1. The Training Needs of University Sustainability Managers David DuBois, PhD The Social Design Group Cathy DuBois, PhD Kent State University Presented at the 2011 AASHE Conference Pittsburgh, PA “Sustainability is the ultimate team sport.” © PSRI/Social Design Group

2. Sustainability Managers  Frontline Leaders for Sustainability  But what do they do?  What are their training needs?

3. © PSRI/Social Design Group The Need for Sustainability Managers  Rapidly growing job  Changed market conditions: declining resources, increased demand, increased transparency  Full range of commitment: Bolt-on to embedded sustainability

4. © PSRI/Social Design Group Key Take-away Primary focus of the sustainability manager’s job is Social influence. Technical and Financial elements are present, but Social dominates. Sustainability Managers are Change Agents: o Significant training implications!

5. © PSRI/Social Design Group Method  Sample recruited from AASHE (Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education)  129 emails sent, 80 responses (63%)  Comprehensive Job Survey, and Portfolio of Sustainability Programs (170 items; about 1 hour to complete)  Based on thorough literature review & analysis of job descriptions pulled from web

6. © PSRI/Social Design Group Results: Who are they?  Job Titles: 33% Sustainability Coordinator 44% Sustainability… (manager, director, officer…) 24% Other – Sustainability not in job title!  Director of facilities, energy manager, assoc provost  Time since hire: 2 years (median)  Median Education: Masters Degree  Budget <$1,000 23%$10-20,00028% $5-10,000 9%>$20,00035%

7. © PSRI/Social Design Group Results: Organizational Context  6 years – Avg. time since ES program start (range 1 – 25 years)  Report to: 16% Academic function 28% Administration function 42% Operations (facilities, physical plant, utilities) 14% Sustainability function  3,460 - Avg.# of staff & faculty  19,600 – Avg. # of students

8. © PSRI/Social Design Group Results: Portfolio of Programs, Completed  Carbon footprint analysis  Recycling  Waste management contract  Campus Safety

9. © PSRI/Social Design Group Results: Portfolio of Programs, In Progress  HVAC  Electrical load mgmt  Heating load mgmt  Landscape & grounds  Employee Health  Waste Reduction  Recycling  Toxic materials  Cleaning products

10. © PSRI/Social Design Group Portfolio of Programs Seems all very technical. But look further…

11. © PSRI/Social Design Group O-NET Job Description: 14 Tasks  Technical & Administrative(12; 86%): Track indicators; needs analysis; investigate violations; develop new indicators; provide technical support; research technology/reg.; create project plans; document projects; evaluate project success; develop reports; write grants & policies; procure resources  Teamwork (1; 7%): Collaborate to develop strategy/project goals  Organizational Development (0; 0%)  Community Outreach (1; 7%) Create outreach media

12. © PSRI/Social Design Group Our Results: Allocation of Time to Job Duties  40% Technical & Administrative  23% Team Work  23% Organizational Development  13% Community Outreach

13. © PSRI/Social Design Group Our Results: Allocation of Time Work Processes: 61% Social 23% Technical 16% Financial Work Outcomes: 33% People 32% Planet 32% Profit

14. © PSRI/Social Design Group Training Needs  22 Needs -- from Lit, Interviews & Job Descriptions  Categorized by Type  Social9 items  Technical 11 items  Financial2 items  Ratings from 0 to 4  0 = Don’t use/NA  1 = No importance  2 = Minor importance  3 = Moderate importance  4 = High importance

15. © PSRI/Social Design Group Training Needs: Results for Social Skills RankingTraining Need# High Importance 1OD/Culture Change37 2Leadership31 3Goal setting/Motivation28 4Written communications27 5Interpersonal skills/influence27 7Impression management26 8Public speaking23 50 total responses

16. © PSRI/Social Design Group Training Needs: Results for Technical Skills RankingTraining Needs# High Importance 6Carbon footprint analysis26 9Project management22 11Web site development18 12Use of social media17 13Marketing17 14Product knowledge16 18Engineering/technical knowledge 8 50 total responses

17. © PSRI/Social Design Group Training Needs: Results for Financial Skills RankTraining Needs# High Importance 15Budgeting/project management15 17Finance9 50 total responses

18. © PSRI/Social Design Group Training Needs: Category Comparisons Skill TypeAverage # High Importance Social28.5 Technical18 Financial12 50 total responses

19. © PSRI/Social Design Group Our Results: Impact of Job Experience on Time Spent Area<11-22-5>5 Social56656068 Technical3022 21 Financial14131812 Years Spent in the Job The longer one holds the job, the greater the allocation of time to social tasks v. technical tasks.

20. © PSRI/Social Design Group Conclusions  While some universities have been at this awhile, the full time sustainability manager positions are primarily new.  Most Sustainability professionals are hired for technical background, YET their primary job duties involve managing and motivating people.

21. © PSRI/Social Design Group Implications Need to Revise: Job Descriptions and Staffing criteria Training - such as Leadership, Team Development, Culture Change, Behavior Change, Program Design Performance Management & Performance Measurement

22. © PSRI/Social Design Group Planned Follow-up Work  Study Corporate & City Sustainability Coordinators  Analyze change in Portfolio of Programs over time  Study strategies & resources for HR/Sustainability Coordinator collaboration

23. © PSRI/Social Design Group Questions? Thank you!

24. © PSRI/Social Design Group O-NET Job Description: Tasks 1. Develop sustainability project goals, objectives, initiatives, or strategies in collaboration with other sustainability professionals. 2. Monitor/track sustainability indicators (energy usage, waste/recycling) 3. Assess/propose sustainability initiatives, considering factors such as cost effectiveness, technical feasibility, and acceptance. 4. Collect information about waste stream management or green building practices to inform decision-makers. 5. Create marketing or outreach media (brochures/web sites) to communicate sustainability issues, procedures, or objectives. 6. Create or maintain plans/documents for sustainability projects. 7. Develop reports/presentations to communicate the effectiveness of sustainability initiatives. 8. Identify/procure needed resources to implement sustainability programs/ projects. 9. Provide technical/administrative support for sustainability programs or issues. 10. Write grant applications/rebate applications/project proposals to secure funding for sustainability projects. 11. Identify or create new sustainability indicators. 12. Identify/investigate violations of natural resources, waste management, recycling, or other environmental policies. 13. Research/review regulatory, technical, or market issues related to sustainability. 14. Review/revise sustainability proposals or policies.