For more information, follow this link: Sustainability Specialist – HigherEdJobs

Type: Full-Time
Posted: 10/28/2021

Application Deadline: 11/28/2021

Category: Occupational and Environmental Safety

Chief Objective of Position:

The Sustainability Specialist will facilitate the University’s efforts to infuse sustainability principles into administrative and operational aspects of the campus. The central focus of the position is to facilitate initiatives that bolster sustainable practices while engaging students, faculty, and staff. The Sustainability Specialist will work collaboratively with a diverse array of University departments and student groups as they design and implement sustainable operations and processes. 

Work Tasks:

  • Serves as a resource and content expert to the campus community for topics relevant to sustainability in the higher education environment.
  • Recommends, initiates, enhances, and facilitates sustainability initiatives and projects related to administrative and operational activities.
  • Manages internal and external messaging about University sustainability initiatives and coordinates the social media presence.
  • Creates promotional and educational materials by writing, editing, and designing content for brochures, flyers, newsletters, sustainability guides, and training materials.
  • Develops, plans, coordinates, and/or implements training, workshops, programs, and events related to administrative and operational sustainability.
  • Serves as the chair of the University Sustainability Committee and works with administrative and operational staff to prioritize and pursue sustainability initiatives in their departments. 
  • Facilitates the infusion of administrative and operational sustainability practices and processes into the Christopher Newport student educational experience through collaboration with faculty (i.e. “campus as a living lab”). 
  • Conducts waste audits and provides recommendations based on findings.
  • Guides waste prevention and waste reduction efforts in collaboration with internal stakeholders according to regulatory guidance and best practices. 
  • Supports Facilities Management and other departments as appropriate in relation to implementing energy conservation programs.
  • Monitors, tracks, and reports administrative and operational sustainability indicators.
  • Coordinates data collection and submission for sustainability reporting systems including AASHEE Sustainability Tracking, Assessment & Rating System (STARS), LEED, etc. 
  • Produces and presents an annual sustainability report. 
  • Collaborates with departments to identify, evaluate, and pursue relevant funding opportunities for sustainability-related projects on campus. 
  • Maintains awareness and working knowledge of sustainability regulations, best practices, and trends that impact higher education through self-directed professional reading, developing professional contacts with colleagues, and participating in professional development opportunities. 
  • Supports the Environmental Health and Safety Department’s mission to foster safe, healthy, and sustainable spaces to live, work, and learn at Christopher Newport University. 
  • Facilitates and enhances sustainable approaches to regulated waste (batteries, lightbulbs, etc.)
  • Reviews and communicates safety issues to assure a safe and healthy workplace and a reduction in work-related absence.
  • Supports the overall success of the University’s sustainability efforts by performing all other duties as assigned.
  • Develops and maintains very positive and professional customer service and/or relations with all constituencies to include faculty, staff, students and guests. 
  • Demonstrates a positive and professional attitude and treats everyone with dignity and respect. 
  • Fully supports CNU Traditions and the “Students First” value at CNU and routinely goes the extra mile in providing service.
  • This position is designated as a “responsible employee” who has the authority to redress sexual violence, who has the duty to report incidents of sexual violence or other student misconduct, or who a student could reasonably believe has this authority or duty.

Knowledge, Skills, Abilities (KSA’s) required:

Requires excellent analytical, oral and written communications, organizational and computer skills; an ability to self-motivate and to work under deadlines; the ability to work closely with students, faculty, staff, and administrators from various schools and departments; the ability to understand and apply technical and financial data and to relate them to the general community; and demonstrated knowledge of current sustainability principles, best practices, and sustainability-related legislation.

Requires ability to accurately record and deliver information, to explain procedures, to follow oral and written instructions; ability to conduct training courses for both small and large groups of people; ability to speak and present to a large variety of audiences; ability to use mathematical formulas; to add and subtract; multiply and divide; use decimals and percentages; ability to inspect items for proper length, width, and shape; ability to multi-task, prioritize and work independently and collaboratively; excellent organizational and computer skills including ability to use programs needed to prepare reports, track data, conduct research, manage time, manage email, create and edit digital photos, and other programs as needed; ability to self-motivate, multi-task and to work under deadlines; ability to prepare correspondence, reports, forms, contracts, purchase orders, etc.; must be able to walk, climb, lift, squat, etc.; must be able to lift and carry materials, supplies, and/or equipment weighing up to 50 pounds; ability to wear personal protective equipment may be required to include safety glasses, safety goggles, gloves, protective footwear, clothing, and head wear.

Required Education:

Must have a Master’s Degree in Sustainability or a related field; or a Bachelor’s Degree in Sustainability or a related field and work experience at a level which equates to an advanced degree.

Preferred Education:

Project management certification, such as Project Management Professional (PMP) or other comparable certification. 

Experience Required:

Demonstrated experience with sustainability initiatives; data management and analysis; word processing and spreadsheet experience; experience in program administration.

Interested parties are requested to submit a cover letter; current resume; and the names, addresses, and telephone numbers of at least three professional references at the time of application. 

Review of applications will begin November 28, 2021.

Applications received after November 28, 2021, will be accepted but considered only if needed.