Career Discovery Tool
Science Buddies

Sustainability Specialist

Overview and Key Facts

Sustainability meeting
Education
Education
Bachelor's degree
Median Pay
Median Pay
$74,670
Job Growth
Job Growth
5.00%
(Below US Average)
Jobs in 2031
Jobs in 2031
1,190,000

What Do They Do?

A sustainability specialist could...

Overview Listen to this section

Are you passionate about the environment? Do you like developing and implementing new ideas? Do you enjoy talking with people about how humans impact nature? If these things are true about you, then you may be the ideal candidate for a job as a sustainability specialist. Sustainability specialists work in large and small corporations and universities to design and execute energy and resource conservation programs that reduce their employers' impact on the environment. This is a great career for people who enjoy working on teams, are socially responsible, and like to get things done!
Vanessa Lim, sustainability manager at food delivery company foodpanda, talks about the four areas of sustainability she works on, how she got started, and how customers influence sustainability efforts.

Do You Have the Skills and Characteristics of a Sustainability Specialist?


  1. Writing: ?
  2. Speaking: ?
  3. Reading Comprehension: ?
  4. Active Listening: ?
  5. Critical Thinking: ?

Core Tasks

Think about if you'd like the typical tasks a Sustainability Specialist might do:
  • 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.
  • Create or maintain plans or other documents related to sustainability projects.
  • Develop reports or presentations to communicate the effectiveness of sustainability initiatives.
  • Collect information about waste stream management or green building practices to inform decision makers.
  • Research or review regulatory, technical, or market issues related to sustainability.
  • Identify or investigate violations of natural resources, waste management, recycling, or other environmental policies.
  • Identify or create new sustainability indicators.
  • Create marketing or outreach media, such as brochures or Web sites, to communicate sustainability issues, procedures, or objectives.
  • Identify or procure needed resources to implement sustainability programs or projects.
  • Write grant applications, rebate applications, or project proposals to secure funding for sustainability projects.

Salary & Job Openings

Steps to Get There: Becoming a Sustainability Specialist

Try it Out with an Activity or Project

On the Job

More Information

Please create a free account to view this career and access our full library of over 160 STEM careers.

Students    Teachers / Parents

With a free account you will have access to our full library of over 160 STEM careers. Each career profile includes detailed information to help you learn about a career and the requirements to get there. You can explore:

  • salary information by state
  • recommended high school coursework
  • fun projects and activities to test out a career
  • videos and interviews with professionals in the field
  • details on what a day on the job is like
Top
We use cookies and those of third party providers to deliver the best possible web experience and to compile statistics.
By continuing and using the site, including the landing page, you agree to our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.
OK, got it
Free science fair projects.