Corporate social responsibility manager to sustainability manager
A corporate social responsibility manager already meets 26% of what the sustainability manager role asks for. The move turns on 33 required skills not yet in the profile.
82.3/ 100
1 How much of what a sustainability manager is expected to do is already part of a corporate social responsibility manager’s work. Directional: the figure for the reverse move differs, because moving into a speciality is not the same problem as moving out of one. 2 Every skill the sustainability manager role is recorded as needing, required and optional together. What these numbers mean.
Why this move works
A sustainability manager role treats 15 of its required skills as things a corporate social responsibility manager already does. You would walk in with these on day one.
- advise on corporate social responsibility
- analyse business requirements
- circular economy
- conduct qualitative research
- conduct quantitative research
- corporate social responsibility
What stands in the way is 33 required skills the profile does not yet cover. Table 3 groups them; Table 4 says which to take first.
Table 2 · What you already bring
Of the 19 skills that carry over, these are the ones fewest other occupations ask for. A sustainability manager role needs them, and most people applying for one will not have them already. This is the part of a corporate social responsibility manager background worth leading with.
- already held advise on corporate social responsibility communication, collaboration and creativity
- already held lead the sustainability reporting process information skills
- already held measure company's sustainability performance assisting and caring
- already held evaluate company needs information skills
- already held global standards for sustainability reporting business, administration and law
- already held monitor social impact information skills
All 19 carried skills, including the 15 the sustainability manager role treats as required.
Table 3 · What you may need to learn
The 69 missing skills fall into 11 areas of the ESCO skill hierarchy, numbered in the order worth working in. Areas carrying the most required skills come first, and inside each one the required skills sit above the optional ones. Nothing here is a verdict on you: it is a list of what this particular job asks for that your current one does not.
- still to learn green computing required
- still to learn energy efficiency required
- still to learn environmental design required
- still to learn environmental management monitors required
- still to learn green building standards required
- still to learn sustainability consulting required
- still to learn alternative energy required
- still to learn emission standards required
- still to learn energy conservation required
- still to learn environmental management standards required
- still to learn resource-efficient technologies required
- still to learn sustainable technologies required
- optional, not held thermal treatment optional
- optional, not held green automotive technologies optional
- optional, not held green building practices optional
- optional, not held properties of textile materials optional
- optional, not held types of plastic optional
- optional, not held urban sustainability optional
- optional, not held vehicle manufacturing process optional
- optional, not held energy market optional
- optional, not held water reuse optional
- still to learn assess environmental impact required
- still to learn coordinate environmental efforts required
- still to learn ensure compliance with environmental legislation required
- still to learn manage environmental management system required
- still to learn produce sustainable products required
- still to learn use sustainable materials and components required
- still to learn assess the life cycle of resources required
- still to learn advise on carbon emissions reduction required
- still to learn advise on sustainability solutions required
- still to learn advise on sustainable management policies required
- still to learn carry out training in environmental matters required
- optional, not held promote sustainable packaging optional
- optional, not held implement environmental action plans optional
- optional, not held implement sustainable procurement optional
- optional, not held train staff to reduce food waste optional
- optional, not held advise on waste management procedures optional
- optional, not held carry out energy management of facilities optional
- still to learn analyse supply chain strategies required
- still to learn forecast organisational risks required
- still to learn perform risk analysis required
- optional, not held analyse environmental data optional
- optional, not held apply procedures and regulations for eco-labelling optional
- optional, not held assess supplier risks optional
- optional, not held conduct energy audit optional
- optional, not held advise on environmental risk management systems optional
- optional, not held conduct research on food waste prevention optional
- optional, not held design indicators for food waste reduction optional
- optional, not held monitor manufacturing impact optional
- still to learn manage recycling program budget required
- still to learn mitigate waste of resources required
- optional, not held develop recycling programs optional
- optional, not held supervise waste water treatments optional
- optional, not held develop food waste reduction strategies optional
- optional, not held develop hazardous waste management strategies optional
- optional, not held perform project management optional
- still to learn environmental legislation required
- still to learn risk management required
- optional, not held green bonds optional
5 further areas in the appendix
Table 4 · Where to start
The 3 entries a sustainability manager role is least likely to hire without. The ordering is computed from the skill data, not from what pays.
- 01 green computing study this
- 02 assess the life cycle of resources practise this
- 03 energy efficiency study this
Each entry opens a course search for that skill. Career Overlap earns nothing from these links.
Appendix · The rest of the record
All 19 skills that carry over
- already held advise on corporate social responsibility skill
- already held analyse business requirements skill
- already held circular economy knowledge
- already held conduct qualitative research skill
- already held conduct quantitative research skill
- already held corporate social responsibility knowledge
- already held corporate sustainability knowledge
- already held environmental policy knowledge
- already held evaluate company needs skill
- already held global standards for sustainability reporting knowledge
- already held lead the sustainability reporting process skill
- already held measure company's sustainability performance skill
- already held monitor social impact skill
- already held promote environmental awareness skill
- already held sustainable finance knowledge
- already held advise on public relations skill
- already held apply systemic design thinking skill
- already held communication principles knowledge
- already held project management knowledge
The 5 learning areas not shown above
- still to learn hazardous waste types required
- still to learn waste management required
- optional, not held by-products optional
- still to learn climate change impact required
- optional, not held alternative fuels optional
- optional, not held chemistry optional
- optional, not held use specific data analysis software optional
- optional, not held search databases optional
- optional, not held sustainable agricultural production principles optional
- optional, not held environmental economics optional
36 supplementary skills, helpful but not required
- optional, not held promote sustainable packaging optional
- optional, not held thermal treatment optional
- optional, not held use specific data analysis software optional
- optional, not held alternative fuels optional
- optional, not held analyse environmental data optional
- optional, not held apply procedures and regulations for eco-labelling optional
- optional, not held assess supplier risks optional
- optional, not held conduct energy audit optional
- optional, not held develop recycling programs optional
- optional, not held environmental economics optional
- optional, not held green automotive technologies optional
- optional, not held green bonds optional
- optional, not held green building practices optional
- optional, not held implement environmental action plans optional
- optional, not held implement sustainable procurement optional
- optional, not held properties of textile materials optional
- optional, not held supervise waste water treatments optional
- optional, not held sustainable agricultural production principles optional
- optional, not held train staff to reduce food waste optional
- optional, not held types of plastic optional
- optional, not held urban sustainability optional
- optional, not held vehicle manufacturing process optional
- optional, not held advise on environmental risk management systems optional
- optional, not held advise on waste management procedures optional
- optional, not held by-products optional
- optional, not held carry out energy management of facilities optional
- optional, not held chemistry optional
- optional, not held conduct research on food waste prevention optional
- optional, not held design indicators for food waste reduction optional
- optional, not held develop food waste reduction strategies optional
- optional, not held develop hazardous waste management strategies optional
- optional, not held energy market optional
- optional, not held monitor manufacturing impact optional
- optional, not held perform project management optional
- optional, not held search databases optional
- optional, not held water reuse optional
30 held skills the sustainability manager role does not ask for
- not needed by the target role advise on government policy compliance skill
- not needed by the target role advise on risk management skill
- not needed by the target role analyse community needs skill
- not needed by the target role build community relations skill
- not needed by the target role coordinate operational activities skill
- not needed by the target role corporate law knowledge
- not needed by the target role data analytics knowledge
- not needed by the target role define the corporate structure skill
- not needed by the target role develop company strategies skill
- not needed by the target role ensure cross-department cooperation skill
- not needed by the target role follow company standards skill
- not needed by the target role implement marketing strategies skill
- not needed by the target role integrate community outreach skill
- not needed by the target role knowledge management knowledge
- not needed by the target role liaise with cultural partners skill
- not needed by the target role liaise with government officials skill
- not needed by the target role measure sustainability of tourism activities skill
- not needed by the target role oversee quality control skill
- not needed by the target role philanthropy knowledge
- not needed by the target role plan measures to safeguard cultural heritage skill
- not needed by the target role plan measures to safeguard natural protected areas skill
- not needed by the target role promote human rights implementation skill
- not needed by the target role promote inclusion skill
- not needed by the target role promote social awareness skill
- not needed by the target role promote sustainability skill
- not needed by the target role provide improvement strategies skill
- not needed by the target role provide training in sustainable tourism development and management skill
- not needed by the target role public relations knowledge
- not needed by the target role strategic planning knowledge
- not needed by the target role sustainable development goals knowledge
32 gaps that are knowledge rather than practice
Knowledge gaps usually close through study. Practical skill gaps usually need something you can point at.
- still to learn green computing required
- still to learn energy efficiency required
- still to learn environmental design required
- still to learn environmental management monitors required
- still to learn green building standards required
- still to learn sustainability consulting required
- still to learn alternative energy required
- still to learn climate change impact required
- still to learn emission standards required
- still to learn energy conservation required
- still to learn environmental legislation required
- still to learn environmental management standards required
- still to learn hazardous waste types required
- still to learn resource-efficient technologies required
- still to learn risk management required
- still to learn sustainable technologies required
- still to learn waste management required
- optional, not held thermal treatment optional
- optional, not held alternative fuels optional
- optional, not held environmental economics optional
- optional, not held green automotive technologies optional
- optional, not held green bonds optional
- optional, not held green building practices optional
- optional, not held properties of textile materials optional
- optional, not held sustainable agricultural production principles optional
- optional, not held types of plastic optional
- optional, not held urban sustainability optional
- optional, not held vehicle manufacturing process optional
- optional, not held by-products optional
- optional, not held chemistry optional
- optional, not held energy market optional
- optional, not held water reuse optional
Other moves recorded from corporate social responsibility manager
- environmental policy officer 22% covered · career change
- environmental protection manager 21% covered · career change
- employee volunteering programme coordinator 21% covered · substantial
- policy manager 16% covered · career change
Full index of moves from corporate social responsibility manager
Common questions about this move
Can a corporate social responsibility manager become a sustainability manager?
Yes, and it is a career change move. A corporate social responsibility manager already covers 26% of what a sustainability manager is expected to do: 19 skills carry over, 15 of which the sustainability manager role treats as required.
What skills does a corporate social responsibility manager need to become a sustainability manager?
33 required skills are missing, plus 36 optional ones. They fall into 11 areas of the ESCO skill hierarchy, led by engineering, manufacturing and construction. The single most important is green computing.
How hard is the move from corporate social responsibility manager to sustainability manager?
Its learning distance is 82.3 out of 100, which is the career change band. That accounts for both how much is missing and how specialised those skills are.
How this record was compiled
Both occupations are taken from ESCO, which lists the skills and knowledge each occupation is expected to have and marks every one required or optional. Nothing here is a prediction about hiring, and nothing here knows that a particular employer wants a particular certificate. Treat Table 3 as a starting point for your own research rather than a syllabus. The full method states what these figures can and cannot tell you.