Sustainable Job Opportunity: Harvard University, Sustainability Manager

Posted by: Allison Friedman // Rate It Green Admin

Duties & Responsibilities:

Position Summary: The Sustainability Manager, reporting to the Associate Director, utilizes a change management framework with members of the University community to drive implementation of major University-wide initiatives and programs, including the University’s sustainability goals and standards as detailed in the Sustainability Plan and University’s Climate Action Plan. To accomplish this, they will need to propose innovative ideas, develop and execute comprehensive project plans, and strengthen relationships with a wide range of internal and external stakeholders including faculty, senior leaders, students and external partners. Particularly in the first year, the Sustainability Manager will focus on planning, preparing content for, and staffing Climate Action Plan components, including internal stakeholder groups and external partnerships. This position will also contribute to Harvard’s framework and Sustainability Plan. 
 
Responsibilities:

Project manage parts of the University-wide Climate Action Plan/Fossil Fuel Goals including managing various sustainability working groups and initiatives.

• Develop and manage project plans from conception through implementation, in collaboration with OFS Senior Team and key stakeholders.
• Advise on strategy and contribute creatively to Climate Action planning, Fossil Fuel Goal governance and Sustainability Plan framework.
• Research, draft, edit, and create content on sustainability-related topics for diverse audiences in a variety of formats.
• Plan and staff working group meetings and related events.

Drive change management by effectively implementing the University-wide policies and standards that align with the University-wide Sustainability vision and plan with school and unit partners.  

• Research and provide analysis on a wide range of sustainability topics, including but not limited to: emissions reduction opportunities, energy management, sustainable development, health and the built environment, etc.
• Foster relationships with departments across the University to further shared sustainability initiatives.
• Identify and develop opportunities with faculty and students to use the campus as a “living laboratory” for testing and piloting research.
• Lead effective meetings and stakeholder groups.
• Effectively communicate OFS’s work.
• Conduct benchmarking and analysis.   

Perform management and administrative duties to fulfill responsibilities.

• Manage project budgets, timelines, deliverables, and reporting.
• Contribute to OFS event planning.
• Manage student interns, part-time employees, and/or consultants as needed.

 
Perform other duties and work on special projects as needed.

 

Basic Qualifications:

• Bachelors Degree required;  
• Minimum 5 years of experience in project management, project plan development and implementation, and stakeholder engagement.
• Demonstrated working knowledge of sustainability industry trends.

Extensive experience with MS PowerPoint, Excel, and Word. An ability to learn Harvard systems and web software quickly is a requirement.  

Additional Qualifications

• Master's Degree preferred.
• Excellent relationship-building and interpersonal skills; comfort and ability to engage and build coalitions with diverse audiences.
• Excellent communication, writing, and presentation skills for a variety of audiences.
• Proven ability to think critically and solve problems.
• High degree of flexibility, adaptability, and general ability to respond to emerging opportunities and barriers in a constantly changing environment.
• Knowledge of universities preferred.
• Experience working with faculty and students preferred.
• Proven ability to conduct research and analysis on various topics and produce reliable metrics and data.
• Requires occasional work outside of normal business hours.
• Proficiency in Photoshop or other design software is a plus.

 

About the Harvard Office for Sustainability
Harvard University is committed to confronting the global challenges of climate change and sustainable development through its research, teaching, and institutional action. The Office for Sustainability (OFS), founded in 2008, plays a pivotal role in bringing together students, faculty, and staff to use the campus as a living laboratory for piloting and proving solutions that address sustainable goals and strive to model pathways to a sustainable and fossil fuel-free future. Harvard University's efforts are driven by a University-wide Sustainability Plan, living lab program and ambitious goals including climate goals to achieve a fossil fuel-free future by 2050.
 
This is an exciting opportunity to join a team of effective, dedicated, high-energy sustainability professionals working to drive organizational change to benefit Harvard and help others address complex systematic sustainable challenges at Harvard and globally. The Office for Sustainability looks for talented, passionate individuals who thrive in a fast-paced, dynamic, and changing environment. 
 
Visit the Sustainability at Harvard website, https://green.harvard.edu/about-us/jobs-opportunities for more information.