Director, Office of Sustainability

Director, Office of Sustainability

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Posting Details

 I. JOB OVERVIEW 

Job Description Summary:  | Position Summary
The Director of Sustainability advances The George Washington University’s sustainability and long term infrastructure resilience goals through the implementation and coordination of initiatives across campus operations, with a strong emphasis on energy, utilities, and engineering collaboration, as well as support for academic priorities and student engagement. Reporting to the Director of Utilities, Energy, and Engineering, this role ensures alignment between sustainability objectives, infrastructure planning, energy management, and capital investment, and is designed as a hands-on, execution-focused position operating in a resource-constrained environment.

The Director provides strategic leadership for GW’s public-facing sustainability initiatives, including energy transition and emissions management strategies, while positioning the campus as a living laboratory for teaching, research, and experiential learning. Working closely with Finance, Facilities, Procurement, Legal, faculty, students, and external community partners, the Director manages risk, optimizes costs, secures funding, and delivers measurable outcomes that strengthen GW’s reputation, support enrollment and retention, and advance long-term institutional commitments.

Office of Sustainability Overview:
The Office of Sustainability is supported by three full-time professional staff members and approximately 20 part-time student employees. The Director of Sustainability is expected to effectively leverage this structure, along with operating with influence and cross-departmental collaboration, to deliver measurable outcomes on campus. Current programs that are a major focus – Emissions reductions and sustainability reporting, GW’s Zero Waste program, with efforts including Green Move Out, ReUse Market, and composting deployment, The Loop and textile donation/reuse efforts, campus micro mobility opportunities and improvement, Single Use Plastics Policy education and adherence, to name a few.

More information: GW Commitments

Key Responsibilities
Planning and Implementation: Lead the planning, coordination, and execution of university-wide sustainability, energy, and resource stewardship initiatives, ensuring alignment with infrastructure planning, capital projects, and institutional priorities. Translate long-term goals into actionable plans, timelines, and measurable outcomes. Leadership and Management: Provide hands-on leadership for the Office of Sustainability, including supervision of staff and student employees, budget oversight, and resource prioritization in a constrained environment. Create influence and achieve results through collaboration rather than authority by aligning diverse stakeholders around shared goals, driving accountability, and delivering measurable outcomes across complex, cross-functional initiatives. Stakeholder Engagement: Coordinate cross-functional collaboration among Finance, Facilities, Utilities, Procurement, Legal, faculty, students, and external partners to advance sustainability objectives, manage risk, and support institutional decision-making. Serve as a primary point of contact for public-facing sustainability initiatives and updates. Program Development and Operations: Design, implement, and manage high-impact sustainability programs related to university goals, emissions reduction, waste minimization, and campus engagement, including student-centered and community programs. Leverage partnerships and data-driven approaches to maximize program effectiveness. Proactively seek and secure grants and other funding opportunities to advance the Office of Sustainability’s objectives. Compliance and Reporting: Oversee sustainability-related data collection, analysis, and reporting, including STARS, LEED, greenhouse gas inventories, and ESG-related disclosures. Ensure accuracy, transparency, and compliance with institutional, regulatory, and Board-level requirements. Education and outreach: Support educational and experiential learning opportunities by integrating sustainability initiatives into academic, research, and co-curricular activities. Lead outreach and communications efforts that enhance campus awareness, student engagement, and the University’s public sustainability profile.
Performs other related duties as assigned. The omission of specific duties does not preclude the supervisor from assigning duties that are logically related to the position.

Minimum Qualifications:  | Qualified candidates will hold a Bachelor’s degree in an appropriate area of specialization plus 10 years of relevant professional experience, or, a Master’s degree or higher in a relevant area of study plus 8 years of relevant professional experience. Degree must be conferred by the start date of the position. Degree requirements may be substituted with an equivalent combination of education, training and experience.

Additional Required Licenses/Certifications/Posting Specific Minimum Qualifications:   
Preferred Qualifications:  | Master’s degree in Sustainability Management, Facilities or Engineering Management, Business or Public Administration is preferred. Grant writing experience is desired. Experience developing narratives and presentations for senior leadership, Boards, and public facing audiences is preferred. Professional Certifications: LEED AP, PMP, CEM, or other relevant certifications are desired.
Hiring Range  | $104,536.21 - $181,822.55
GW Staff Approach to Pay  | How is pay for new employees determined at GW?

 Healthcare Benefits
GW offers a comprehensive benefit package that includes medical, dental, vision, life & disability insurance, time off & leave, retirement savings, tuition, well-being and various voluntary benefits. For program details and eligibility, please visit https://hr.gwu.edu/benefits-programs.

 II. JOB DETAILS 

Campus Location:  | Foggy Bottom, Washington, D.C.
College/School/Department:  | Division of Safety and Operation
Family  | Safety and Facilities
Sub-Family  | Sustainability
Stream  | Management
Level  | Level 4
Full-Time/Part-Time:  | Full-Time
Hours Per Week:  | 40
Work Schedule:  | 8:30am-5:30pm, Monday - Friday
Will this job require the employee to work on site?  | Yes
Employee Onsite Status  | Hybrid
Telework:  | Yes
Required Background Check:  | Criminal History Screening, Education/Degree/Certifications Verification, Social Security Number Trace, and Sex Offender Registry Search
Special Instructions to Applicants:  | Employer will not sponsor for employment Visa status
Internal Applicants Only?  | No
Posting Number:  | S014047
Job Open Date:  | 02/17/2026
Job Close Date:  |
If temporary, grant funded, Sponsored Project funded or limited term appointment, position funded until:  |
Background Screening  | Successful Completion of a Background Screening will be required as a condition of hire.
EEO Statement:  | The university is an Equal Employment Opportunity employer that does not unlawfully discriminate in any of its programs or activities on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or on any other basis prohibited by applicable law.

Posting Specific Questions

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2013 H Street, NW, 3rd Floor
 Washington, DC 20006
Phone: 202-994-8500
Fax: 202-994-9680
Email: askhrmd@gwu.edu
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