Chief Sustainability Officers

Chief sustainability officers (CSOs) work in attractive, comfortable environments. Those who work for major corporations have large offices with all the latest technology and tools needed to do their jobs. They may have a team of support staff to assist them. Depending on the company, they may have access to executive dining rooms, company cars and jets, and generous expense accounts.

The job can be extremely stressful, with pressure from the company's shareholders, management, and the public to develop and maintain environmental programs that satisfy a variety of groups while being compliant with federal and local regulations and standards. It can also be stressful when CSOs must try to persuade people to support a sustainability agenda, as well as deal with occasional opposition (in-company and from the public) to the application of environmental, social, and governance principles in business.

The work hours for CSOs often go beyond 40 hours per week, stretching into the evenings, weekends, and sometimes holidays. Chief sustainability officers also spend some time traveling to their company's satellite offices in other regions and countries, and to conferences and other events.