Career Overview
Communicate and coordinate with management, shareholders, customers, and employees to address sustainability issues. Enact or oversee a corporate sustainability strategy.
Also Known As
- Chief Sustainability Officer (CSO)
- Sustainability Director
- Sustainability Manager
- Sustainable Design Director
Alternate Job Titles
- 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
- CSR and Sustainability VP (Corporate Social Responsibility and Sustainability Vice President)
- Energy and Sustainability Manager
- Energy Sustainability Manager
- Energy, Sustainability, and Infrastructure Manager
- Environmental and Sustainability Manager
- Environmental Sustainability Manager
- ESG Manager (Environmental, Social, and Corporate Governance Manager)
- Global Sustainability Manager
- Sustainability Chancellor
What You'll Do
In this role, your typical responsibilities include:
- Monitor and evaluate effectiveness of sustainability programs.
- Develop or execute strategies to address issues such as energy use, resource conservation, recycling, pollution reduction, waste elimination, transportation, education, and building design.
- Develop, or oversee the development of, sustainability evaluation or monitoring systems.
- Supervise employees or volunteers working on sustainability projects.
- Develop sustainability reports, presentations, or proposals for supplier, employee, academia, media, government, public interest, or other groups.
- Develop, or oversee the development of, marketing or outreach media for sustainability projects or events.
- Identify and evaluate pilot projects or programs to enhance the sustainability research agenda.
Knowledge You'll Use
You'll need solid knowledge in these areas:
- English Language
- Administration and Management
- Law and Government
- Communications and Media
Essential Skills
Success in this career requires strong skills in:
- Writing
- Critical Thinking
- Reading Comprehension
- Active Listening
- Speaking
- Complex Problem Solving
- Social Perceptiveness
- Persuasion
- Judgment and Decision Making
- Systems Analysis
Key Abilities
This career requires key abilities in:
- Written Expression
- Oral Comprehension
- Written Comprehension
- Speech Recognition
- Speech Clarity
- Oral Expression
- Originality
- Deductive Reasoning
- Inductive Reasoning
- Problem Sensitivity
What Matters in This Career
This career tends to satisfy these work values:
- Achievement
- Independence
- Working Conditions
- Recognition
- Relationships
Education & Preparation
Typical Education: Master's Degree
Related Work Experience Needed: Over 4 years, up to and including 6 years
On-the-Job Training: None or short demonstration
Education Details: 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 Required: 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.
Technology You'll Use
Popular Technologies & Software
- Adobe Acrobat
- Adobe Photoshop
- Microsoft Access
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Office software
- Microsoft Outlook
- Microsoft PowerPoint
- Microsoft Project
- Microsoft SharePoint
Tools & Equipment
- 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
Work Environment
- Work With or Contribute to a Work Group or Team
- Indoors, Environmentally Controlled
- Telephone Conversations
- Face-to-Face Discussions with Individuals and Within Teams
Salary & Job Market
Wages reported for the broader Chief Executives occupational group (BLS 2024), which includes Chief Sustainability Officers.
| Salary Percentile | Annual Wage |
|---|---|
| Entry-Level (10th percentile) | $73,710 |
| Median | $206,420 |
| Top Earners (90th percentile) | >$239,200 |
Workers Employed Nationally: 211,850
Related Careers
If you're interested in this career, you might also consider:
Sustainability Specialists
Education: Bachelor's Degree
Median Salary: $81,270
Climate Change Policy Analysts
Education: Master's Degree
Median Salary: $80,060
Industrial Ecologists
Education: Master's Degree
Median Salary: $80,060
Wind Energy Development Managers
Education: Bachelor's Degree
Median Salary: $136,550
Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health
Education: Bachelor's Degree
Median Salary: $80,060
Is This Career Right for You?
Discover your perfect career match with our free comprehensive assessment! Get personalized recommendations based on your interests, skills, and values.
Take the Free Career Assessment →
Want Personalized Guidance?
For customized career recommendations, college selection strategies, and expert application support, explore the MehtA+ Admissions Consulting Program. We help students identify the right opportunities and navigate the path to achieving their academic and career goals.
Occupational data sourced from the O*NET OnLine database, developed by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration. Wage data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), 2024.