the training needs of university sustainability managers david dubois, phd the social design group...

The Training Needs of University Sustainability Managers

David DuBois, PhDThe Social Design Group

Cathy DuBois, PhDKent State University

Presented at the 2011 AASHE ConferencePittsburgh, PA

“Sustainability is the ultimate team sport.”

© PSRI/Social Design Group


Sustainability Managers

Frontline Leaders for Sustainability

But what do they do?

What are their training needs?


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


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!


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


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% $10-20,000 28% $5-10,000 9% >$20,000 35%


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


Results:Portfolio of Programs, Completed

Carbon footprint analysis

Recycling

Waste management contract

Campus Safety


Results:Portfolio of Programs, In Progress

HVAC

Electrical load mgmt

Heating load mgmt

Landscape & grounds

Employee Health

Waste Reduction

Recycling

Toxic materials

Cleaning products


Portfolio of Programs

Seems all very technical.

But look further…


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


Our Results:Allocation of Time to Job Duties

40% Technical & Administrative

23% Team Work

23% Organizational Development

13% Community Outreach


Our Results:Allocation of Time

Work Processes:61% Social23% Technical16% Financial

Work Outcomes:33% People32% Planet32% Profit


Training Needs

22 Needs -- from Lit, Interviews & Job Descriptions

Categorized by Type Social 9 items Technical 11 items Financial 2 items

Ratings from 0 to 4 0 = Don’t use/NA 1 = No importance 2 = Minor importance 3 = Moderate importance 4 = High importance


Training Needs: Results for Social Skills

Ranking Training Need # High Importance

1 OD/Culture Change 37

2 Leadership 31

3 Goal setting/Motivation 28

4 Written communications 27

5 Interpersonal skills/influence 27

7 Impression management 26

8 Public speaking 23

50 total responses


Training Needs: Results for Technical Skills

Ranking Training Needs # High Importance

6 Carbon footprint analysis 26

9 Project management 22

11 Web site development 18

12 Use of social media 17

13 Marketing 17

14 Product knowledge 16

18 Engineering/technical knowledge

8

50 total responses


Training Needs: Results for Financial Skills

Rank Training Needs # High Importance

15 Budgeting/project management 15

17 Finance 9

50 total responses


Training Needs:Category Comparisons

Skill Type Average # High Importance

Social 28.5

Technical 18

Financial 12

50 total responses


Our Results:Impact of Job Experience on Time Spent

Area <1 1-2 2-5 >5

Social 56 65 60 68

Technical 30 22 22 21

Financial 14 13 18 12

Years Spent in the Job

The longer one holds the job, the greater the allocation of time to social tasks v. technical

tasks.


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.


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


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


Questions?

Thank you!


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.

the training needs of university sustainability managers david dubois, phd the social design group...

Documents

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psrisocial design group

psrisocial design group

sustainability managers

sustainability function

pa sustainability

sustainability coordinator

advancement of sustainability