Sustainability Specialists

Address organizational sustainability issues, such as waste stream management, green building practices, and green procurement plans.

Median Annual Wage: $67,280

Education: Bachelor's degree (54%); Master's degree (29%); Post-baccalaureate certificate (7%)

Projected Growth: Slower than average (3% to 7%)

Related Job Titles: Champion of Sustainable Design; Chief Specialist, LEED (Chief Specialist, Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design); Lead Sustainability Specialist; Senior Sustainability Advisor; Senior Sustainability Consultant; Sustainability Consultant; Sustainability Coordinator; Sustainability Specialist; Sustainable Design Consultant; Sustainable Design Coordinator

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Source: O*NET OnLine information for Sustainability Specialists.

More Business and Financial Operations Careers

  • Develop sustainability project goals, objectives, initiatives, or strategies in collaboration with other sustainability professionals.
  • Assess or propose sustainability initiatives, considering factors such as cost effectiveness, technical feasibility, and acceptance.
  • Provide technical or administrative support for sustainability programs or issues.
  • Monitor or track sustainability indicators, such as energy usage, natural resource usage, waste generation, and recycling.
  • Research or review regulatory, technical, or market issues related to sustainability.
  • Review and revise sustainability proposals or policies.
  • Collect information about waste stream management or green building practices to inform decision-makers.
  • Develop reports or presentations to communicate the effectiveness of sustainability initiatives.
  • Identify or procure needed resources to implement sustainability programs or projects.
  • Create marketing or outreach media, such as brochures or web sites, to communicate sustainability issues, procedures, or objectives.
  • Write grant applications, rebate applications, or project proposals to secure funding for sustainability projects.
  • Identify or create new sustainability indicators.

Source: O*NET OnLine information for Sustainability Specialists.

  • Complex Problem Solving - Identifying complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions.
  • Speaking - Talking to others to convey information effectively.
  • 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.
  • Critical Thinking - Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
  • Writing - Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.
  • Monitoring - Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
  • Judgment and Decision Making - Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.
  • Coordination - Adjusting actions in relation to others' actions.
  • Systems Evaluation - Identifying measures or indicators of system performance and the actions needed to improve or correct performance, relative to the goals of the system.

Source: O*NET OnLine information for Sustainability Specialists.

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