Occupation

Chief Sustainability Officers

Human Advantage 81%

Strongly human-essential role

AI Automation Risk Low Risk
1.8 / 10

This occupation requires complex human judgment, social interaction, and creative problem-solving that are difficult to automate.

Communicate and coordinate with management, shareholders, customers, and employees to address sustainability issues. Enact or oversee a corporate sustainability strategy.

Also Known As: CSR and Sustainability VP (Corporate Social Responsibility and Sustainability Vice President), Chief Environmental Commitment Officer (CECO), Chief Green Officer (CGO), Chief Sustainability Officer (CSO), Climate Change and Sustainability Manager, Corporate Sustainability Manager, Corporate Sustainability Process Manager, ESG Manager (Environmental, Social, and Corporate Governance Manager) +17 more

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Core Tasks

  1. Monitor and evaluate effectiveness of sustainability programs.
  2. Develop or execute strategies to address issues such as energy use, resource conservation, recycling, pollution reduction, waste elimination, transportation, education, and building design.
  3. Develop, or oversee the development of, sustainability evaluation or monitoring systems.
  4. Supervise employees or volunteers working on sustainability projects.
  5. Develop sustainability reports, presentations, or proposals for supplier, employee, academia, media, government, public interest, or other groups.
  6. Develop, or oversee the development of, marketing or outreach media for sustainability projects or events.
  7. Identify and evaluate pilot projects or programs to enhance the sustainability research agenda.
  8. Create and maintain sustainability program documents, such as schedules and budgets.
  9. Formulate or implement sustainability campaign or marketing strategies.
  10. Research environmental sustainability issues, concerns, or stakeholder interests.
  11. Direct sustainability program operations to ensure compliance with environmental or governmental regulations.
  12. Evaluate and approve proposals for sustainability projects, considering factors such as cost effectiveness, technical feasibility, and integration with other initiatives.
  13. Develop methodologies to assess the viability or success of sustainability initiatives.
  14. Review sustainability program objectives, progress, or status to ensure compliance with policies, standards, regulations, or laws.
  15. Write and distribute financial or environmental impact reports.
  16. Write project proposals, grant applications, or other documents to pursue funding for environmental initiatives.
  17. Identify educational, training, or other development opportunities for sustainability employees or volunteers.
  18. Conduct risk assessments related to sustainability and the environment.

Education & Training

Job Zone 5 Job Zone Five: Extensive Preparation Needed
Education: Most of these occupations require graduate school. For example, they may require a master's degree, and some require a Ph.D., M.D., or J.D. (law degree).
Experience: Extensive skill, knowledge, and experience are needed for these occupations. Many require more than five years of experience. For example, surgeons must complete four years of college and an additional five to seven years of specialized medical training to be able to do their job.
On-the-Job Training: Employees may need some on-the-job training, but most of these occupations assume that the person will already have the required skills, knowledge, work-related experience, and/or training.

Education Level Distribution

Percentage of workers in this occupation with each education level.

Master's Degree
74%
Bachelor's Degree
19%
Post-Master's Certificate - awarded for completion of an organized program of study; designed for people who have completed a Master's degree but do not meet the requirements of academic degrees at the doctoral level.
7%
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Technology & Tools

Hot Technologies

  • Adobe Acrobat
  • Adobe Photoshop
  • Facebook
  • Microsoft Access
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  • Microsoft Office software
  • Microsoft Outlook
  • Microsoft PowerPoint
  • Microsoft Project
  • Microsoft SharePoint
  • Microsoft Word
  • SAP software
  • Salesforce software
  • Tableau

Software (21)

  • Email software
  • Management information systems MIS
  • Microsoft Dynamics GP
  • Scheduling software
  • Structure query language SQL
  • Teleconferencing software
  • Web browser software

Tools & Equipment (10)

  • 10-key calculators
  • Computer data input scanners
  • Desktop computers
  • Handheld computers
  • Laptop computers
  • Multi-line telephone systems
  • Personal computers
  • Photocopying equipment
  • Smartphones
  • Video teleconferencing systems

Where This Career Leads

Career progression organized by specialty track and experience level.

Leadership & Operations Advanced Manufacturing

Zone 2
Data Entry Keyers 79% match
Zone 3
First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers 79% match
Zone 4
Brownfield Redevelopment Specialists and Site Managers 95% match
Zone 5
Chief Sustainability Officers You are here

Entrepreneurship & Small Business Construction

Zone 2
Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria 74% match
Zone 3
First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers 79% match
Zone 4
Brownfield Redevelopment Specialists and Site Managers 95% match
Zone 5
Chief Sustainability Officers You are here

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Related Occupations

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Sustainability SpecialistsClosely Related Climate Change Policy AnalystsClosely Related Industrial EcologistsClosely Related Wind Energy Development ManagersClosely Related Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including HealthClosely Related Urban and Regional Planners Brownfield Redevelopment Specialists and Site Managers Environmental Restoration Planners
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Real Talk

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