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Non-Governmental Organization Professionals

Assessment and Awareness Sector

Perhaps the most comprehensive position in the field of alternative energy is that of the non-governmental organization (NGO) professional.

This may include chief executives, chief financial officers, operations managers and more - anyone who plays a part in running day-to-day operations of non-governmental organizations involved in the natural energy sector. Such organizations could include everything from solar power companies to organizations that promote natural energy use, like Greenpeace. NGO professionals tend to be at the top of the food chain, and they often have to deal with quite a lot of stress in order to meet goals. This may mean earning higher profits, helping to establish benchmark practices and procedures, ensuring that the rest of the company is performing at the highest level possible, and communicating with subordinates, fellow executives, and current and prospective clients. The typical workday for a top executive can vary. While some enjoy shorter workdays and flexible hours, this is by no means the norm. Many top executives must put in extra hours and may have to travel frequently. As opposed to lower or middle management positions, the day is not over when you clock out. The day is over when you've finished as much work as necessary. Sometimes there is enough work to keep you busy for four hours, but this is rarely the case.

A variety of positions are available as an NGO professional. Chief financial officers set budgetary goals, are concerned with investment planning, payroll and more. Chief executives have a broader role in the organization, doling out responsibilities, manage employees and can also be in charge of some of the budgetary concerns. Operations managers are yet another example of top executives and their duties are also similar to the aforementioned positions. They are responsible for ensuring daily and weekly production quotas are met and allocate material and human resources. Not every organization employs all three, and there are other positions that fall under top executive. What it really comes down to is the size of the company. Every company has different needs and they will dictate the kinds of positions available.

Educational and Training Requirements

Nowadays, almost all top executives have some sort of post-secondary education.

Whether it's a bachelor's, master's or doctoral degree, proficiency in business administration, finance and accounting and general liberal arts is very useful. Of course, in the cases of top executives who work in alternative energy, education in a field related to this sector is vital. Engineering, science and math degrees are extremely important and in almost all cases, this is the minimum education requirement in order to even enter the field. Of course, a great deal of experience is necessary before an NGO professional can hope to achieve executive status. Most top executives have extensive experience in managerial roles, as supervising employees and delegating tasks is a crucial part of the job.

Salary and Advancement Opportunities

How much a top executive makes is entirely dependent on how much experience and education he has, the size of the company and how well that company is doing in any given year. Salaries can also vary depending on whether you are an operations manager, a chief executive officer or a chief finance officer. The Bureau of Labor and Statistics reports that the average annual income for general and operations managers to be $107,970. Payscale.com reports that operations managers with one to four years of experience can expect to earn from $38,173 to $58,349, while operations managers with 10 to 19 years of experience may earn from $49,845 to $80,302 per year.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, chief executives as a whole make an average of $160,440 but this varies wildly from industry to industry. Payscale.com reports the average salary range of a chief executive officer with one to four years experience to be $60,928 to $148,837, compared to a range of $99,560 to $220,283 for chief executive officers with 10 to 19 years experience. It's also worth noting that top executives often receive bonuses, are given stock options and have hefty expense accounts, all of which add to their income's total worth. With such benefits, it is possible for some CEO's to make as much as a million dollars per year. Keep in mind though, that in most cases this applies to top executives working in the private sector, and is certainly not a number to be used as a benchmark!