Salary, Job Description, How To Become One, and Quiz
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Sustainability Specialists
Sustainability Specialists address organizational sustainability issues, such as waste stream management, green building practices, and green procurement plans.
Table of contents
What they do
Sustainability Specialists address organizational sustainability issues, such as waste stream management, green building practices, and green procurement plans.
- Create or maintain plans or other documents related to sustainability projects.
- Develop sustainability project goals, objectives, initiatives, or strategies in collaboration with other sustainability professionals.
- 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.
Typical day
On a daily basis, Sustainability Specialists provide technical or administrative support for sustainability programs or issues. They create or maintain plans or other documents related to sustainability projects.
A typical day for a Sustainability Specialist will also include:
- Develop sustainability project goals, objectives, initiatives, or strategies in collaboration with other sustainability professionals.
- Assess or propose sustainability initiatives, considering factors such as cost-effectiveness, technical feasibility, and acceptance.
- Create marketing or outreach media, such as brochures or Web sites, to communicate sustainability issues, procedures, or objectives.
- Research or review regulatory, technical, or market issues related to sustainability.
- Identify or procure needed resources to implement sustainability programs or projects.
Other responsibilities
Besides their typical day, Sustainability Specialists also review and revise sustainability proposals or policies. They may also research or review regulatory, technical, or market issues related to sustainability.
On a weekly to monthly basis, Sustainability Specialists monitor or track sustainability indicators, such as energy usage, natural resource usage, waste generation, and recycling. They might also develop reports or presentations to communicate the effectiveness of sustainability initiatives.
In addition, they assess or propose sustainability initiatives, considering factors such as cost-effectiveness, technical feasibility, and acceptance.
Although specific duties may vary, many of them collect information about waste stream management or green building practices to inform decision-makers.
To some Sustainability Specialists, it is also their responsibility to identify or investigate violations of natural resources, waste management, recycling, or other environmental policies.
Featured Schools
What is the job like
Job satisfaction
Is this job meaningful
70% said they were satisfied with their job and 47% said they found their job meaningful.
My husband Jason Lewis is a British adventurer who focuses on sustainability by using zero-carbon journeys to shed light on people and animals affected by climate change. With no experience, or financial support he took a 13-year journey around the planet using only the power of his body. No fossil fuels. When he returned he was offered a quarter of a million-dollar book advance from the same people who said he would never make it.
I became an actress and made a good living for over a decade with no experience or agent, as well as founding a non-profit animal rescue. Also with no experience.
We firmly believe that if you follow your passion the money will come. Experience and education is great but if you don’t have it or can’t get it, try not to let it stop you from making a positive change in the world.
We are currently shooting a documentary series for BBC Travel, and in spite of my lifelong phobia of water, we are teaming up to pedal his tiny boat around Great Britain, telling stories of individuals with no experience who have started movements to make the world a greener place. Our hope is to motivate others to care for the planet.
Typical day
Most days start with tearing down the tent, having a cup of tea, a stretch, watch the sunrise, and a 15 min meditation. Some days we check out of a hotel, head to a TV or radio studio.
A typical day can be include anything from giving a television or radio interview, pedaling a small boat at sea, biking to meet someone who is making a difference and interviewing them, editing video footage for the documentary series, kayaking to a remote place to film wildlife, cooking a meal on the boat, or doing research on sustainability projects.
Pros and Cons
Good weather and bad weather, lovely, inspiring people, or rude, angry people, physically relaxing, physically exhausting, wide open spaces, cramped in a tiny boat or tent, great income, and sometimes unpredictable income.
Pros
Suitable for people who like to start and carry out projects.
Suitable for people who value achievements and are results-oriented.
This career is perfect for people who love to work indoors.
Very good salary.
Cons
Not suitable for people who like practical and hands-on work.
It is hard to get into this career. A considerable amount of work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is required for this career.
Long working hours (More than 40 hours per week).
How much do they make
Average salary
Average hourly wage
Entry-level Sustainability Specialists with little to no experience can expect to make anywhere between $42,180 to $56,790 per year or $20 to $27 per hour.
| Salary by experience | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Highest (Top 10%) | $135,220 | $65 |
| Senior (Top 25%) | $104,410 | $50 |
| Median | $77,420 | $37 |
| Junior (Bottom 25%) | $56,790 | $27 |
| No experience (Bottom 10%) | $42,180 | $20 |
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What is the work day like
Working hours
Working schedule
How often do you use email in this job?
Telephone
How often do you have telephone conversations in this job?
Group discussions
How often do you have group discussions in this job?
Public speaking
How often does this job require you to do public speaking?
Level of competition
How much competitive pressure is in this job?
What is the work environment like
Office-style environment
Indoors in an environmentally controlled condition
Warehouse-style environment
Indoors in a non-controlled environmental condition such as a warehouse
Outdoors
Outdoors exposed to all weather conditions
Outdoors – Under Cover
Outdoors but under cover (e.g. structure with roof but no walls)
How to become one
Difficulty to become one
Required level of education
What level of education do you need to perform the job?
Relevant majors
Relevant work experience
How much related work experience do you need to get hired for the job?
On The Job Training
How much on the job training do you need to perform the job?
Should you become one
Best personality type for this career
People with this personality likes to start and work on projects. They also like leading people and making many decisions.
People with The Builder personality type likes practical and hands-on work. They prefer working with plants, animals, and real-world materials like wood, tools, and machinery.
People with The Thinker personality likes to work with ideas that require an extensive amount of thinking. They prefer work that requires them to solve problems mentally.
People with The Artist personality likes to work with designs and patterns. They prefer activities that require self-expression and prefer work that can be done without following a clear set of rules.
People with The Helper personality type likes to work with people and in teams. They prefer work that allows them to build relationships with others.
People with The Leader personality likes to start and work on projects. They also like leading people and making many decisions.
People with The Organizer personality type likes to follow set procedures and routines. They prefer working with data and details more than with ideas.
You can read more about these career personality types here.
People who are suitable for this job tend to like starting up and carrying out projects. They like leading people and making many decisions. Sometimes they require risk-taking and often deal with business.
They also like working with ideas and require an extensive amount of thinking. They like searching for facts and figuring out problems mentally.
Take this quiz to see if this is the right career for you.
Work Values
Which values are the most important to a person’s satisfaction for this job?
You are someone who is results oriented. You prefer work that allows you to utilize your skills and abilities while at the same time giving you a sense of accomplishment.
You are someone who values job security, steady employment, and good working conditions. You also prefer work that keeps you busy all the time with something different to do every day.
You are someone who values job advancement and leadership roles. You prefer work that receives recognition for the work you do and jobs that are looked up to by others in the company and your community.
You are someone who likes to provide a service to others. You prefer a work environment where you can work with your co-workers in a friendly non-competitive environment.
You are someone who values a company that stands behind their employees. You prefer a work environment where everyone is treated fairly and is being supported by the company.
You are someone who likes to work on your own and make your own decisions. You prefer work that requires little supervision and are allowed to try out your own ideas.
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