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Chief Sustainability Officer

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What You Need to Know About Chief Sustainability Officer

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

Chief Sustainability Officer Responsibilities

  • Write and distribute financial or environmental impact reports.
  • Direct sustainability program operations to ensure compliance with environmental or governmental regulations.
  • Develop, or oversee the development of, marketing or outreach media for sustainability projects or events.
  • Monitor and evaluate effectiveness of sustainability programs.
  • Develop, or oversee the development of, sustainability evaluation or monitoring systems.
  • Evaluate and approve proposals for sustainability projects, considering factors such as cost effectiveness, technical feasibility, and integration with other initiatives.

What a Chief Sustainability Officer Should Know

When polled, Chief Sustainability Officers say the following skills are most frequently used in their jobs:

Reading Comprehension: Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.

Speaking: Talking to others to convey information effectively.

Critical Thinking: Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.

Complex Problem Solving: Identifying complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions.

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.

Writing: Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.

Types of Chief Sustainability Officer Jobs

  • Director of Sustainability
  • Sustainability Research and Advocacy Director
  • Sustainability Reports Director
  • Chief Green Officer (CGO)
  • Corporate Sustainability Manager

Job Outlook for Chief Sustainability Officers

There were about 308,900 jobs for Chief Sustainability Officer in 2016 (in the United States). There is little to no growth in job opportunities for Chief Sustainability Officer. The BLS estimates 20,000 yearly job openings in this field.

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The states with the most job growth for Chief Sustainability Officer are Washington, Utah, and Colorado. Watch out if you plan on working in Maine, Ohio, or Pennsylvania. These states have the worst job growth for this type of profession.

Salary for a Chief Sustainability Officer

The typical yearly salary for Chief Sustainability Officers is somewhere between $68,360 and $208,000.

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Chief Sustainability Officers who work in California, District of Columbia, or Georgia, make the highest salaries.

Below is a list of the median annual salaries for Chief Sustainability Officers in different U.S. states.

State Annual Mean Salary
Alabama $204,590
Alaska $179,630
Arizona $194,360
Arkansas $126,960
California $228,270
Colorado $198,130
Connecticut $210,650
District of Columbia $247,500
Florida $187,870
Georgia $218,590
Hawaii $201,680
Idaho $94,470
Illinois $230,070
Indiana $148,730
Iowa $211,560
Kansas $172,100
Kentucky $152,670
Louisiana $208,110
Maine $152,780
Maryland $198,260
Massachusetts $221,810
Michigan $206,660
Minnesota $195,320
Mississippi $112,310
Missouri $167,980
Montana $132,400
Nebraska $220,950
Nevada $215,590
New Hampshire $180,250
New Jersey $233,050
New York $220,040
North Carolina $210,050
North Dakota $172,900
Ohio $201,100
Oklahoma $157,540
Oregon $212,290
Pennsylvania $231,120
Rhode Island $242,350
South Carolina $182,760
South Dakota $251,950
Tennessee $152,730
Texas $239,680
Utah $165,020
Vermont $136,410
Virginia $228,540
Washington $220,730
West Virginia $153,880
Wisconsin $154,820
Wyoming $131,020

What Tools do Chief Sustainability Officers Use?

Although they’re not necessarily needed for all jobs, the following technologies are used by many Chief Sustainability Officers:

  • Microsoft Excel
  • Microsoft Word
  • Microsoft Office
  • Microsoft PowerPoint
  • Web browser software
  • Microsoft Access
  • Email software
  • SAP
  • Microsoft Project
  • Scheduling software
  • Microsoft Dynamics GP
  • Teleconferencing software

How do I Become a Chief Sustainability Officer?

What education is needed to be a Chief Sustainability Officer?

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What work experience do I need to become a Chief Sustainability Officer?

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Chief Sustainability Officers Sector

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The table below shows some of the most common industries where those employed in this career field work.

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References:

Image Credit: Dave Dugdale via Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 2.0 Generic

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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