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Director of sustainability vs sustainability specialist

The differences between directors of sustainability and sustainability specialists can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 2-4 years to become both a director of sustainability and a sustainability specialist. Additionally, a director of sustainability has an average salary of $120,649, which is higher than the $49,602 average annual salary of a sustainability specialist.

The top three skills for a director of sustainability include supply chain, renewable energy and project management. The most important skills for a sustainability specialist are HVAC, renewable energy, and logistics.

Director of sustainability vs sustainability specialist overview

Director Of SustainabilitySustainability Specialist
Yearly salary$120,649$49,602
Hourly rate$58.00$23.85
Growth rate6%10%
Number of jobs8,62523,059
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 63%Bachelor's Degree, 55%
Average age4444
Years of experience44

What does a director of sustainability do?

A director of sustainability is responsible for maintaining the safety and security of the environment of the company's premises, including the efficiency of processes and the production impact on society. Directors of sustainability ensure that the business operates under strict adherence to regulatory requirements and environmental conservation. They also handle the profitability of materials used in the production, choosing the resources that promote sustainability and benefits to the environment. A director of sustainability facilitates and plans training and programs for the employees to educate them about sustainability factors and improve productivity goals.

What does a sustainability specialist do?

Sustainability specialists are professionals who are responsible for designing and executing programs on energy and resource conservation that will reduce the impact of an organization on the environment. These specialists must determine how the organization can operate in an environmentally responsible way by combining their business expertise and environmental factors. They are required to seek business solutions that will not have any adverse effect in the future by prioritizing renewable energy sources. Sustainability specialists must also help the management to make effective decisions through reports and cost-benefit analysis of proposals.

Director of sustainability vs sustainability specialist salary

Directors of sustainability and sustainability specialists have different pay scales, as shown below.

Director Of SustainabilitySustainability Specialist
Average salary$120,649$49,602
Salary rangeBetween $80,000 And $179,000Between $30,000 And $80,000
Highest paying CitySan Francisco, CABoston, MA
Highest paying stateCaliforniaNew Jersey
Best paying companyMetaMicrosoft
Best paying industryConstructionFinance

Differences between director of sustainability and sustainability specialist education

There are a few differences between a director of sustainability and a sustainability specialist in terms of educational background:

Director Of SustainabilitySustainability Specialist
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 63%Bachelor's Degree, 55%
Most common majorEnvironmental ScienceBusiness
Most common collegeUniversity of California - DavisUniversity of Pennsylvania

Director of sustainability vs sustainability specialist demographics

Here are the differences between directors of sustainability' and sustainability specialists' demographics:

Director Of SustainabilitySustainability Specialist
Average age4444
Gender ratioMale, 62.0% Female, 38.0%Male, 41.2% Female, 58.8%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 6.4% Unknown, 4.6% Hispanic or Latino, 9.4% Asian, 8.8% White, 70.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4%Black or African American, 6.4% Unknown, 4.6% Hispanic or Latino, 9.4% Asian, 8.8% White, 70.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4%
LGBT Percentage11%11%

Differences between director of sustainability and sustainability specialist duties and responsibilities

Director of sustainability example responsibilities.

  • Deploy the project on AWS form and lead the DevOps team.
  • Manage all aspects of the RFP and contract award process.
  • Manage all external communication with customers, NGOs and the general public.
  • Interface with the DoD customer to define release contents and manage scope.
  • Manage both the ISO [] and the fiber certification program documents through this system.
  • Direct all preconstruction, estimating, scheduling, logistics efforts and manage the buyout and installation of the geothermal system.
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Sustainability specialist example responsibilities.

  • Achieve executive buy-in and trained/ supervise a team of 5 HVAC and plumbing technicians to conduct commissioning.
  • Accomplish aircraft paint refinishing procedures in accordance with OSHA state, federal and military specification.
  • Collect and report GHG, energy and water data.
  • Research the carbon neutrality of biomass in order to more accurately assess Middlebury's GHG emissions.
  • Power plant calibrations on RTD's, thermocouples, transmitters, sensors, actuators, pressure switches & control components.
  • Grant SharePoint permissions as requested to new site administrators.
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Director of sustainability vs sustainability specialist skills

Common director of sustainability skills
  • Supply Chain, 9%
  • Renewable Energy, 8%
  • Project Management, 7%
  • Sustainability Initiatives, 6%
  • EHS, 6%
  • Leverage, 6%
Common sustainability specialist skills
  • HVAC, 10%
  • Renewable Energy, 8%
  • Logistics, 7%
  • CAD, 6%
  • Cycle Management, 6%
  • Provide Management, 6%

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