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Sustainability consultant skills for your resume and career

Updated January 8, 2025

3 min read

Quoted experts

Eva Rocke,

Eva Rocke

Below we've compiled a list of the most critical sustainability consultant skills. We ranked the top skills for sustainability consultants based on the percentage of resumes they appeared on. For example, 18.5% of sustainability consultant resumes contained renewable energy as a skill. Continue reading to find out what skills a sustainability consultant needs to be successful in the workplace.

15 sustainability consultant skills for your resume and career

1. Renewable Energy

Here's how sustainability consultants use renewable energy:

Develop and execute renewable energy procurement strategy with responsibility for market analysis, financial modeling and contract negotiation.
Manage business partnerships with utilities and renewable energy companies and direct energy efficiency investments for three-person sustainability team.

2. Sustainability Projects

Here's how sustainability consultants use sustainability projects:

Assisted Sustainability Coordinator with sustainability projects.
Evaluate proposals for sustainability projects considering factors like cost effectiveness, technical feasibility and integration with other initiatives.

3. Architecture

Here's how sustainability consultants use architecture:

Supported the San Francisco Architecture Group in business development, technical support, and marketing.
certificate program within the disciplines of Architecture, Interiors, Horticulture, and Construction.

4. Sustainable Design

Here's how sustainability consultants use sustainable design:

Focused on international planning projects incorporating sustainable design into urban renewal projects for private and public clients worldwide.
Supported the development of a three-day Sustainable Design Workshop for the U.S. Air Force.

5. Sustainability Programs

Here's how sustainability consultants use sustainability programs:

Worked closely with clients to promote and implement sustainability programs into their operations.
Assessed current practices, developed goals, designed and implemented sustainability programs.

6. HVAC

Here's how sustainability consultants use hvac:

Evaluated viability of retrofitting municipal facilities with energy efficient HVAC systems and lighting.
Provided substantive support during creation of green cards products included HVAC, construction products, interior furnishings and fixtures.

7. Sustainability Strategy

Here's how sustainability consultants use sustainability strategy:

Conducted a model-based benchmarking analysis of the company s 2010 corporate sustainability strategy.
Authored and championed new Staples Global Sustainability Policy, providing a globally-relevant framework for the company's sustainability strategy and goals.

8. GHG

GHG, also known as a Greenhouse Gas, is the name given to any harmful gas that absorbs and transmits radiation. These gases are dangerous to Earth's atmosphere and cause damage to the ozone layer, global warming and other environmental concerns. Combustion of fossil fuels in large industries is the main culprit of greenhouse gas production. These gases trap heat inside the Earth's atmosphere damaging it, which eventually leads to global warming.

Here's how sustainability consultants use ghg:

Prepared annual GHG emissions statement, managed annual assurance with auditors, and assisted with sustainability reporting.
Developed GHG accounting policies and programs for several international clients.

9. Climate

Climate refers to the climatic conditions that generally prevail in a particular region, such as temperature, air pressure, humidity, precipitation, sun, cloud cover, and winds, throughout the year for a longer period.

Here's how sustainability consultants use climate:

Lectured on climate change, sustainability, permaculture design, & solutions to high school students.
Authored blog posts and internal communications about aviation sustainability and climate change.

10. Energy Efficiency

Here's how sustainability consultants use energy efficiency:

Researched energy efficiency and water conservation for historic homes.
Identified opportunities for energy efficiency improvements in large electronics labs resulting in savings of $2MM and 18MM kWh of electricity

11. GRI

Here's how sustainability consultants use gri:

Delivered more than 10 Certified GRI courses as a trainer.
Established and produced first GRI Sustainability Report.

12. Sustainability Initiatives

Here's how sustainability consultants use sustainability initiatives:

Worked with a small screw manufacturer to review an energy audit and provide recommendations for sustainability initiatives in their organization.
Assessed and proposed sustainability initiatives, considering factors such as cost effectiveness, technical feasibility, and acceptance.

13. Environmental Sustainability

Here's how sustainability consultants use environmental sustainability:

Manage diverse environmental sustainability programs for company-wide implementation globally.
Researched environmental sustainability in food and energy consumption and worked to educate dining commons guests regarding the aforementioned topics.

14. Business Development

Business development is the ideas or initiatives that work to make business work better. Selling, advertising, product development, supply chain management, and vendor management are only a few of the divisions involved with it. There is still a lot of networking, negotiating, forming alliances, and trying to save money. The goals set for business development guide and coordinate with all of these various operations and sectors.

Here's how sustainability consultants use business development:

Conceptualized marketing & business development plan for manufacturer of small vertical axis solar panels.
Tasked with the Business Development, Training & Implementation of Conversion & Refurbishment Energy Assessments.

15. Action Plan

Here's how sustainability consultants use action plan:

Co-authored a Sustainability Action Plan for The Cannary development: A residential Agrihood property in Davis,CA.
Collaborated with client and team members, developing action plan for promotional exposure beneficial to local businesses.

What skills help Sustainability Consultants find jobs?

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

What skills stand out on sustainability consultant resumes?

Eva Rocke

Sustainability Director, University of Montana

I would say that regardless of the position (sustainability-related or otherwise), hands-on experience, work experience, and evidence of project completion are all really valuable. Demonstrating that you can apply a concrete set of skills to work with diverse teams and navigate organizational culture is helpful regardless of the role you're hoping to fill.

What hard/technical skills are most important for sustainability consultants?

Eva Rocke

Sustainability Director, University of Montana

Sustainability professionals find themselves doing a TON of tracking and data collection, both qualitative and quantitative. Survey design and administration, greenhouse gas emissions accounting, effective marketing, and social media strategy, basic calculations of ROI (return on investment)...all of these things are really helpful and skills I use almost daily.

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

Maritza Jauregui Ph.D.

Associate Professor of Sustainability, Website

Yes, it is an excellent field to enter now. There is an ever-growing need for individuals trained in sustainability and not enough graduates in the field. It is also the type of job you can feel good about at the end of the day. Essentially, you are being hired to help to maintain or increase a company's profit margin while either preventing harm to the planet and the people that live on it, or (for those companies that are trying to go beyond traditional sustainability and become regenerative) actually improving the natural and social environments.

Do you want to know more?

List of sustainability consultant skills to add to your resume

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

Renewable Energy
Sustainability Projects
Architecture
Sustainable Design
Sustainability Programs
HVAC
Sustainability Strategy
GHG
Climate
Energy Efficiency
GRI
Sustainability Initiatives
Environmental Sustainability

Business Development
Action Plan
CDP
CSR
EHS
Market Research
Business Plan
Sustainability Goals
Waste Reduction
Data Collection
Sustainability Services
ROI
Management System

Sustainability Performance
Program Development
Waste Diversion
Bottom Line
Government Agencies
Forum
Sustainability Issues
Environmental Design
Commercial Buildings
CO2
Technical Assistance
Composting

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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