Weinreb Group Sustainability Recruiting

The 8th edition of the "State of the Sustainability Profession" report from Trellis Group is now live, and Weinreb Group Sustainability Recruiting is honored to have supported the research. The comprehensive report provides deep insights into the rapidly evolving role of sustainability leaders, highlighting key trends in the profession. One notable finding is the rapid increase in the number of corporate sustainability workers, both full-time and freelance. Salaries for sustainability professionals have also seen their largest growth in the 14 years since the report was first published, reflecting the rising demand for these roles. Additionally, sustainability executives are gaining more influence within their organizations, with many now reporting directly to general counsels. The report also shows that 67% of organizations have increased their ESG staff, up from 50% just two years ago, and 20% of companies have created the ESG controller function to ensure compliance with emerging regulations. We're grateful to have collaborated with Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) and Upwork on this important project. A special shout-out to Joel Makower, Allison Fass, Alyssa Abkowitz, and Julia Vann for their incredible work. If you're looking to understand where sustainability leadership is headed, this report is a must-read! https://lnkd.in/e_giwdnV

A recent Indeed survey of more than 23,000 Gen Z and millennial workers revealed that a striking 96% want their employers to enhance their sustainability efforts. While 54% of CEOs acknowledge that sustainability is now a higher priority than a year ago, many still view it as a long-term objective, with only 16% considering decarbonization a top strategic focus. This disconnect presents a critical opportunity for Chief Sustainability Officers (CSOs) to step in and lead the charge for meaningful change. "CEOs and business owners must prioritize sustainability best practices, no matter the industry. Doing so is not just a financially sound decision; it sets a precedent for all leaders moving forward." Aquent's Jody Mousseau shares more insights on Fast Company. https://lnkd.in/e9UzGQZp

Chief Sustainability Officers (CSOs) are shifting from ambitious ESG goals to more practical ones due to new regulations. Martha L. Carter, PhD, Andrea Calise, Kensey Biggs, and Heidi Park from the global CEO advisory firm Teneo share a summarized collection of insights recently heard from CSOs: https://lnkd.in/e9SUEReC

Climate psychologist Renee Lertzman, PhD helps her corporate clients with their internal sustainability leadership strategies. As companies grapple to turn pledges into measurable actions, so does the demand for quantifiable outcomes. Research indicates that while many leaders feel confident about achieving sustainability goals, they often perceive their personal effectiveness as lacking. Lertzman stresses the importance of self-reflection, compassion, and effective stakeholder engagement to drive meaningful change.   “Whenever I have found traction and success, it's only because a senior leader was willing and able to show up as the guide. [They should be] someone who is willing to be more vulnerable, to acknowledge their learning edges, to invite feedback and to give people permission to move into new territory," she says. Renee advocates for a gradual, small-scale approach, urging leaders to model vulnerability and openness to inspire sustainable progress. Read more on ING: https://lnkd.in/ew5xb5Qi

As we face a growing green jobs skills shortage, the Weinreb Group Job Descriptions Library provides a practical solution for both hiring managers and candidates. As highlighted by Trish Kenlon in Trellis Group, companies struggle to find talent with the right climate and sustainability skills, while professionals seek guidance on how to break into or advance in this rapidly evolving sector. Our carefully curated job descriptions for over 25 roles, including Chief Sustainability Officer, ESG compliance manager, and more, serve as both an editable resource for hiring managers and a strategic guide for job seekers, helping them highlight the most relevant skills in their resumes. Broader strategies mentioned in the article, such as upskilling, attracting diverse talent, and bridging the climate skills gap — offered by LinkedIn, Work on Climate, OnePointFive (opf.degree), and Voiz Academy — complete what we need to build a competitive, future-focused sustainability workforce. https://lnkd.in/e-d_qcke

Excellent article by Worth Media Group highlighting why the Chief Sustainability Officer (CSO) role matters for climate and business. The CSO is essential in today's business landscape, where sustainable business practices are essential for resilience. Companies that fail to adapt to climate change risk becoming obsolete as stakeholders demand accountability. CSOs not only drive the practices that lead to cost savings and new market opportunities, but also act as risk managers, preparing their organizations for the challenges of the 21st century. Read more here: https://lnkd.in/eqXV6Gsu We also wish to give a shout-out and our congrats to the Top 20 CSOs in North America, as recognized by futur/io Institute in September — Alan B. Horowitz (Aramark), Alison Taylor (ADM), Ann Tracy (Colgate-Palmolive), Cassandra Garber (Dell Technologies), Ellen Jackowski (Mastercard), Emilio Tenuta (Ecolab), Emma Stewart, (Netflix), Jeannie Renne-Malone, (VF Corporation), Melanie Nakagawa (Microsoft), Michael Kobori (Starbucks), Renee Morin (eBay), Robert Coviello (Bunge), Sophie Beckham (International Paper), Victoria Emerick (Bristol Myers Squibb), and many others! Stay tuned for the findings of our research currently underway, as we'll launch our next Chief Sustainability Officer Report in early 2025.

Higher salaries, higher stakes, new hires and a higher bar for “bottom-dwellers" (Siegler, 2024). Trellis Group's biennial State of the Sustainability Profession report is out – link to download in the comments. John Davies, President of Trellis Networks, has led this research since 2010. Chronological context: The US's first CSO started in 2004 (Linda Fisher, DuPont). Takeaways and things to consider from the research: 👷 74% of respondents reported increased staffing over the past two years. Maybe the intra-industry adage that sustainability professionals are trying to "put themselves out of a job" can be retired? 💰 Just as Sarbanes-Oxley created boom time for compliance and security software, #ESG reporting regs are doing the same for carbon accounting and reporting software. 🎮 ESG Controllers went from a virtually nonexistent role two years ago to being employed at over half of Fortune 100s. ❓ The Key Question across the years of this report's iteration: Will the job be focused on meeting minimum requirements of compliance or strategically focused on decreasing negative impact and increasing positive impact? Does that have to be an either / or as it's often framed? If you're a sustainability professional, what about the report's findings resonate? Which don't? #esg #sustainabilityjobs #sustainability Ellen Weinreb Group Sustainability Recruiting Global Reporting Initiative (GRI)

Thanks to Trish Kenlon for highlighting LinkedIn's research (and the great work of many others) in her most recent article for Trellis Group. Here's the tl;dr: the intersection of climate <> workforce is increasingly coming into focus for employers, policymakers, workers, and educators. As Trish highlights in her article, globally, the green hiring rate is 54.6% greater than the overall hiring rate, and in the US, the green hiring rate is 80.3% higher than the overall rate. Notably, LinkedIn’s 2024 Green Stocktake found that the global workforce is not on track to realize green ambitions. By 2050, we must double the size of the green talent pool, at a minimum, to keep pace with the expected green job demand. And let's face it, employer demand is almost certainly a lagging indicator of planetary need. The pathway to achieving net zero relies on collaboration amongst workers, education & training providers, businesses, and policymakers to develop the skilled workforce prepared to bring climate targets to reality. More research and resources from groups like OnePointFive (opf.degree), Trellis Group, Work on Climate, Voiz Academy, and Weinreb Group Sustainability Recruiting is going to help facilitate the cross-sector, cross-industry, and cross-functional collaboration we need. You can read the full article here: https://lnkd.in/dPgkXYfp #sustainability #climatechange #greenertogether #greenjobs #greenskills #climatetalent

As companies of all sizes confront sustainability challenges and seek innovative solutions, fractional Chief Sustainability Officers (CSOs) are emerging as valuable strategic leaders. We thank emily porro for mentioning Ellen Weinreb's latest Trellis Group article in her September "Climate Positive" insights. Ellen highlights the fractional CSO role as a flexible, cost-effective solution for bridging expertise gaps, reflecting a growing reliance on part-time contractors that offers a middle ground between consultants and full-time employees.