Building Careers in Environmental Stewardship
Since 2019, we've been helping professionals develop the skills they need to assess, measure, and improve environmental impact across industries. Our approach combines practical field experience with data-driven analysis.
How We Started
Back in early 2019, three environmental consultants met at a sustainability conference in Portland. We'd all been working in the field for years, but kept running into the same problem—companies wanted to hire professionals who could actually do environmental assessments, not just talk about them.
The gap was obvious. Universities taught theory, but most graduates had never conducted a real site assessment or compiled an impact report that would hold up to regulatory scrutiny. Companies were frustrated. Fresh graduates were discouraged.
So we started small. Weekend workshops in San Francisco, teaching what we wished we'd learned in school. Site visits to active projects. Real data from actual assessments. Within six months, we had more people wanting in than we could handle.
By late 2020, we'd formalized the curriculum and brought on instructors with field experience. Today, Paycor-Eco focuses on bridging that gap between academic knowledge and the hands-on skills environmental professionals actually need on the job.
Our Training Methodology
We structure our programs around four stages that mirror how environmental professionals actually work in the field. Each phase builds on the previous one.
Foundation Assessment
We start by evaluating where you are. What's your background? Have you worked with environmental data before? Do you understand regulatory frameworks? This helps us tailor the learning path and identify which areas need more attention. You'll complete a baseline project that shows us your current capabilities.
Skill Development Phase
Here's where you learn the core techniques. Site sampling protocols. Data collection standards. Impact calculation methods. We use real project examples and walk through actual assessments from start to finish. You'll work with the same software and frameworks used by environmental consulting firms.
Applied Practice Projects
Theory only gets you so far. In this phase, you conduct supervised assessments on active sites. You'll collect samples, analyze data, identify environmental impacts, and compile findings into professional reports. Instructors review your work and provide detailed feedback on methodology and presentation.
Portfolio Completion
By the end, you'll have built a portfolio of work that demonstrates actual capability. Complete assessments. Data analysis reports. Regulatory compliance documentation. This is what you show potential employers—not just certificates, but evidence of what you can do.
What Guides Our Work
These aren't just principles we hang on the wall. They shape how we design programs and work with students.
Field-First Learning
Environmental work happens outside, not just in classrooms. We prioritize hands-on experience with real sites and actual data over theoretical discussions.
Data Accuracy Standards
Sloppy measurements lead to wrong conclusions. We teach the precision and documentation standards that regulatory bodies expect from professional assessments.
Collaborative Development
Environmental projects involve multiple stakeholders. Students learn to work with diverse teams, communicate findings clearly, and adapt assessments based on feedback.
Rosaline Thayer
Director of Field Programs
Rosaline spent twelve years conducting environmental impact assessments for industrial sites before joining us in 2021. She's worked on everything from mining operations to urban redevelopment projects. What she brings to Paycor-Eco is a practical understanding of what actually works in the field—and what looks good on paper but falls apart when you're dealing with real conditions. She designs our field components and personally leads many of the site assessments that students participate in during their training.
See What Training Looks Like
Our next cohort begins in September 2026. Programs run six to twelve months depending on your background and goals. Browse the curriculum details and application requirements.
View Learning Program