Organizations are increasingly aware of the impact of their activities on the environment and society. They need adaptability to avoid remaining tied to outdated values, as well as the ability to adapt their actions and their communication with all stakeholders.
In practical terms, investment in the ecological transition is increasing, generating demand for professionals with cross-functional expertise who can manage this process. This is the sustainability manager: a growing profession that is still not sufficiently understood.
What is a sustainability manager?
Trying to define the role of sustainability managers clearly and concisely is a challenging task, to say the least. This difficulty stems from the versatility the role requires. Sustainability directors work on many different tasks. Their tasks can be grouped into the following three broad areas.
- Guiding companies toward full sustainability by creating economic, social, and environmental value.
- Analyzing the company’s risks and profitability in sustainability terms, always considering the latest legislation on the subject.
- Increasing awareness of the topic to incorporate the values of the circular economy and sustainability into corporate culture.
An explanation of the role, although incomplete, could therefore be that sustainability managers ensure companies comply with environmental and energy regulations while also developing initiatives to raise sustainability awareness and establish good communication with different stakeholders.
A cross-functional role requiring hard and soft skills
Given the cross-functional nature of the role, it is clear that sustainability managers need both hard and soft skills. In other words, those working in this field must have excellent communication and relationship skills, managerial and technical expertise, and a thorough understanding of the business in which they operate.
There are numerous benefits to hiring a sustainability manager that deserve attention. Foremost is the ability to adapt to new environmental and sustainability regulations. In addition, initiatives to improve environmental impact indirectly create an excellent company image and strengthen market positioning, while avoiding the risk of accusations of greenwashing. Finally, economic benefits come from opening new markets, improving cost efficiency, and strengthening internal and external communication to increase engagement.
In the United States, where this trend began, the Bureau of Labor Statistics projects steady growth in job opportunities at a rate of 6%. Over the next five years, the number of available roles is expected to rise to around 150,000. The trend across the Atlantic is consistent with that in Europe. In Italy in particular, demand for this profession is strong: sustainability manager is in fact the fifth-most-sought-after profession on LinkedIn in the country.
Sustainability at Smartitaly Communications
At Smartitaly Communications, we are strongly committed to sustainability and can support our clients in repositioning themselves around sustainability, planning sustainable initiatives, and preparing sustainability reports, as well as in profound changes such as becoming a Benefit Corporation or B Corp.
Authors
Edoardo Chiesa
Senior Consultant – Energy, Sustainability and Impact