Sustainability has become a common topic in politics, work and life. The rapidly-growing awareness of environmental preservation, ethical consumption, and the consequences of past and current political and economic practices are all reflected in the job market, where the demand for sustainability professionals is booming.

Multiple factors are contributing to this change, including the incorporation of sustainability practices into business strategy. Companies have shifted their models for success to account for the long-term environmental effects, ethics, labor and logistical implications of their business practices.

Because sustainability involves taking a long-term view of these issues, forward-thinking companies are adapting to recent trends by building sustainability capacity into their planning and execution. There has also been an increase in the frequency and size of government grants and funding awarded to organizations based on sustainability practices.

Sustainability as a profession is a relatively recent occurrence. Job titles and responsibilities may vary greatly depending on specific industries or employers, but here’s a breakdown of some of the more common jobs in sustainability.

1. Sustainability Coordinator

As a sustainability coordinator, your job would be to assist your organization with transforming its practices to better match its sustainability commitments and goals. For some industries, this may mean researching and compliance with local or federal regulations, while for others the goals may be internally determined. This role can often involve reviewing multiple facets of an organization because everything from data storage to hiring practices can have a measurable impact on sustainability.

2. Grant Writer

Many environmental and sustainability programs are funded through government grants. For example, the Environmental Protection Agency recently awarded more than $4.3 billion in Climate Pollution Reduction Grants to 25 organizations.

Being skilled and knowledgeable about writing grants for sustainability funding is an indispensable skill that can lead to career opportunities. Your primary goal as a grant writer would be identifying and writing grants to obtain funding for sustainability projects and initiatives.

3. Sustainability Analyst

Situated on the other side of the grant-writing process, sustainability analysts may work for government organizations, nonprofits and other organizations awarding funding for projects that they determine have met their standards.

Alternatively, a sustainability analyst – as described in LinkedIn’s 2023 Jobs on the Rise list – may be an in-house sustainability expert specifically focused on data and reporting.

4. Solar Energy Professional

As one of the most prominent examples of sustainability efforts, the solar energy industry has experienced consistent growth in recent years. Job demand is high in this field for everything from installation technicians to business professionals. In addition to the adoption of solar energy technology, another key component of the industry is the sustainability of solar panel production itself.

5. Occupational Safety and Health

Sustainability as a profession also has plenty of overlap with an established career field like occupational safety and health. Workplace safety and sustainability efforts may be handled by different employees in an organization, but they are mutually reinforcing. Doing the minimum to meet environmental standards – or less than the minimum – is likely to increase the risk of illness and injury for employees, so the goals are often closely aligned.

Education for Sustainability Professionals at CSU

Like any other rapidly growing profession, sustainability has been subject to a great deal of change as government and industry priorities shift. Pursuing a well-rounded education in environmental management can provide the much-needed history, perspective and practical skills to pursue a rewarding career.

Here at Columbia Southern University, our online degree programs offer a high level of flexibility, enabling you to learn at a pace that makes sense for you. CSU degree programs in environmental management and related areas include:

• B.S. in environmental management.
• B.S. in environmental management – energy and land-use management concentration.
• B.S. in environmental management – sustainability concentration.
• B.S. in occupational safety and health – energy and land-use management concentration.
• B.S. in occupational safety and health – sustainability concentration.
• M.S. in occupational safety and health – environmental management concentration.

Information about all of our online degree programs can be found on our website.

Multiple factors, including prior experience, geography and degree field, affect career outcomes. CSU does not guarantee a job, promotion, salary increase, eligibility for a position, or other career growth.