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City of Austin - JOB DESCRIPTION

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Chief Sustainability Officer
FLSA: Executives/1 EEO Category: (10) Official/Adm
Class Code: 10705 Salary Grade: E00
Approved: February 24, 2010 Last Revised: September 11, 2017

Purpose:
  Oversees the development, coordination, and administration of sustainability policies and practices for the City of Austin; responsible for establishing a city-wide sustainability program that includes assessing the impact of sustainability practices to the City and  broad community at large, while balancing the City’s shared objectives for a healthy environment, an excellent quality of life, and continued economic vitality.
Duties, Functions and Responsibilities:
  Essential duties and functions, pursuant to the Americans with Disabilities Act, may include the following. Other related duties may be assigned.
1.  Develops and implements short and long range strategies, objectives, policies, and priorities related to sustainability, determines appropriate service and staffing levels; allocates resources accordingly.
2.  Develops and implements marketing and educational programs that inspires people to embrace environmental sustainability practices and changes the thinking, behavior and practice of individuals, organizations and government by focusing on sustainability development.
3.  Oversees and coordinates all levels of conservation and sustainability development including green purchasing, energy conservation, solid waste recycling, green building, resource and water conservation, green house gas reduction, renewable resources, government funding, and environmental reporting metrics.
4.  Provides leadership planning and development of the sustainability capital budget, oversees adherence to budget guidelines, and prepares operational budget proposals. 
5.  Performs highly complex forecasting and cost/benefit analysis to enable executive city leadership to make informed decisions that focus on optimizing social and environmental impacts of sustainability program initiatives.
6.  Analyzes operations to evaluate performance of programs and resources in meeting objectives; identifies areas of potential duplication of services, opportunities for program improvement, and policy change.
7.  Provides oversight and direction of research and analysis of city and community sustainability needs to determine program direction and goals.
8.  Presides over or serves on boards and commissions, committees, or other governing boards to address sustainability policy and practice.  Develops partnerships and works with community members and organizations to establish a city-wide sustainability program.  
9.  Acts as official departmental representative to other city departments, CMO, elected officials, outside agencies and the community; explains, justifies, and defends department programs, policies, and activities; and negotiates and resolves sensitive, significant, and controversial issues.  Briefs and advises City management and the Mayor and Council regarding sustainability programs. 
10.  Responds to and resolves sensitive inquiries and complaints, and issues from both internal and external sources.
Responsibilities - Supervisor and/or Leadership Exercised:
  Responsible for the full range of supervisory activities including selection, training, evaluation, counseling, and recommendation for dismissal.
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:
  Must possess required knowledge, skills, abilities, and experience and be able to explain and demonstrate, with or without reasonable accommodations, that the essential functions of the job can be performed.

Knowledge of current concepts of conservation and sustainable development including green purchasing, energy conservation, solid waste recycling, green building, resource and water conservation, green house gas reduction, renewable resources, government funding opportunities, and environmental reporting metrics.
Knowledge of fiscal planning and budget preparation.
Knowledge of the principals and practices of public administration.
Knowledge of supervisory and managerial techniques and principles.
Skill in oral and written communications.
Skill in handling multiple tasks and prioritizing.
Skill in using computers and related software applications.
Skill in data analysis and problem solving.
Skill in preparing and analyzing budgets, reports, and studies.
Ability to maintain effective communication and working relationships with Boards and Commissions, city employees and the public.
Ability to develop strategic direction and program implementation collaboratively with various stakeholder/community groups. 
Minimum Qualifications:
 


Graduation with a Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university with major coursework in Business Administration, Public Administration, Environmental Management, Environmental Science, Environmental Engineering, Urban Planning, Architecture, or in a field related to the job, plus seven (7) years of sustainability related experience, two (2) years of which were in a managerial capacity. 

Masters degree may substitute for two (2) years of experience.
Licenses and Certifications Required:
  None.

This description is intended to indicate the kinds of tasks and levels of work difficulty required of the position given this title and shall not be construed as declaring what the specific duties and responsibilities of any particular position shall be. It is not intended to limit or in any way modify the right of management to assign, direct and control the work of employees under supervision. The listing of duties and responsibilities shall not be held to exclude other duties not mentioned that are of similar kind or level of difficulty.