Occupation

Sustainability Specialists

Human Advantage 74%

Significant human skills needed

AI Automation Risk Low Risk
2.5 / 10

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

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

Also Known As: Building Performance Specialist, Campus Energy Coordinator, Energy Analyst, Energy and Sustainability Manager, Energy and Sustainability Strategic Advisor, Green Consultant, Integrated Solutions Consultant, Renewable Energy Consultant +14 more

Core Tasks

  1. Develop sustainability project goals, objectives, initiatives, or strategies in collaboration with other sustainability professionals.
  2. Monitor or track sustainability indicators, such as energy usage, natural resource usage, waste generation, and recycling.
  3. Assess or propose sustainability initiatives, considering factors such as cost effectiveness, technical feasibility, and acceptance.
  4. Provide technical or administrative support for sustainability programs or issues.
  5. Review and revise sustainability proposals or policies.
  6. Develop reports or presentations to communicate the effectiveness of sustainability initiatives.
  7. Create or maintain plans or other documents related to sustainability projects.
  8. Collect information about waste stream management or green building practices to inform decision makers.
  9. Research or review regulatory, technical, or market issues related to sustainability.
  10. Identify or investigate violations of natural resources, waste management, recycling, or other environmental policies.
  11. Identify or create new sustainability indicators.
  12. Create marketing or outreach media, such as brochures or Web sites, to communicate sustainability issues, procedures, or objectives.
  13. Identify or procure needed resources to implement sustainability programs or projects.
  14. Write grant applications, rebate applications, or project proposals to secure funding for sustainability projects.

Emerging Tasks

New and evolving responsibilities for this role:

  • Deliver sustainability training to employees.

Education & Training

Job Zone 4 Job Zone Four: Considerable Preparation Needed
Education: Most of these occupations require a four-year bachelor's degree, but some do not.
Experience: A considerable amount of work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is needed for these occupations. For example, an accountant must complete four years of college and work for several years in accounting to be considered qualified.
On-the-Job Training: Employees in these occupations usually need several years of work-related experience, on-the-job training, and/or vocational training.

Education Level Distribution

Percentage of workers in this occupation with each education level.

Bachelor's Degree
52%
Master's Degree
39%
Some College Courses
4%
Post-Baccalaureate Certificate - awarded for completion of an organized program of study; designed for people who have completed a Baccalaureate degree but do not meet the requirements of academic degrees carrying the title of Master.
4%

Technology & Tools

Hot Technologies

  • Adobe Acrobat
  • Adobe Creative Cloud software
  • Adobe Illustrator
  • Adobe InDesign
  • Adobe Photoshop
  • Autodesk AutoCAD
  • Autodesk AutoCAD Civil 3D
  • Autodesk Revit
  • Bentley MicroStation
  • Extensible markup language XML
  • Google Analytics
  • JavaScript
  • Microsoft Access
  • Microsoft Excel
  • Microsoft Office software
  • Microsoft Outlook
  • Microsoft Power BI
  • Microsoft PowerPoint
  • Microsoft Project
  • Microsoft SharePoint
  • Microsoft Visio
  • Microsoft Word
  • Oracle Database
  • SAP software
  • Structured query language SQL
  • Tableau

Software (39)

  • Esri ArcGIS
  • Geographic information system GIS software
  • Inventory management systems
  • Life cycle assessment LCA software
  • Microsoft Publisher
  • Online database search and retrieval software
  • PE INTERNATIONAL GaBi
  • PE INTERNATIONAL SoFi
  • PRe Consultants SimaPro
  • Quark enterprise publishing software
  • Social media sites
  • Web browser software
  • Word processing software

Tools & Equipment (8)

  • Computer data input scanners
  • Computer laser printers
  • Desktop computers
  • Laptop computers
  • Laser facsimile machines
  • Multi-line telephone systems
  • Personal computers
  • Photocopying equipment

Where This Career Leads

Career progression organized by specialty track and experience level.

Leadership & Operations Advanced Manufacturing

Zone 2
Zone 3
Zone 4
Sustainability Specialists You are here

Entrepreneurship & Small Business Construction

Zone 4
Sustainability Specialists You are here

Business Information Management Advanced Manufacturing

Zone 4
Sustainability Specialists You are here
Zone 5

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