What Does it Take to Be a Chief Sustainability Officer?
Job Description & Duties Communicate and coordinate with management, shareholders, customers, and employees to address sustainability issues. Enact or oversee a corporate sustainability strategy.
A Day in the Life of a Chief Sustainability Officer
- Review sustainability program objectives, progress, or status to ensure compliance with policies, standards, regulations, or laws.
- Formulate or implement sustainability campaign or marketing strategies.
- Evaluate and approve proposals for sustainability projects, considering factors such as cost effectiveness, technical feasibility, and integration with other initiatives.
- Create and maintain sustainability program documents, such as schedules and budgets.
- Develop, or oversee the development of, sustainability evaluation or monitoring systems.
- Research environmental sustainability issues, concerns, or stakeholder interests.
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What Every Chief Sustainability Officer Should Know
When polled, Chief Sustainability Officers say the following skills are most frequently used in their jobs:
Complex Problem Solving: Identifying complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions.
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.
Reading Comprehension: Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.
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.
Related Job Titles for this Occupation:
- Director of Sustainability Programs
- Stakeholder Manager
- Sustainability Director
- Sustainability Reports Manager
- Chief Environmental Commitment Officer (CECO)
Are There Job Opportunities for Chief Sustainability Officers?
In 2016, there was an estimated number of 308,900 jobs in the United States for Chief Sustainability Officer. There is little to no growth in job opportunities for Chief Sustainability Officer. The BLS estimates 20,000 yearly job openings in this field.
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.
Chief Sustainability Officer Salary
The typical yearly salary for Chief Sustainability Officers is somewhere between $68,360 and $208,000.
Chief Sustainability Officers who work in California, District of Columbia, or Georgia, make the highest salaries.
How much do Chief Sustainability Officers make in each U.S. state?
| 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 & Technology do Chief Sustainability Officers Use?
Below is a list of the types of tools and technologies that Chief Sustainability Officers may use on a daily basis:
- 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 or degrees do I need to become a Chief Sustainability Officer?
What work experience do I need to become a Chief Sustainability Officer?
Where Chief Sustainability Officers Are Employed
Below are examples of industries where Chief Sustainability Officers work:
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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