Nature of the Work

Sustainability specialists support and implement programs that focus on improving the environment, saving money for their employer, and helping their local community. They conduct research and analysis and identify opportunities for new programs as well as improvements in current programs. Sustainability programs include monitoring and improving energy and natural resource usage, waste-generation management, recycling, water-usage reduction, and assessing carbon footprint. Once enough information has been compiled from these programs, the sustainability specialist will report on progress and act on the information. As part of educating and informing their employers and clients, they must promote and advertise their environmental programs.

Sustainability specialists assist in strategic policy planning. In corporate settings they are part of the team that develops the corporate social responsibility (or CSR) document. This document describes how a company will operate in a business setting while being mindful of the social impacts of their actions. When working with clients in a corporate setting, they must prepare action plans to improve the sustainability of the clients' products and operations. They must know how to perform product and market analysis in order to understand what the clients' customers want. To do their job effectively, sustainability specialists must be familiar with relevant energy and environmental legislation.

Sustainability specialists work on a variety of projects and can manage teams where the members come from a variety of disciplines. They can be part of a team that works on greening buildings; as such, they must have experience with various "green" practices and standards, including: Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (or LEED), ISO 14001 (an international standard that specifies a method for controlling and improving a company's environmental performance), or the EPA's Environmental Management System.

Watch this video to see how two students from the University of Notre Dame in Indiana made a big difference by implementing sustainability programs in the administration buildings at the Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore Park.

Work Environment

Most sustainability specialists work in office buildings, laboratories, or industrial plants. They may spend time outdoors, where they monitor or direct operations, or solve on-site problems.

Training, Other Qualifications

In addition to a scientific background in environmental science or engineering, employers sometimes look for LEED (or Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) accreditation. The credentialing is administered by the Green Building Certification Institute under the supervision of the U.S. Green Building Council. There are several types of certification, depending on what students plan to do in their careers. However, credentialing involves coursework, working on green building projects, and taking an exam. To learn more, check out the U.S. Green Building Council website.

Education and Training

The minimum degree required for entry-level sustainability specialists is a bachelor's degree in environmental sciences, environmental engineering, or a related field. While a graduate degree is not required for entry-level positions, many employers find it desirable, because students with graduate-school experience have the opportunity to work in-depth on sustainability projects.

Classes or work experience in marketing, finance, and business are also valuable for job placement as a sustainability specialist.

On the Job

• Develop sustainability project goals, objectives, initiatives, or strategies in collaboration with other sustainability professionals.
• Monitor or track sustainability indicators, such as energy and natural-resource usage, waste generation, and recycling.
• Assess or propose sustainability initiatives, considering factors such as cost effectiveness, technical feasibility, and acceptance.
• Collect information about waste-stream management or green building practices to inform decision-makers.
• Create marketing or outreach media, such as brochures or websites, to communicate sustainability issues, procedures, or objectives.
• Create or maintain plans or other documents related to sustainability projects.
• Develop reports or presentations to communicate the effectiveness of sustainability initiatives.
• Identify or procure needed resources to implement sustainability programs or projects.
• Provide technical or administrative support for sustainability programs or issues.
• Write grant applications, rebate applications, or project proposals to secure funding for sustainability projects.
• Identify or create new sustainability indicators.
• Identify or investigate violations of natural-resource use, waste management, recycling, or other environmental policies.
• Research or review regulatory, technical, or market issues related to sustainability.
• Review and revise sustainability proposals or policies.

Companies That Hire Sustainability Specialists

• BASF
• Gensler
• Stanford University

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Additional Information

These organizations can provide you with more information about the field of sustainability:

• Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education
• U.S. Green Building Council

Sources

• O*Net Online. (2009). National Center for O*Net Development. Retrieved May 1, 2009, from http://online.onetcenter.org/
• Earth Savers Institute. (2009, December 26). What is a Sustainability Specialist. Retrieved August 18, 2010, from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-fmev5GFd80
• Barnes, N. (2009, March 13). AASHE Interview Series: Fahmida Ahmed, Sustainability Programs Manager, Stanford University. Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education: Campus Sustainability Perspectives Blog. Retrieved August 17, 2010, from http://www.aashe.org/blog/aashe-interview-series-fahmida-ahmed-sustainability-programs-manager-stanford-university
• Barnes, N. (2009, November 6). AASHE Interview Series: Tim Galarneau, Food Systems Education & Research Program Specialist, University of California, Santa Cruz. Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education: Campus Sustainability Perspectives Blog. Retrieved August 17, 2010, from http://www.aashe.org/blog/aashe-interview-series-tim-galarneau-food-systems-education-research-program-specialist-univers
• WKUNews. (2008, August 28). WKU Sustainability Coordinator. Retrieved August 17, 2010, from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B19GNVygPAw=related
• University of Notre Dame. (2008, September 3). Sustainability in Action -- Engineering a Greener National Park. Retrieved September 17, 2010, from http://video.nd.edu/65-indiana-dunes
• Channelintel. (2008, January 28). Recycling on a Different Scale at Intel. Retrieved September 17, 2010, from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QtJj5_yt1JE&feature=channel

Additional Support

We'd like to acknowledge the additional support of:

• Chevron
• Intel Foundation
• Symantec Foundation

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