Occupation · SOC 13-1199.05
Sustainability Specialists
Address organizational sustainability issues, such as waste stream management, green building practices, and green procurement plans.
Median wage
$81,270
$46,230–$147,830
Projected growth
+3.0%
Average growth
Annual openings
3,630
per year
Employed (US)
1,128,200
Job Zone 4
Typical preparation
Considerable preparation
Stackable credential programs
2,448 mapped
Core skills
WritingSpeakingReading ComprehensionCritical ThinkingActive ListeningJudgment and Decision MakingComplex Problem SolvingMonitoringSystems EvaluationCoordinationActive LearningSystems AnalysisSocial PerceptivenessPersuasionLearning StrategiesTime ManagementNegotiationInstructingService OrientationMathematicsManagement of Personnel ResourcesScienceOperations AnalysisQuality Control AnalysisOperations MonitoringManagement of Financial ResourcesManagement of Material ResourcesTroubleshootingTechnology DesignProgrammingOperation and ControlInstallationEquipment SelectionRepairingEquipment Maintenance
Knowledge areas
Administration and ManagementLaw and GovernmentEnglish LanguageEducation and TrainingBuilding and ConstructionCustomer and Personal ServiceCommunications and MediaEngineering and TechnologyDesignSales and MarketingAdministrativeSociology and AnthropologyEconomics and AccountingComputers and ElectronicsProduction and ProcessingPsychologyMathematicsGeographyTransportationPublic Safety and SecurityMechanicalPersonnel and Human ResourcesChemistryBiologyPhysicsHistory and ArcheologyPhilosophy and TheologyFood ProductionForeign LanguageTelecommunicationsFine ArtsMedicine and DentistryTherapy and Counseling
Technology & tools
Adobe AcrobatAdobe Creative Cloud softwareAdobe IllustratorAdobe InDesignAdobe PhotoshopAutodesk AutoCADAutodesk AutoCAD Civil 3DAutodesk RevitBentley MicroStationEsri ArcGISExtensible markup language XMLGeographic information system GIS softwareGoogle AnalyticsInventory management systemsJavaScriptLife cycle assessment LCA softwareMicrosoft AccessMicrosoft ExcelMicrosoft Office softwareMicrosoft OutlookMicrosoft Power BIMicrosoft PowerPointMicrosoft ProjectMicrosoft PublisherMicrosoft SharePointMicrosoft VisioMicrosoft WordOnline database search and retrieval softwareOracle DatabasePE INTERNATIONAL GaBiPE INTERNATIONAL SoFiPRe Consultants SimaProQuark enterprise publishing softwareSAP softwareSocial media sitesStructured query language SQLTableauWeb browser softwareWord processing software
Representative tasks
Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or SubordinatesGetting InformationEstablishing and Maintaining Interpersonal RelationshipsDeveloping Objectives and StrategiesMaking Decisions and Solving ProblemsAnalyzing Data or InformationCommunicating with People Outside the OrganizationWorking with ComputersProviding Consultation and Advice to OthersProcessing InformationEvaluating Information to Determine Compliance with StandardsDeveloping and Building TeamsMonitoring Processes, Materials, or SurroundingsDocumenting/Recording InformationOrganizing, Planning, and Prioritizing WorkUpdating and Using Relevant KnowledgeTraining and Teaching OthersThinking CreativelySelling or Influencing OthersInterpreting the Meaning of Information for OthersIdentifying Objects, Actions, and EventsScheduling Work and ActivitiesEstimating the Quantifiable Characteristics of Products, Events, or InformationMonitoring and Controlling ResourcesGuiding, Directing, and Motivating SubordinatesJudging the Qualities of Objects, Services, or PeopleResolving Conflicts and Negotiating with OthersCoaching and Developing OthersCoordinating the Work and Activities of OthersPerforming Administrative ActivitiesPerforming for or Working Directly with the PublicInspecting Equipment, Structures, or MaterialsAssisting and Caring for OthersStaffing Organizational UnitsDrafting, Laying Out, and Specifying Technical Devices, Parts, and EquipmentPerforming General Physical ActivitiesHandling and Moving ObjectsOperating Vehicles, Mechanized Devices, or EquipmentControlling Machines and ProcessesRepairing and Maintaining Mechanical Equipment
Competency framework
Skill expectations by proficiency level.
emerging
Sustainability indicators such as energy usage and waste generation — collect and log data under supervisor direction within an established tracking system.Waste stream management information — gather and organize from internal sources to support decision makers on a sustainability team.Sustainability project documentation — draft and maintain plans or records under guidance from senior specialists in a corporate or government office setting.Green building practices and certification standards — research and summarize findings to support proposal development under direct oversight.Sustainability proposals — review for completeness and formatting accuracy following established templates and organizational protocols.Technical or administrative support tasks — perform for sustainability programs by scheduling, filing, and coordinating logistics under supervision.Data entry and basic analysis tools including spreadsheets and document management software — apply to input and organize sustainability metrics in a team environment.Progress reports on sustainability initiatives — assist in drafting using provided data and report templates under senior staff direction.Recycling program data and natural resource consumption records — compile and cross-check to ensure accuracy for quarterly reporting cycles.Stakeholder communications related to sustainability activities — prepare draft correspondence and presentation slides under the direction of a project lead.
developing
Sustainability indicators including energy consumption, water usage, and waste generation — monitor and analyze routinely using enterprise data systems with minimal oversight.Green building practices and waste stream management options — evaluate and compile into decision-support briefs for organizational leadership.Sustainability project goals and timelines — develop and coordinate with cross-functional teams in a mid-sized corporate or municipal environment.Cost-effectiveness and technical feasibility assessments — conduct for proposed sustainability initiatives using standardized analytical frameworks.Sustainability policies and proposals — review, revise, and align with applicable regulatory requirements and organizational objectives.Progress reports and presentations — produce independently to communicate sustainability program outcomes to internal stakeholders and management.GIS and data mining tools — apply to identify geographic patterns in resource usage and waste generation across organizational facilities.Sustainability initiative acceptance factors including stakeholder concerns — assess through active listening and structured feedback collection processes.Sustainability plans and project documentation — maintain and update in document management systems to ensure version control and accessibility.Coordination activities across departments — facilitate to integrate sustainability practices into daily operational workflows of a mid-to-large organization.
proficient
Sustainability strategies and initiatives — develop autonomously across the full project lifecycle in collaboration with interdisciplinary teams of sustainability professionals.Complex sustainability problems involving competing priorities — resolve by applying systems analysis and deductive reasoning to recommend evidence-based solutions.Sustainability performance data — interpret using analytical and scientific software to draw actionable conclusions across multiple facilities or program areas.Non-routine sustainability proposals — assess for cost-effectiveness, technical feasibility, and stakeholder acceptance, recommending approvals or modifications to senior leadership.Regulatory, policy, and best-practice landscapes — synthesize to revise organizational sustainability policies and ensure ongoing compliance and relevance.Executive-level reports and presentations — craft with precision using desktop publishing and graphics software to communicate sustainability ROI and program effectiveness.CAD and geographic information systems — leverage to evaluate site-specific sustainability interventions such as green infrastructure or energy retrofit projects.Persuasive arguments for sustainability investments — construct and deliver to internal and external audiences using evidence from monitoring and systems evaluation.Sustainability program risks and systemic interdependencies — identify proactively and develop contingency measures within enterprise-level project frameworks.Cross-sector partnerships with vendors, regulators, and community groups — negotiate and manage to advance sustainability objectives beyond organizational boundaries.
advanced
Organizational sustainability vision and long-range strategic objectives — set and champion at the executive level, aligning departmental initiatives with enterprise-wide goals.Enterprise sustainability frameworks and indicator systems — design and institutionalize to enable rigorous monitoring, evaluation, and continuous improvement across all business units.Sustainability specialists and interdisciplinary teams — mentor and develop by establishing learning strategies, coaching protocols, and professional growth pathways.High-stakes sustainability investment decisions — lead by integrating complex financial, technical, and social feasibility analyses into board-level recommendations.Organizational sustainability policies — author and revise at a governance level, incorporating evolving law, government regulations, and international best-practice standards.Industry coalitions, regulatory bodies, and community stakeholders — represent the organization before, negotiating commitments and shaping sector-wide sustainability norms.Sustainability reporting systems and public-facing disclosures — oversee to ensure accuracy, credibility, and alignment with global frameworks such as GRI or CDP.Transformative sustainability programs requiring culture change — lead organization-wide adoption by applying social perceptiveness and advanced persuasion to overcome institutional resistance.Web platform and enterprise application integration tools — direct the deployment of to create seamless, organization-wide sustainability data ecosystems supporting real-time decision making.Emerging sustainability challenges with no established precedent — navigate by synthesizing inductive reasoning, active learning, and cross-sector intelligence to pioneer innovative organizational responses.
Also known as
22 alternate job titles map to this occupation.
Building Performance SpecialistCampus Energy CoordinatorEnergy AnalystEnergy and Sustainability ManagerEnergy and Sustainability Strategic AdvisorGreen ConsultantIntegrated Solutions ConsultantRenewable Energy ConsultantSustainability AdvisorSustainability AnalystSustainability ChampionSustainability CoachSustainability ConsultantSustainability CoordinatorSustainability OfficerSustainability Project AnalystSustainability SpecialistSustainable Business Operations SpecialistSustainable Design ChampionSustainable Design ConsultantSustainable Design CoordinatorWater Project Manager