Do you enjoy planning and managing? Do you want to contribute to environmental conservation by working in a corporate setting? If you answered yes, you can become a Chief Sustainability Officer (CSO)!
Chief sustainability officers assist businesses in managing energy resources, reducing waste, and improving health and safety practices. Because sustainability is a growing field, now is an exciting time for interested candidates to advance their careers as chief sustainability officers.
Do you aspire to be a Chief Sustainability Officer or are you just exploring the field? In either case, you’ve come to the right place! This blog discusses the skills required, colleges and courses, salary, and what else it takes to become a Chief Sustainability Officer. Follow the step-by-step guide in the blog to become a Chief Sustainability Officer.
Who is a Chief Sustainability Officer (CSO)?
A Chief Sustainability Officer, also known as a CSO, is a manager in charge of a company’s environmental impact, resources, and plans. Chief sustainability officers assist their companies in assessing their current environmental impact and determining how to improve their sustainable practices in the future.
How to become a Chief Sustainability Officer (CSO)?
Step 1: Stream to select
Students interested in becoming Chief Sustainability Officers should select the Science stream and take Biology as one of their subjects. Environmental science topics are covered in Biology, which can prepare students for advanced topics in their bachelor’s degree.
Step 2: Educational qualifications
Almost all employers require CSOs to have at least a bachelor’s degree.
How to become a Chief Sustainability Officer (CSO) after 10th?
After the 10th, focusing on and learning environmental topics will prepare students and provide a solid foundation in these subjects before they begin learning advanced topics while pursuing their bachelor’s degree.
The students can also join environmental groups or NGOs. Environmental Volunteering allows individuals to “Travel with Purpose” and establish emotional connections with nature while mitigating the effects of climate change and other problems.
How to become a Chief Sustainability Officer (CSO) after 12th?
In India
After 12th, students can have a bachelor’s in Environmental Engineering
Environmental studies or science and then later a master’s degree in business or an environmental science field, such as biology. Candidates should clear the target decided by universities in JEE or state-level entrance examinations to get into these universities.
UG courses to become a Chief Sustainability Officer (CSO) in India:
Course | Duration |
B.Tech Environmental Engineering | 4 years |
BE Environmental Engineering | 4 years |
B.Tech Energy Environment and Climate | 4 years |
Top UG colleges to become a Chief Sustainability Officer (CSO) in India:
Name of Institution | Location |
IIT Bombay – Indian Institute of Technology | Maharashtra |
DTU Delhi – Delhi Technological University | Delhi |
LDCE Ahmedabad – LD College of Engineering | Gujarat |
IIT Kanpur – Indian Institute of Technology | Uttar Pradesh |
The Institutions of Engineers India, Kolkata | West Bengal |
YMCA Faridabad – JC Bose University of Science and Technology, YMCA | Haryana |
IIT Dhanbad – Indian Institute of Technology Indian School of Mines | Jharkhand |
KIT’s College of Engineering, Kolhapur | Maharashtra |
Singhania University, Jhunjhunu | Rajasthan |
Vaugh Institute of Agricultural Engineering and Technology, Allahabad | Uttar Pradesh |
Abroad
A degree in a business or sustainability field, such as business administration or management, environmental engineering, environmental studies or science, finance, international business, public administration, or social sciences, can help you become a chief sustainability officer.
UG courses to become a Chief Sustainability Officer (CSO) abroad:
Course | Duration |
BS environmental science | 4 years |
BSc Ecology and Environmental Biology | 3-4 years |
Top UG colleges to become a Chief Sustainability Officer (CSO) abroad:
Name of Institution | Location |
Stanford University | United States |
Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) | United States |
ETH Zurich | Switzerland |
University of California, Berkeley (UCB) | United States |
Harvard University | United States |
Wageningen University & Research | Netherlands |
University of Cambridge | United Kingdom |
National University of Singapore (NUS) | Singapore |
The University of Queensland | Australia |
University of British Columbia | Canada |
Step 3: Certification courses and project courses
The course listed below can help you become a Chief Sustainability Officer (CSO).
- Blended Professional Certificate: Chief Sustainability Officer
Step 4: How to prepare for the job?
- Gain work experience: Apply for jobs to start honing your business skills and learning about the industry. Some businesses offer entry-level positions in their sustainability departments. Look for job boards that only post jobs that are environmentally friendly. Seek more responsibility until you reach the level of management. Most CSOs must have at least two to five years of management experience before becoming chief sustainability officers.
- Get certified: Consider enrolling in a certification programme to demonstrate to employers your dedication to your career and to give yourself an advantage over other CSO candidates.
- Pursue a master’s degree: CSO positions frequently necessitate an advanced degree, such as a Master of Business Administration (MBA).
- Continue your education: Pursue as many continuing education opportunities as possible to advance your career. Attend sustainability workshops and conferences, and keep up to date on industry trends and policies by reading about them. Join a professional organisation like the ISSP, which provides learning opportunities, career-development resources, and webinars and events for its members. If you received professional certification, you will almost certainly be required to complete a certain number of continuing education hours in order to maintain your credentials.
While you’re at it, Do have a look at Clever Harvey’s JuniorMBA Future CEO program to gain industry exposure and certification to add to your skills.
9 most essential skills for becoming a Chief Sustainability Officer (CSO)
- Communication
- Leadership
- Problem-solving
- Interpersonal skills
- Analytical
- Creativity
- Policy knowledge
- Decision-making
- Up-to-date on environmental issues
- Policy engagement and interpretation
Salary of a Chief Sustainability Officer (CSO):
In India
An entry-level Chief Sustainability Officer (CSO) with less than one year of experience can expect to earn an annual compensation (tips, bonus, and overtime pay) of ₹9,64,716.
Abroad
The following are some entry-level Chief Sustainability Officer (CSO) salaries from around the world.
Country | Annual Salary |
United States | $93,253 |
Canada | $111,209 (CAD) |
United Kingdom | £56,461 |
Singapore | $93,713 (SGD) |
Top 10 recruiters
- InterContinental Hotels Group
- PETRONAS
- Perfetti Van Melle
- Siemens AG
- Credit Suisse
- JLL
- Unilever
- Ørsted
- Neste
- Schneider Electric
Chief sustainability officers (CSOs) are senior executives in charge of a company’s sustainability strategy. Large corporations hire CSOs to collaborate with other C-level executives and ensure that the company’s resources are used effectively. If you are a natural leader looking for a rewarding career, you should consider becoming a chief sustainability officer. Best wishes on your path to becoming a Chief Sustainability Officer!
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the role of a chief sustainability officer?
Ans: The Chief Sustainability Officer will collaborate with managers, employees, customers, and shareholders to address the organization’s approach to environmental responsibility in order to reduce the company’s environmental impact.
What qualifications do I need to work in sustainability?
Ans: A bachelor’s degree is required. Although technical or academic knowledge is advantageous, most jobs necessitate key skills such as project planning and management, financial management, relationship building, and so on. Volunteering and working in non-sustainability sectors can help you develop these skills. Most jobs can help you develop such transferable skills.
How many chief sustainability officers are there?
Ans: There are 95 CSOs as of March 2021.
How do I start a career in sustainability?
Ans: The first step is to obtain a degree in business or sustainability-related fields, such as business administration or management, environmental engineering, environmental studies or science, finance, international business, public administration, or social sciences, which will enable you to become a chief sustainability officer.
How many hours do chief sustainability officers work?
Ans: Because the chief sustainability officer is frequently the point of contact for large, dynamic, and time-sensitive projects, they typically work 40 hours or more per week.