Occupations · Business and Financial Operations

Sustainability Specialists

Address organizational sustainability issues, such as waste stream management, green building practices, and green procurement plans.

O*NET 30.3 Database (USDOL/ETA) · occupation code 13-1199.05

What people in this job actually do

Ordered by how important the work is rated.

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.
Review and revise sustainability proposals or policies.
Provide technical or administrative support for sustainability programs or issues.
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.

O*NET 30.3 task ratings, importance scale

Skills that matter most

Importance, rated 1 to 5.

Reading Comprehension4.0

Writing4.0

Speaking4.0

Active Listening3.9

Critical Thinking3.9

Monitoring3.5

Active Learning3.2

Learning Strategies3.1

Mathematics2.9

Science2.2

O*NET 30.3 skills, importance scale

Software and tools

A dot marks what O*NET flags as in demand.

Adobe Acrobat●Adobe Creative Cloud software●Adobe Illustrator●Adobe InDesign●Adobe Photoshop●Autodesk AutoCAD●Autodesk AutoCAD Civil 3D●Autodesk Revit●Bentley MicroStation●Extensible markup language XML●Google Analytics●JavaScript●Microsoft Access●Microsoft Excel●Microsoft Office software●Microsoft Outlook●Microsoft Power BI●Microsoft PowerPoint●Microsoft Project●Microsoft SharePoint●Microsoft Visio●Microsoft Word●Oracle Database●SAP software●Structured query language SQL●Tableau●Esri ArcGISGeographic information system GIS software

O*NET 30.3 software skills · hot-technology flag

What this work is actually like

Conditions rated against the average across all occupations — only what makes this job different is listed.

4 / 5Considerable preparation — a four-year degree plus several years in the field.

O*NET 30.3 Job Zones

Working conditions that stand out

Spend Time Using Your Hands to Handle, Control, or Feel Objects, Tools, or Controls−1.9 below average

Spend Time Making Repetitive Motions−1.4 below average

Consequence of Error−1.3 below average

Spend Time Bending or Twisting Your Body−1.2 below average

Spend Time Standing−1.1 below average

E-Mail+1.0 above average

Wear Common Protective or Safety Equipment such as Safety Shoes, Glasses, Gloves, Hearing Protection, Hard Hats, or Life Jackets−1.0 below average

O*NET 30.3 work context, frequency scale · observed 2020-08

How people actually get in

Share of workers by the education they hold.

Bachelor's Degree52%

Master's Degree39%

Post-Baccalaureate Certificate - awarded for completion of an organized program of study; designed for people who have completed a Baccalaureate degree but do not meet the requirements of academic degrees carrying the title of Master.4%

Some College Courses4%

O*NET 30.2 education, training and experience · observed 2020-08

What kind of person the work suits

Occupational interest profile, rated 1 to 7.

Investigative5.2

Enterprising5.1

Conventional4.4

O*NET 30.2 occupational interests (RIASEC)

Tasks O*NET flags as emerging

Deliver sustainability training to employees.

O*NET 30.3 emerging tasks

What you take with you

Skills rated for how well they transfer into other occupations.

Complex Problem Solving3.6

Judgment and Decision Making3.6

Systems Evaluation3.2

Coordination3.2

Social Perceptiveness3.1

Persuasion3.1

Systems Analysis3.1

Time Management3.0

O*NET 30.3 transferable skills, importance scale

Knowledge the work draws on

Administration and ManagementLaw and GovernmentEnglish LanguageEducation and TrainingBuilding and ConstructionCustomer and Personal Service

Abilities it leans on

Written ComprehensionWritten ExpressionOral ExpressionOral ComprehensionInductive ReasoningDeductive Reasoning

O*NET 30.3 abilities and knowledge, importance scale

How this job is advertised

The same work is posted under many titles — this is what to search for.

Energy AnalystGreen ConsultantSustainability CoachWater Project ManagerSustainability AdvisorSustainability AnalystSustainability OfficerSustainability ChampionSustainability SpecialistCampus Energy CoordinatorSustainability ConsultantSustainability CoordinatorSustainable Design ChampionRenewable Energy Consultant

O*NET 30.3 job titles reported for this occupation

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What changed since 2015

Comparing O*NET release 20.1 (2015-10-01) with 30.3 (2026-05-01). Signs, not colour alone, carry the meaning. 2 entries that were only relabelled between releases are left out.

Now listed 23

+Extensible markup language XML+Microsoft Visio+Adobe Acrobat+Oracle Database+JavaScript+Quark enterprise publishing software+Structured query language SQL+Autodesk AutoCAD Civil 3D+Adobe Photoshop+Inventory management systems+Esri ArcGIS+Tableau+Adobe Creative Cloud software+Social media sites

No longer listed 5

−Adobe Systems Adobe Illustrator−Adobe Systems Adobe InDesign−Quark software−Adobe Systems Adobe Acrobat software−Adobe Systems Adobe Photoshop software

Diff across the O*NET releases held here in full since October 2015, following occupations through merges and retirements. O*NET re-surveys occupations on a rolling cycle, so “no change” can also mean “not re-surveyed”.

O*NET 30.3 related occupations

Also called

Energy AnalystGreen ConsultantSustainability CoachWater Project ManagerSustainability OfficerSustainability AdvisorSustainability AnalystSustainability ChampionSustainability SpecialistSustainability ConsultantCampus Energy CoordinatorSustainability Coordinator

O*NET 30.3 alternative titles

The same work in Europe

ESCO occupation	ISCO	Match
environmental programme coordinator	2133.6	exact
ICT environmental manager	2143.1.2	broader

Official ESCO ↔ O*NET crosswalk (ESCO Secretariat with USDOL/ETA)

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