Life As a Chief Sustainability Officer
Occupation Description 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
- Identify and evaluate pilot projects or programs to enhance the sustainability research agenda.
- Identify educational, training, or other development opportunities for sustainability employees or volunteers.
- Write and distribute financial or environmental impact reports.
- Write project proposals, grant applications, or other documents to pursue funding for environmental initiatives.
- Develop sustainability reports, presentations, or proposals for supplier, employee, academia, media, government, public interest, or other groups.
- Evaluate and approve proposals for sustainability projects, considering factors such as cost effectiveness, technical feasibility, and integration with other initiatives.
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Things a Chief Sustainability Officer Should Know How to Do
Below is a list of the skills most Chief Sustainability Officers say are important on the job.
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
- Energy and Sustainability Manager
- Corporate Sustainability Manager
- Sustainability Program Manager
- Director of Sustainability
- Global Sustainability Manager
Job Opportunities 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. There will be an estimated 20,000 positions for Chief Sustainability Officer per year.
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.
Average Chief Sustainability Officers Salary
Chief Sustainability Officers make between $68,360 and $208,000 a year.
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 & Technology 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?
Education needed to be a Chief Sustainability Officer:
How many years of work experience do I need?
Where Chief Sustainability Officers Work
The table below shows the approximate number of Chief Sustainability Officers employed by various industries.
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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