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Director of sustainability skills for your resume and career

Updated January 8, 2025

4 min read

Quoted expert

Thomas Culhane

Below we've compiled a list of the most critical director of sustainability skills. We ranked the top skills for directors of sustainability based on the percentage of resumes they appeared on. For example, 8.8% of director of sustainability resumes contained supply chain as a skill. Continue reading to find out what skills a director of sustainability needs to be successful in the workplace.

15 director of sustainability skills for your resume and career

1. Supply Chain

A supply chain is a network or a sequence by which finished products of a company are distributed to retailers and then supplied to the end-users. The distribution of products and services from the production line to the final buyers is carried out in a series of steps including; manufacturing, transportation, and their distribution. The whole supply chain consists of different entities including; manufacturers, transportation, warehouses, suppliers, and retailers. The entities ensure that the products retain their originality while also minimizing the cost of delivery.

Here's how directors of sustainability use supply chain:

Developed program and conducted safety and environmental due diligence audits on supply chain partners.
Analyzed supply chains using Life-Cycle Assessment techniques, increasing green procurement of resources to 90% while working within current budgets.

2. Renewable Energy

Here's how directors of sustainability use renewable energy:

Work on a daily basis with executive level management in oil, natural gas, renewable energy, and coal industries.
Implemented a global energy sourcing strategy for electricity, natural gas and other fuels, including renewable energy sources.

3. Project Management

Here's how directors of sustainability use project management:

Served as consultant and project management for all performance and energy efficiency contracts.
Established and managed engineering organization including Project Management, Technical Applications, Process Development, Materials Management and Field Operations teams.

4. Sustainability Initiatives

Here's how directors of sustainability use sustainability initiatives:

Secure senior management support for company commitment in regional sustainability initiatives - Pittsburgh 2030 District, Pittsburgh Green Workplace Challenge.
Coordinate and manage volunteers and interns to assist with sustainability initiatives.

5. EHS

Environment, Health, and Safety - EHS is a generic term for laws, rules, regulations, professions, and programs designed to protect the health and safety of the public and the environment from hazards. Its objective is to prevent and reduce accidents, emergencies, and health problems, including in the workplace, as well as the environmental damage that may result from work practices. Organizations must do this to ensure that their activities do not harm anyone.

Here's how directors of sustainability use ehs:

Created and directed the Sustainable Development Competency Center, which reported directly to CEO and VP of EHS.
Develop policy and procedures, train business leaders and EHS auditors, conduct big acquisition/integration assessments and critical incident investigations and audits

6. Leverage

Leverage is an investment strategy technique that uses borrowed capital instead of new capital to increase the potential return on investment. Companies use this concept to multiply their exposure to a financial market without tying up additional investment capital to increase assets, cash flow, and returns, although it can also increase losses.

Here's how directors of sustainability use leverage:

Developed strategies and campaigns designed to leverage investments made in clean technology.
Leverage and seek new resources for sustainability planning and implementation of initiatives.

7. Oversight

Having oversight of someone means to monitor a process or a situation. If someone has oversight of something, they are responsible for the completion of the project. Oversight is usually given to experts as they monitor their juniors or newbies as they go through a project.

Here's how directors of sustainability use oversight:

Recruited, built and managed ACC's Value Chain Outreach Committee and sector-specific subcommittees for issue oversight.
Provided oversight of environmental and social consideration of the DNA of entire value chain.

8. Sustainability Strategy

Here's how directors of sustainability use sustainability strategy:

Developed, directed and implemented the industry's Environmental Sustainability Strategy.
Coordinated creation of MWV's first Sustainability Strategy and Targets with input from multiple functions and management levels.

9. Sustainability Programs

Here's how directors of sustainability use sustainability programs:

Instituted tracking and analysis of metrics for sustainability programs.
Direct and establish policies and strategies to advance the City's sustainability program.

10. External Stakeholders

Here's how directors of sustainability use external stakeholders:

Formed the Green Chemistry Team of internal and external stakeholders to replace traditional process chemistry with environmentally benign alternatives.
Collaborated with internal and external stakeholders to align sustainability programs on campus and in the community.

11. Sustainability Plan

Here's how directors of sustainability use sustainability plan:

Authored a 5-year sustainability plan inclusive of feasibility analysis and wide stakeholder engagement, using best-practice metrics from higher education.
Led bi-monthly meetings supporting integrative & collaborative sustainability planning, accountability & university's long-term strategy.

12. Environmental Sustainability

Here's how directors of sustainability use environmental sustainability:

Collaborate to create a healthy workplace through environmental sustainability, health and wellness.
Manage diverse environmental sustainability programs for company-wide implementation globally.

13. Program Management

Here's how directors of sustainability use program management:

Utilize Kaizen and LEAN continuous improvement principals to advance program management and execution.
Directed and coordinated all engineering activities of the organization inclusive of Program Management, Design Engineering and Engineering Support.

14. Waste Reduction

Here's how directors of sustainability use waste reduction:

Provide support on issues related to energy efficiency, LEED building, waste reduction, and rebates, including Energy Star.
Implemented a campus-wide recycling and waste reduction program.

15. Action Plan

Here's how directors of sustainability use action plan:

Authored Penn's Climate Action Plan and serve as Penn's spokesperson for environmental initiatives.
Skilled in developing and delivering Climate Action Plans to the college and university markets.

What skills help Directors Of Sustainability find jobs?

Tell us what job you are looking for, we’ll show you what skills employers want.

What director of sustainability skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?

Thomas Culhane

University of South Florida

Since the 'job market' is considered 'competitive' students often seek salary maximization without realizing that in the sustainability field the goal is not to focus on instantaneous maxima but long-term (i.e. sustainable) high averages. My advice for anybody in our field is to 'be the nexus', BE the change you wish to see (as Gandhi exhorted), BE the 'sustainabilitist' that the world needs so that your skills are not only always in demand but are actually truly needed.

Do you want to know more?

List of director of sustainability skills to add to your resume

The most important skills for a director of sustainability resume and required skills for a director of sustainability to have include:

Supply Chain
Renewable Energy
Project Management
Sustainability Initiatives
EHS
Leverage
Oversight
Sustainability Strategy
Sustainability Programs
External Stakeholders
Sustainability Plan
Environmental Sustainability
Program Management
Waste Reduction

Action Plan
Strategic Plan
CSR
Business Development
ISO
Employee Engagement
GRI
Sustainability Efforts
QA
DOT
NGOs
ROI
Energy Efficiency
R

GHG
Product Design
Sustainable Practices
Waste Management
PV
Product Line
Sustainability Training
Strategic Partnerships
Sustainable Design
Composting
Logistics
Consumer Products

Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

Updated January 8, 2025

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