University of Puget Sound Hiring for Director of Sustainability Job at Tacoma, WA Full Time

Job ID: 6256
Location: Facilities Administrative E&G
Full/Part Time: Full Time
Regular/Temporary: Regular

Staff Posting Details

Appointment: regular, full-time, (1.0) FTE. Salaried, exempt.

Position Summary:

Reporting to the Associate Vice President for facilities services and as a member of the facilities services leadership team, the Director of Sustainability will provide institutional leadership in recommending key actions to which the university will commit to advance environmental justice and sustainability. Sustainability and resource conservation are core values and strategic priorities at Puget Sound. The director will recommend specific university goals and commitments related to environmental justice and sustainability, and will develop short- and long-range plans. The director will work closely with university leaders, faculty, students, and staff to foster a culture of sustainability across campus and among students, faculty and staff, and to identify, develop, implement, and promote collaborative strategies that advance these core values and strategic priorities in facilities planning, projects, and operations; academic programs; student and faculty research; administrative and student support offices; civic engagement initiatives; community outreach; and developing performance metrics. The director will also monitor and evaluate program effectiveness, document performance and trends, and recommend modifications to improve institutional effectiveness. Finally, the director will help coordinate sustainability responsibilities assigned to other facilities functions.

Essential Job Functions and Responsibilities:

Campus-Wide

• Collaborate with faculty, staff, students, administrators, and campus committees to advance environmental justice and sustainability at Puget Sound.
• Recommend specific university sustainability goals and commitments and a long-term plan to achieve sustainability goals, and create a multi-year action plan to achieve goals.
• Lead the sustainability advisory committee (SAC), consisting of faculty, staff, students, and administrators; work with other campus constituencies to develop and implement strategies toward carbon neutrality by conservation, seizing energy efficiency and reduction opportunities, use of renewable energy sources, among other tactics.
• Direct and facilitate sustainability initiatives in university operations by providing information and assistance within facilities services and to dining services, technology services, other departments and programs.
• Perform research and analysis, develop performance metrics, and monitor and evaluate sustainability program progress toward defined goals and effectiveness of programs.
• Prepare annual greenhouse gas emissions inventory, carbon footprint, and annual sustainability reports; disseminate results and analysis of progress toward carbon neutrality, utility management, and overall campus sustainability in conjunction with department colleagues and consultants.
• Coordinate the university’s periodic completion of the Sustainability Tracking and Assessment Rating System (STARS), disseminate and communicate the results, and identify means and methods for continuous improvement.
• Liaise with sustainability directors or equivalents at other education institutions, businesses, governments, and the community to share experience and practices and promote collaboration. Manage relationships with environmentally oriented external partners as assigned by the associate vice president of facilities services.
• Lead and coordinate waste reduction efforts, including composting efforts at campus events.

Coordination with Academic Program, as applicable

• Support the academic mission of the University and present at campus-wide staff, faculty, and student meetings; act as the liaison between academics and operations at Puget Sound to create a living laboratory environment for students around sustainability topics.
• As applicable, aid in the development of educational materials and provide support to students, faculty, and staff as needed with respect to course content or assignments, academic projects, presentations, and experiential learning opportunities related to sustainability.
• Collaborate with students and faculty undertaking applicable research, as needed and assigned.

Campus Development, Renovations, Operations, and Maintenance

• Ensure that the design, commissioning, and operation of facilities and infrastructure achieve or exceed sustainability goals. Provide technical direction for the planning, design, construction, and operation of highly sustainable buildings, systems, and infrastructure; work with capital project teams and building operations teams to integrate sustainable practices in master planning and facilities renewal and maintenance projects.
• Complete LEED certifications as required, guiding project sustainability consultants.
• Lead planning, development, and management of projects related to renewable energy for the campus, including economic forecasting, utility generation capacity, project site concepts, and review, negotiate, and manage applicable contractual documents;
• Complete incentive applications for all campus energy-related projects; perform necessary analyses to maximize financial opportunities; identify, track, and complete incentive and grant opportunities.
• Prepare materials for presentation to campus leadership and the board’s Facilities Subcommittee, as applicable.

Environmental Justice

• Coordinate with campus members to advance environmental justice goals and programs

Campus and Community Engagement

• Support campus life engagement in sustainability programs including orientation, community advisors, and promote sustainability and educational collaborations.
• Support student engagement in sustainability programs, including student organizations and individuals.
• Direct institutional sustainability activities, such as, zero waste events and earth week.
• Network with peer institutions to maintain current working knowledge of sustainability best practices on university campuses; engage with local community partners on matters of sustainability; and represent Puget Sound at applicable sustainability conferences and meetings.

Communications

• Enhance Puget Sound communication and outreach; promote environmental responsibility by generating and managing content for sustainability website, social media, public presentations, newsletters, and other publications as appropriate in conjunction with the Communications Office.
• Disseminate information about the University’s sustainability advancements and activities on campus and locally, regionally and nationally.

Administrative

• Oversee the office of sustainability budget, including budget projections, tracking, and verification.
• Mentor and supervise student staff members.
• Make recommendations to associate vice president for facilities regarding staffing, training programs, and planning to ensure that the university achieves sustainability goals.
• Perform additional duties as assigned; duties, responsibilities, and activities may change at any time with or without notice.

Qualifications:

• Commitment to Puget Sound’s mission.
• Ability to respectfully work, communicate and provide leadership within a diverse campus community.
• Bachelor’s degree in an applicable field, or the equivalent in education and experience; advanced coursework a plus.
• Five years of experience in management, sustainability, or related programs required; experience in academic setting desired.
• Knowledge of sustainability theories and best practices, local, national, and global sustainability, and environmental initiatives; familiarity with the networks of organizations (governmental, non-governmental, and academic) involved in advancing sustainability policy and action.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills, including public speaking.
• Excellent research and analytical skills.
• Ability to creatively and persistently solve problems and overcome obstacles, and work within financial constraints.
• Ability to work independently and as an excellent collaborator and team player.
• Demonstrated record of personal accomplishments executing sustainability initiatives and achieving goals.
• Excellent computing skills, including strong working knowledge of Microsoft Office products including Excel, PowerPoint, and other presentation software.

Compensation and Benefits: Decisions about starting salaries are made based on the extent and relatedness of the candidate’s education and experience and on internal equity and market considerations.

Puget Sound offers a generous benefits package. For more information, visit: https://pugetsound.edu/human-resources/benefits

Application Deadline: Review of application materials will be immediately. Search and selection procedures will be closed when a sufficient number of qualified candidates have been identified.

Required Documents:

• Resume
• Letter of Interest

Applications submitted without the required attachments will not be considered.

All offers of employment are contingent on successful completion of all required background checks and if applicable for the position, drug screen, physical test and functional assessment. All new hires will be required to submit proof of COVID-19 vaccination or approved exemption.

Diversity Statement:

• We acknowledge the richness of commonalities and differences we share as a university community; the intrinsic worth of all who work and study here; that education is enhanced by investigation of and reflection upon multiple perspectives.
• We aspire to create respect for and appreciation of all persons as a key characteristic of our campus community; to increase the diversity of all parts of our University community through commitment to diversity in our recruitment and retention efforts; to foster a spirit of openness to active engagement among all members of our campus community.
• We act to achieve an environment that welcomes and supports diversity; to ensure full educational opportunity for all who teach and learn here; to prepare effectively citizen-leaders for a pluralistic world.

Puget Sound is committed to an environment that welcomes and supports diversity. We seek diversity of identity, thought, perspective, and background in our students, faculty, and staff. To learn more please visit: https://pugetsound.edu/about-puget-sound-0/mission-core-values/institutional-equity-diversity

The University of Puget Sound is an equal opportunity employer.

How to Apply
For complete job description and application instructions, visit: www.pugetsound.edu/employment

About Puget Sound
Puget Sound is a selective national liberal arts college in Tacoma, Washington, drawing 2,600 students from 48 states and 20 countries. Puget Sound graduates include Rhodes and Fulbright scholars, notables in the arts and culture, entrepreneurs and elected officials, and leaders in business and finance locally and throughout the world. A low student-faculty ratio provides Puget Sound students with personal attention from faculty who have a strong commitment to teaching and offer 1,200 courses each year in more than 40 traditional and interdisciplinary fields, including graduate programs in occupational and physical therapy and in education. Puget Sound is the only nationally ranked independent undergraduate liberal arts college in Western Washington, and one of just five independent colleges in the Pacific Northwest granted a charter by Phi Beta Kappa, the nations most prestigious academic honorary society. Visit “About Puget Sound” (http://www.pugetsound.edu/about) to learn more about the college.

As a strategic goal and through our core values, University of Puget Sound is committed to an environment that welcomes and supports diversity. We seek diversity of identity, thought, perspective, and background in our students, faculty, and staff. EOE/AA

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