Career Overview
Address organizational sustainability issues, such as waste stream management, green building practices, and green procurement plans.
Also Known As
- Sustainability Consultant
- Sustainability Coordinator
- Sustainability Specialist
- Sustainable Design Coordinator
Alternate Job Titles
- 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
- Sustainability Advisor
- Sustainability Analyst
- Sustainability Champion
- Sustainability Coach
- Sustainability Consultant
- Sustainability Coordinator
- Sustainability Officer
What You'll Do
In this role, your typical responsibilities include:
- Develop sustainability project goals, objectives, initiatives, or strategies in collaboration with other sustainability professionals.
- Monitor or track sustainability indicators, such as energy usage, natural resource usage, waste generation, and recycling.
- 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.
- Review and revise sustainability proposals or policies.
- Develop reports or presentations to communicate the effectiveness of sustainability initiatives.
- Create or maintain plans or other documents related to sustainability projects.
Emerging Responsibilities
As this field evolves, you may also:
- Deliver sustainability training to employees.
Knowledge You'll Use
You'll need solid knowledge in these areas:
- Administration and Management
- Law and Government
Essential Skills
Success in this career requires strong skills in:
- Reading Comprehension
- Writing
- Speaking
- Active Listening
- Critical Thinking
- Complex Problem Solving
- Judgment and Decision Making
Key Abilities
This career requires key abilities in:
- Written Expression
- Written Comprehension
- Oral Comprehension
- Oral Expression
- Deductive Reasoning
- Inductive Reasoning
- Speech Clarity
- Problem Sensitivity
- Information Ordering
- Originality
What Matters in This Career
This career tends to satisfy these work values:
- Achievement
- Independence
- Working Conditions
- Relationships
- Recognition
Education & Preparation
Typical Education: Bachelor's Degree
Related Work Experience Needed: Over 2 years, up to and including 4 years
On-the-Job Training: Anything beyond short demonstration, up to and including 1 month
Education Details: Most of these occupations require a four-year bachelor's degree, but some do not.
Experience Required: 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.
Technology You'll Use
Popular Technologies & Software
- 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
Tools & Equipment
- Computer data input scanners
- Computer laser printers
- Desktop computers
- Laptop computers
- Laser facsimile machines
- Multi-line telephone systems
- Personal computers
- Photocopying equipment
Work Environment
- Telephone Conversations
- Face-to-Face Discussions with Individuals and Within Teams
- Work With or Contribute to a Work Group or Team
- Contact With Others
Salary & Job Market
Wages reported for the broader Business Operations Specialists, All Other occupational group (BLS 2024), which includes Sustainability Specialists.
| Salary Percentile | Annual Wage |
|---|---|
| Entry-Level (10th percentile) | $46,230 |
| Median | $81,270 |
| Top Earners (90th percentile) | $147,830 |
Workers Employed Nationally: 1,128,200
Related Careers
If you're interested in this career, you might also consider:
Chief Sustainability Officers
Education: Master's Degree
Median Salary: $206,420
Wind Energy Development Managers
Education: Bachelor's Degree
Median Salary: $136,550
Industrial Ecologists
Education: Master's Degree
Median Salary: $80,060
Energy Auditors
Education: High School Diploma - or the equivalent (for example, GED)
Median Salary: $72,120
Project Management Specialists
Education: Not specified
Median Salary: $100,750
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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.