Sustainability job descriptions

Position highlights:
This is a full-time position – 40 hours a week – that is eligible for benefits. The director of sustainability is responsible for the development and execution of a comprehensive sustainability program that aligns with overarching goals and engages staff at all levels. This multifaceted role helps position ORGANIZATION NAME as a leader in environmental sustainability with the goal of upholding national environmental standards and best practices. The director is responsible for the development, implementation, promotion, and monitoring of environmental strategies and goals across ORGANIZATION NAME. The director at ORGANIZATION NAME leads the organization in deploying environmental sustainability actions that lead to the reduction of ecological damage and promote long-term sustainability. The sustainability manager acts in accordance with policies and procedures and exemplifies the mission, vision, and values of ORGANIZATION NAME.

Position responsibilities:

• Develop, direct, and manage all facets of the sustainability program for the organization
• Serve as the internal leader and expert for sustainability, monitor trends and communicate/educate all stakeholders on sustainability topics
• Lead the development and management of corporate sustainability for the health system encompassing people, planet, and profit, while emphasizing the interconnectedness of human health to a healthy planet
• Develop and lead an internal executive sustainability steering committee at the corporate level that will oversee and monitor progress
• Report sustainability progress to the executive team and the board of directors
• Establish a vision and develop strategies and SMART goals to integrate sustainability cross-functionally across the enterprise
• Collaborate with the company’s internal groups (e.g., plant operations, engineering, environmental health and safety, marketing, and health professional representation) for the development and implementation of initiatives in support of the sustainability strategy
• Lead and promote sustainability engagement activities through tools, education, and training to increase awareness among staff members, patients, and the community
• Build effective partnerships with external community organizations to support sustainability efforts
• Create and strengthen partnerships with the vendor community to develop and implement new strategies for effective and efficient means of providing equipment, services, and supplies that minimize greenhouse gases and reduce the environmental footprint of the supply chain
• Analyze and assess current operating procedures, materials, and methods, anticipate and implement changes or modifications based on sustainability goals, and perform life cycle assessments and cost analyses of proposed modifications
• Manage internal and external reporting requirements, like Practice Greenhealth’s Environmental Excellence Awards
• Collaborate with the marketing and/or communications department on a comprehensive communications strategy
• Develop website content, educational materials, and associated reports related to sustainability initiatives, education, and marketing in collaboration with internal departments, including information systems, marketing, and public relations
• Coordinate Earth Week engagement and educational activities
• Collaborate with the human resources department and the educational department to provide education about sustainability efforts during new employee orientation and annual departmental training
• Develop regular written updates on sustainability progress for key stakeholders
• Establish best practices and recommendations and develop plans for evaluation and implementation

Position qualifications:

• Has a master’s degree in sustainability, environmental sciences, or a related field (or has equivalent experience)
• Has U.S. Green Building Council LEED Green Associate certification (preferred)
• Has five years of experience (required), or 10+ years of experience (preferred) 
• Has experience in health care sustainability (preferred)
• Has outstanding communication and interpersonal skills
• Has excellent presentation, verbal, and written skills 
• Is comfortable with public speaking, training, and education
• Has experience in developing and presenting sustainable business concepts, training, and emerging technologies
• Has extensive knowledge of local, regional, and national emerging sustainable business strategies, life cycle assessments (LCA), ROI analysis, and other key sustainability tools and techniques
• Has the ability to analyze data, evaluate outcomes, and recommend actions
• Has organizational skills, time management skills, self-motivation, project management experience, and priority setting skills
• Has experience in change management and continuous quality improvement
• Understands cost-benefit analysis in the selection of sustainable business strategies
• Has knowledge of financial planning, including budget development
• Understands environmental health and safety guidelines, the U.S. Green Building Council’s Leadership in environmental design, the green guidelines for health care, and basic environmental compliance for health care
• Has the ability to construct and direct a network of sustainable business resources
• Has knowledge of waste and inefficiencies common to the health care setting, primarily in the supply chain
• Has strong computer skills (e.g., Word, Excel, PowerPoint)
   

Position highlights: 
This is a full-time position – 40 hours a week – that is eligible for benefits. The sustainability manager supports environmental stewardship under the sustainability director. This multifaceted role helps position ORGANIZATION NAME as a leader in environmental sustainability with the goal of upholding national environmental standards and best practices. The sustainability manager supports the development, implementation, promotion, and monitoring of environmental strategies and goals across ORGANIZATION NAME. The sustainability manager at ORGANIZATION NAME coordinates the organization in deploying environmental sustainability actions that lead to the reduction of ecological damage and promote long-term sustainability. The sustainability manager acts in accordance with policies and procedures and exemplifies the mission, vision, and values of ORGANIZATION NAME.

Position responsibilities:

• Support the development of an environmental sustainability commitment statement, charter, and strategic plan to incorporate environmental sustainability into the organization’s current framework
• Collaborate with appropriate departments to develop and carry out a strategy to merge aspects of environmental sustainability and community benefit and/or resilience
• Establish a strategy and forge or maintain relationships with external stakeholders to expand the organization’s environmental sustainability work beyond the facility’s/system’s traditional boundaries
• Develop or identify an appropriate mechanism for establishing a baseline and collecting data longitudinally in alignment with Practice Greenhealth’s Environmental Excellence Awards criteria
• Perform a baseline assessment for analyzing the organization’s current practices and identify opportunities for improvement in environmental sustainability
• Establish, set targets for, and track key performance indicators (KPIs) to identify progress on important sustainability metrics
• Analyze results on an ongoing basis to effectively audit progress and identify areas for continual improvement
• Collaborate with appropriate departments to communicate the organization’s environmental sustainability strategy, initiatives, progress, and achievements with colleagues, clients, stakeholders, and vendors
• Develop policies and procedures for areas including materials and waste, safer chemicals, environmentally preferable purchasing, transportation, energy, water, climate, and healthy foods
• Conduct regular rounding and audits and provide updates and brief inservices on environmental programs 
• Develop a written sustainability plan with SMART goals (with roles and responsibilities identified)
• Develop committee and work group structures to support continuous environmental quality improvement

 
Position qualifications:

• Has a bachelor's degree, preferably an advanced degree in sustainability, environmental sciences, or a related field (or equivalent experience)
• Has U.S. Green Building Council LEED Green Associate certification (preferred)
• Has a minimum of three years of sustainability or business experience
• Has broad knowledge and appreciation of the key aspects of sustainable development, with a particular emphasis on life sciences and the associated business impacts
• Is reflective and able to come up with solutions that can solve complex problems
• Has the ability to plan and prioritize deadlines and think strategically
• Has experience in the application of sustainability standards and reporting protocols, including but not limited to U.N. Sustainable Development Goals, Greenhouse Gas Protocol, ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager, and others
• Has strong written and verbal communication skills with the ability to communicate sustainability initiatives and needs to executive leadership and front-line staff
• Has a proven ability to engage with people at all levels across the organization with enthusiasm 
• Has strong management skills with an open, constructive, and collaborative approach to working with colleagues
• Has experience in change management and continuous quality improvement
   

Position highlights:
This is a full-time position – 40 hours a week – that is eligible for benefits. The medical or nursing director and clinical champion of sustainability is responsible for supporting environmental stewardship and integrating it into clinical practice throughout the health system. This role supports the integration of environmental sustainability through triple bottom line principles within the organization’s strategic business plan. They will also connect executive leadership and clinicians in recognizing that human health is intertwined with the health of the planet. The clinical champion of environmental stewardship embodies the culture of health by collaborating with the organization’s sustainability lead to link stewardship to clinical excellence. The clinical champion of environmental stewardship within ORGANIZATION NAME can help contribute to the organizational mission of healing communities. 

The medical or nursing director – the clinical champion of environmental stewardship intimately works with the organization’s clinical programs to align and frame sustainability as a public health issue. This requires engaging both clinical staff and business units in understanding and connecting human health with environmental health. The position will mentor cross-functional leaders and staff while being an active voice for clinical training regarding sustainability (e.g., climate change, population health, conservation practices).

Position responsibilities:

• Collaborate with the system or facility sustainability director and/or manager to reinforce the sustainability program’s mission and goals
• Collaborate with the system or facility sustainability director and/or manager to develop and implement training, continuing education, and outreach programs around environmental health (e.g., meat purchased from animals raised without the nontherapeutic use of antibiotics,  antimicrobials in soaps, fabrics and finishes, water conservation, emergency and resiliency preparedness, greenhouse gas reduction, infection prevention)
• Help identify and establish environmental standards of practice for practicing health professionals and patient care units
• Serve on committees related to quality and compliance and support innovations that merge evidence-based clinical practice and environmental best practices
• Participate in regional, community, and other agency activities to advance sustainability goals and metrics 
• Elevate the health system’s reputation for environmental stewardship and the public’s trust of health professionals to be a patient advocate by presenting at external community events  
• Collaborate with internal and external partners, like Health Care Without Harm and Practice Greenhealth, to drive clinical integration  

 
Position qualifications:

• Has an advanced-practice clinical degree (e.g., MD, APRN) with patient care experience within the past five years (current part-time practice preferred)
• Has three to seven years of experience in administration or leadership with clear experience of working in dynamic teams
• Has deep knowledge of environmental impacts on human health
• Has demonstrated systems thinking and knowledge of problem-solving through scientific method
• Has existing relationships with community, state, and regional health and environmental organizations
   

Position highlights:
This is a full-time position – 40 hours a week – that is eligible for benefits. The energy and water manager is responsible for developing and executing an energy and water strategy in alignment with the sustainability program goals. The individual in this role supports the development of programs, plans, and policies that meet the health system’s sustainability commitments and directs their implementation. In this role, the energy and water manager will direct the coordination and collaboration with other departments, health system leadership, government agencies and entities, and non-governmental organizations on matters related to the environmental impact of health care’s energy and water use. The manager will coordinate energy and water program functions, communications, employee interactions, and other activities that help build a culture of sustainability. 

Position responsibilities:

• Conduct and/or coordinate ASHRAE LEVEL 1 and LEVEL 2 on-site audits
• Manage energy benchmarking and assessment and analyze energy consumption metrics in comparison to Practice Greenhealth top performers 
• Set performance targets, identify opportunities, and create control plans to sustain energy savings  
• Track energy use in EPA Energy Star Portfolio Manager at a minimum and facilitate data submission with Practice Greenhealth’s Environmental Excellence Awards and benchmarking tools
• Capture greenhouse gas emissions for a minimum of Scope 1 and Scope 2 gases and Scope 3 within an agreed-upon timeframe
• Manage the identification and prioritization of energy capital projects, operational changes, and physical plant upgrades that result in reduced energy consumption
• Set and address time-bound goals for transition to renewable energy sources with the goal of 100% renewable energy
• Provide clear and concise reporting of all energy and sustainability activities on prescribed intervals or as requested in alignment with Practice Greenhealth’s Environmental Excellence Awards criteria
• Collaborate with energy and environmental managers to learn best practices across the organization and sector
• Actively participate and present findings and recommendations to the energy team and leadership (as requested)
• Develop various reports for site management and regulatory groups
• Establish a positive rapport with key stakeholders, ensuring a high level of customer service
• Identify available incentives and rebates which could significantly influence projects and funding decisions
• Coordinate utility bill auditing and recovery activities
• Ensure that building systems and equipment are installed and maintained in accordance with joint commission standards and all other applicable state/federal/local regulatory requirements, including but not limited to CMS, Title 22 California Administrative Code, and the Office of Statewide Health Planning and Development (OSHPD)
• Participate and support the development of three-, five-, and ten-year capital project plans
• Comply with all policies and procedures, including but not limited to ethics and business practices
• Attend and actively participate in hospital-sponsored committee meetings (e.g., infection prevention, safety, quality, and emergency preparedness) 
• Develop and maintain strong internal account relationships in the areas of real estate, capital management, quality, finance, human resources, and supply chain
• Participate in project scoping activities to ensure optimal energy efficiency
• Support annual facilities and operations capital equipment forecasting and budget processes    
• Conduct and track a water use baseline and usage processes and set goal targets based on Practice Greenhealth’s top performers
• Develop an energy and water management plan with reduction targets and tracking
• Capture water data and stories for Practice Greenhealth’s Environmental Excellence Awards and benchmark data (while comparing to other award-winning facilities)
• Identify high-energy and water use areas – including laboratory settings, food and nutrition, and central sterile supply – and conservation opportunities. 
• Translate energy and water savings for communication planning and employee engagement
• Identify local, regional, and/or national grants/rebates to support energy and water projects
• Support sustainable procurement with an emphasis on energy and water use reduction within supply chains and other committees  
• Participate in greening the operating room activities and setting goals around HVAC setback, lighting and equipment upgrades, and water use reduction
• Add expertise to other topics like transportation, equipment, and maintenance

Position qualifications:

• Has a bachelor’s degree in engineering (e.g., electrical, mechanical, chemical) or equivalent experience
• Has five or more years worth of experience with energy conservation in a health care environment
• Has working knowledge of building automation and control systems
• Has the ability to work both independently and in a team setting
• Is a Certified Energy Manager (CEM) (highly desired)  
• Has Six Sigma certification or equivalent ISO experience and training (preferred)
• Has exceptional oral and written communications skills
• Has experience presenting information to all levels of management
• Has excellent computer skills, including proficiency in Excel, Word, Outlook, and PowerPoint
• Has the ability to manage multiple priorities and effectively organize responsibilities
• Is a self-starter and collaborative team player with the ability to bring alternate points of view to discussion/analysis
• Has strong project management skills
• Has excellent analytical, organizational, and time management skills
   

Position highlights:

This is a full-time position – 40 hours a week – that is eligible for benefits. The waste and recycling manager will implement and administer the material and waste management program to prevent pollution and maintain compliance with regulatory requirements. They will also manage ORGANIZATION NAME’s streams to reduce waste at the source, minimize disposal costs, and maximize landfill diversion.

Position responsibilities:

• Manage the organization’s material and waste streams with responsibility for developing a plan from generation to disposal, reuse, recycling, or recovery
• Work with the environmental services management team to ensure the process of waste and recycling collection is handled efficiently, safely, and in a cost-effective manner
• Maximize the organization’s waste diversion through the design, implementation, and management of recycling, reuse, composting, sustainable purchasing, and donation programs 
• Work with operating room staff on waste prevention and reduction activities
• Oversee pharmaceutical waste collection and prevention activities
• Coordinate with vendors and key business partners while monitoring recycling market trends to maintain maximum recovery
• Develop and implement a quality protocol for proper segregation of material and waste streams, establishing clear communication with partners and ongoing education of staff
• Direct, develop, design, and review the orientation program for all new housekeeping and waste management staff
• Educate staff on sustainability and waste management policies, procedures, and regulations through employee orientations, departmental training, publications, committee meetings, etc.
• Oversee and direct material and waste collection and storage to ensure the area is operating legally, safely, and effectively
• Ensure waste handling, transport, and storage is in compliance with local and federal laws, including Department of Transportation regulations, state regulations, and infection prevention protocols 
• Work with the supply chain team and identify opportunities for waste reduction, take back programs, and other ways to reduce total waste
• Evaluate and recommend new products and equipment 
• Manage maintenance of equipment and supply inventory
• Develop and maintain the facility and departmental policies and procedures for material and waste management
• Assist in developing the departmental budget
• Manage cost centers for service providers of waste and material management
• Develop presentations on department-specific training programs to orient and educate staff
• Participate in Earth Day planning or other educational activities
• Use the Practice Greenhealth benchmark report to conduct baseline and ongoing data tracking of materials and waste streams
• Populate the material and waste sections of the Environmental Excellence Awards
• Perform other duties as required or assigned

Position qualifications:

• Has a bachelor’s degree (or equivalent) with three years of relevant experience
• Has supervisory experience (required)
• Has a minimum of three years of health care experience
• Has excellent written and verbal communication skills (required)
• Has proficiency in Microsoft Office applications (required)
• Has systems analysis experience (strongly preferred)
• Has experience coordinating institutional or corporate environmental sustainability initiatives (preferred)

Licensure and certification skills: 

• Environmental Hazardous Material Manager certification (preferred)
• DOT training (preferred)
• EPA RCRA training (preferred)
   

Position highlights: This is a full-time position – 40 hours a week and eligible for benefits. The sustainability program data analyst will report to DEPARTMENT, helping to advance the ORG NAME sustainability vision and strategy with the implementation of an organization-wide program. Position responsibilities Lead special projects and ongoing data collection to increase the comprehensiveness of the overarching sustainability program, which may include, but are not limited to:

• Gather, organize, and track data that supports the sustainability program
• Gather, organize, and contribute to sustainability reporting internally and externally, including submission to Practice Greenhealth’s data platform
• Support development and deployment of sustainability Educational workshops, case studies, and other communications Coordinate with 3rd party utility management vendors as needed

Project management responsibilities shall include but not be limited to:

• Manage and lead teams of key stakeholders in specific initiatives as directed as part of the organization-wide sustainability program
• Organize and manage sustainability documents on intranet site
• Develop distribution lists of key stakeholders to aid in the collection of key data to perform analysis of employee commuting, hazardous chemical inventory, and management, supply chain practices, material, and waste, etc.
• Distill data from various sustainability initiatives into narratives for reports

Position qualifications:

• Bachelor's Degree in Environmental Science, sustainability, Economics, Finance, Business Administration, Engineering, English, or clinical field 3-5 years in corporate program or data analysis experience

Preferred qualifications for this position include:

• 3 years Large non-profit healthcare and sustainability experience
• Experience with environmental, social, and governance reporting frameworks like Global Reporting Initiative and data collection platforms
• Background and understanding of voluntary environmental reporting protocols, like the GHG Protocol, Scope 3 Protocol, and other tracking is a plus