Employers

CSOs work for a variety of companies, including major corporations, regional and local companies, government agencies, and nonprofit organizations. Chief sustainability officers are top-level executives; depending on the structure of the organization, they may report to chief executive officers. They have at least five or more years of prior work experience in management positions on sustainability programs.

Starting Out

Many sustainability officers get their start through entry-level positions working on environmental programs for companies. Participating in an internship while in school is another way to get started in this career. Speak with your schools career services office for help with locating internship opportunities in sustainability. You can also locate employment opportunities by attending career fairs and searching for job openings listed at Web sites such as CareerBuilder, Indeed, and LinkedIn, among others, as well as through LinkedIn.

Chief sustainability officers are at the top level of their field. After years of experience at the company, they may become the chief executive officer. They may be appointed to the board of directors or move on to oversee the sustainability programs of larger, more prestigious organizations. Some may start their own companies.

Keep up with news and events by reading publications such as CR Magazine (https://www.3blmedia.com/news/campaign/cr-magazine) and Chief Executive (https://chiefexecutive.net).

Read articles and find other helpful resources through organizations such as the Sustainability Management Association (http://www.sustainabilityma.org) and the International Society of Sustainability Professionals (https://www.sustainabilityprofessionals.org).

Explore the field by attending events conferences, workshops, panel discussions, and additional opportunities to meet others working in the corporate sustainability field. Visit https://www.naem.org/what-we-offer/conferences for information on conferences that are offered by the National Association for Environmental, Health & Safety, and Sustainability Management.

Get an internship or part-time job in the sustainability department of a company to obtain work experience and make valuable networking connections.

Visit https://weinrebgroup.com/current-searches for job listings.