Chief Sustainability Officer job description.
A Chief Sustainability Officer leads an organization's environmental, social, and governance (ESG) strategy, setting goals for reducing environmental impact and improving long-term sustainability performance. They work across departments to embed sustainable practices into operations, reporting, and corporate strategy while engaging investors, regulators, and stakeholders.
The Chief Sustainability Officer job description · $29
The full editable .docx — role summary, 8 worked responsibilities, qualifications, and skills, formatted for your letterhead. Delivered to your inbox within 24 hours — usually instantly.
Role: Chief Sustainability Officer Reports to: Chief Executive Officer
A Chief Sustainability Officer leads an organization's environmental, social, and governance (ESG) strategy, setting goals for reducing environmental impact and improving long-term sustainability performance. They work across departments to embed sustainable practices into operations, reporting, and corporate strategy while engaging investors, regulators, and stakeholders.
- Develop and lead the organization's sustainability and ESG strategy
- Set measurable targets for emissions, waste, energy, and resource use
- Oversee sustainability reporting and disclosures to stakeholders
What's inside the document.
One-paragraph plain-English explanation of the role's outcome and scope.
8 responsibilities phrased the way the work is actually done.
5 qualifications a candidate must have to perform on day 30.
2 qualifications that would make a candidate excellent in year two.
5 skill chips you can copy directly into your ATS.
Chief Executive Officer
A complete document set.
- Word document (.docx) — fully editable
- PDF — signature-ready
- Google Docs — one-click copy to your Drive
- 12 months of updates to this document
- Commercial-use licence for internal and client work
The work, not the title.
- Develop and lead the organization's sustainability and ESG strategy
- Set measurable targets for emissions, waste, energy, and resource use
- Oversee sustainability reporting and disclosures to stakeholders
- Advise executive leadership and the board on sustainability risks and opportunities
- Partner with operations, supply chain, and product teams on sustainable practices
- Track regulatory developments and ensure compliance with environmental standards
- Engage investors, customers, and regulators on sustainability performance
- Build and lead a sustainability team and cross-functional working groups
Required — and what would make a candidate excellent.
- Bachelor's degree in environmental science, business, or related field
- Significant experience in sustainability, ESG, or corporate strategy leadership
- Track record of setting and delivering measurable sustainability goals
- Strong understanding of ESG reporting frameworks and regulations
- Excellent executive communication and stakeholder management skills
- Advanced degree (MBA or environmental/sustainability specialization)
- Experience presenting sustainability performance to a board of directors
Eight steps from download to publish.
- 01Open the Chief Sustainability Officer job description in Word or your one-click Google Docs copy.
- 02Replace placeholders for company name, reporting line, and location with your specifics.
- 03Tighten the summary to one paragraph that names the team's outcome, not just the role.
- 04Edit the responsibilities to match the actual scope of the seat — aim for 6 to 8 items, not 12.
- 05Separate required qualifications from preferred. Required is what a candidate must have to do the work on day 30; preferred is what would make them excellent in year two.
- 06Add salary range guidance using BLS, Payscale, or your own band data — do not copy generic figures.
- 07Have the hiring manager and one peer read it. Cut anything that wouldn't survive a candidate question.
- 08Publish to your ATS, intranet, and external careers page.
The right document at the right moment.
Use this Chief Sustainability Officer job description any time you are opening or reopening a seat at this level. The executive band sets the calibration — copy the document, tighten it to your specific scope, and circulate to the hiring panel before the first interview.
The reporting line (Chief Executive Officer) and skills list are starting points. Override either if your org structure or stack differs from the norm — the template is a draft, not a contract.
Honest answers before you download.
- What background is typical for a Chief Sustainability Officer?
- Candidates often come from environmental science, corporate strategy, or operations backgrounds, combined with significant leadership experience in sustainability or ESG programs.
- Who does a Chief Sustainability Officer typically work with?
- They collaborate closely with the CEO, board, operations, supply chain, and investor relations teams to align sustainability goals with business strategy.
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This Chief Sustainability Officer job description is a professionally drafted starting point for your hiring process and is not legal advice. Hiring practice varies by jurisdiction (e.g. pay-transparency laws differ across US states and AU jurisdictions). Adapt this document for your specific location and have employment counsel review any clauses you add before publishing. Salary varies by region, employer type, and experience. Reference BLS or current industry surveys for ranges. Full disclaimer.