How Your Job Can Be Titled, "Head of Sustainability"

Just recently, Unilever Australia launched a new employee engagement campaign that aims to increase ownership and understanding of the company’s new Sustainable Living Plan. In a nutshell, the campaign is designed so that every Unilever employee in Australia and New Zealand receives a personalized ‘Head of Sustainability’ business card, along with a ‘job manual’ outlining Unilever’s business case for sustainability and why each employee has been given the new title.

While US organizations and businesses may be lagging in the adoption of sustainability titles there are opportunities for self directed green programs. Sure, well meaning executives may have good intentions toward starting the recycling center or monitoring and measuring energy use, but leadership alone is not responsible for leading eco action. We all are!

As mentioned in the post, Sustainability: Two Sides of the Same Coin, shaping our future takes both sides of the sustainability coin- business and personal. Whether led by a sustainability executive or traditional management, your role in a sustainable organization can have an impact. You can create your own self titled green job by embracing sustainability concepts at work regardless of your current position. Here's how:

Consider your approach to your current position. No one knows your job better than you. You have a better chance of discovering ways to improve processes and integrate sustainability concepts than anyone. Perform your job from the perspective of how can I do my job in a more eco friendly manner.

• Take eco action in your daily activities: recycle, commit to paperless, share with others what you are doing and why you are doing it and get them involved.

• Engage management by incorporating sustainability concepts in your personal development plan.

• Take on new sustainability roles and projects in the organization: start a recycling program, lead a paper free initiative, host a lunch and learn providing local and organic foods

• Become the “go-to” person for all things green

• Expand your corporate green network: engage in internal business activities, networking events, internal and external training, professional organizations, and business communities. An easy option to engage in your company’s community outreach programs.

Now, see how this applies to different roles within the organization:

• Supply Chain Professionals: these roles interface with the company’s supply chain and can implement new sources of supply or work with current suppliers to incorporate sustainability concepts that improve operations. Procurement play a role in coordinating sustainable purchasing practices across various departments within the organization.

• Environmental, Health, and Safety Professionals: these roles interface with the company’s operations and establish and implement the company’s sustainability policies. They can also function as a communication vehicle to the organization.

• Sales and Marketing Professionals: these key roles interface with the company’s customers represent the face of business sustainability and communicate the organizations values and commitment to sustainability. Sales and Marketing link consumer preferences for sustainable products with the offerings of the company.

• Human Resource Professionals: these key roles interface have a key role to play to help a company achieve its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) objectives. HR professionals are encouraged to check out the new book, CSR for HR by Elaine Cohen for sustainable impact within the organization.

With an official title Head of Sustainability or not, you have the opportunity to transform your current job towards a sustainable one. At its essence, the work of a Head of Sustainability is work that transforms our environment and gives back in a meaningful way. It is the reward of expanding eco awareness through deliberate eco action that generates shifts in business and personal lives.