/hr
Low$31.00/hr
Source: B.C. Labour Market Information Office, derived from 2022 Job Bank Wage data

Work Environment

# Workers Employed

3,400

% Employed Full Time

61%
Source: 2016 Census

Work takes place in a conventional indoor office setting

Career Pathways

Progression to supervisory or managerial positions in these fields is possible with experience.

Certification of ergonomists through the Canadian Ergonomics Certification Board leading to the designation "Certified Ergonomist" (C.Ergo) is available.

Occupational Interests

It’s important to understand what kinds of occupations align with your interests.

For more about occupational interests visit Skills for the Future Workforce > Characteristics.

Here are the top occupational interest(s) for this career profile:

Investigative
Investigative
Enterprising
Enterprising
Realistic
Realistic

Job Titles

Adviser, environmental - (except engineer)
Analyst, energy - wind / energy policy
Analyst, environmental impact
Analyst, transportation - safety
Auditor, work site
Consultant, environmental education
Co-ordinator, environmental organization
Co-ordinator, environmental program
Emergency management analyst
Energy / fisheries
Engineer, human factors
Ergonomist
Hygienist, industrial - certified
Hygienist, occupational - registered
Lobbyist, agricultural / environmental
Manager - waste management / recycling
Occupational hygiene
Patent agent / registered patent agent
Planner, disaster emergency response
Planner, natural resources
Researcher, communications policy
Specialist, human factors (not engineer)
Supervisor, environmental program devm't
Technology transfer

Education, Training and Skills

  • A bachelor's degree or college diploma in a related scientific or technical discipline is usually required for occupations in this unit group.
  • A master's degree in a related scientific discipline may be required.
  • Certification through the Canadian College of Certified Professional Ergonomists is required to use the title "Canadian Certified Professional Ergonomist (CCPE)". Membership with the Association of Canadian Ergonomists may be required.
  • Occupational hygienists may require certification by the Canadian Registration Board of Occupational Hygienists or le Conseil d'accréditation en hygiène industrielle du Québec.
  • Patent agents require 12 months of work experience in the patent field and successful completion of examinations set by the Commissioner of Patents. They may also be required to be listed in the register of patent agents.
  • Occupations in this group that are involved in green building design and technologies development may require the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification offered by the Canadian Green Building Council.

Education programs in B.C.

The following program areas are related to this occupation:

  • Aquaculture/Fisheries
  • Forestry Related
  • Environmental Studies Related (Arts)
  • Environmental Studies Related (Science)
  • Forestry/Resource Management Related
  • Geography/Earth Sciences Related
  • Physics Related
  • Environmental Studies/Science
  • Kinesiology/Physical Education/Sport
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Find out more information about programs offered specifically for this career.

Skills

Every job calls for a certain set of skills. Knowing those skills is the first step in finding a good career fit.

Here, you will find the 10 most relevant workplace skills. Some are more important to achieving success in a certain career than others. These skills may come naturally to you or you may need to gain them through education, training and experience.

See the list of work-related skills below, ranked in order of importance for this career. Check out the list and see if this career matches your skills—take that first step!

Reading Comprehension

Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work-related documents.

73%
Speaking

Talking to others to share information effectively.

73%
Active Listening

Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.

73%
Critical Thinking

Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.

72%
Writing

Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.

69%
Complex Problem Solving

Being able to solve novel, ill-defined problems in complex, real-world settings.

66%
Judgment and Decision-Making

Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.

65%
Active Learning

Understanding how new information could be used to solve current and future problems in making decisions.

61%
Monitoring

Keeping track of and assessing your performance, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.

60%
Coordination

Adjusting actions in relation to others' actions.

59%

Labour Market Statistics

Discover data, facts and information that have been gathered and analyzed. Learn about the characteristics of the economy and labour market in B.C.

Employment

Find out about employment types and trends by region and industry.

Employment

3,400
Source: 2016 Census

Employment by Region

Map of BC Map of Cariboo region Map of Kootenay region Map of Mainland/Southwest region Map of North Coast and Nechako region Map of Northeast region Map of Thompson-Okanagan region Map of Vancouver Island/Coast region
Cariboo
Kootenay
Mainland/Southwest
North Coast and Nechako
Northeast
Thompson-Okanagan
Vancouver Island/Coast
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Region Employment (2022) % Employment of this Occupation
Cariboo 200 4.0%
Kootenay 150 3.7%
Mainland/Southwest 2,040 52.4%
North Coast and Nechako 130 2.6%
Northeast 110 2.5%
Thompson-Okanagan 330 9.5%
Vancouver Island/Coast 1,000 25.3%
Source: 2016 Census and B.C. Labour Market Outlook

Labour Market Outlook

The B.C. Labour Market Outlook is a 10-year forecast of the expected supply and demand for labour in the province. It’s usually updated every year. The purpose is to provide British Columbians with the knowledge to make informed decisions on careers, skills training, education and hiring.

Forecasted Job Openings (2022-2032)

1,460
Source: B.C. Labour Market Outlook

Forecasted Job Openings

Forecasted Employment Growth Rate

Composition of Job Openings

Source: B.C. Labour Market Outlook

Job Openings by Region (2022-2032)

Map of BC Map of Cariboo region Map of Kootenay region Map of Mainland/Southwest region Map of North Coast and Nechako region Map of Northeast region Map of Thompson-Okanagan region Map of Vancouver Island/Coast region
Cariboo
Kootenay
Mainland/Southwest
North Coast and Nechako
Northeast
Thompson-Okanagan
Vancouver Island/Coast
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Region Job Openings Avg. Annual Employment Growth
Cariboo 20 0.0%
Kootenay 20 1.3%
Mainland/Southwest 710 1.2%
North Coast and Nechako 40 0.7%
Northeast 20 0.9%
Thompson-Okanagan 120 1.9%
Vancouver Island/Coast 400 1.5%
Source: B.C. Labour Market Outlook

Industry Highlights

Learn about the opportunities in B.C.'s major industries, including employment trends, earning potential, locations of work and more.

Forecasted Job Openings by Industry

IndustryJob Openings (2022-2032)
Professional, Scientific and Technical Services148,000
Public Administration49,200
Mining and Oil and Gas Extraction12,000
Utilities4,500
Wholesale Trade33,100
For additional industry information, visit the Industry Profiles page.
Source: 2016 Census and B.C. Labour Market Outlook

Resources

Resource information is currently not available.