Sustainability Director

Gensler

  • Chicago, IL
  • $125,000-155,000 per year
  • Permanent
  • Full-time
  • 1 month ago
At Gensler, we envision a future where every building and space is designed with the planet in mind, targeting carbon neutrality for all our projects by 2030. Through the Gensler Cities Climate Challenge (GC3), launched in 2019, we are committed to reducing the operational and embodied carbon footprint across the built environment. We seek dedicated leaders in sustainable design who are as passionate as we are about reshaping the world’s skylines responsibly.In this role, you’ll lead sustainable design efforts within a dynamic, collaborative environment, supporting our clients and internal teams as we work toward a carbon-neutral future. As a key member of Gensler’s sustainability and climate action practice, you’ll balance technical leadership, client engagement, and mentorship to drive sustainable design innovation. As part of Gensler’s sustainability practice, you’ll have opportunities for public visibility through collaborations, speaking engagements, and media interactions, reinforcing our leadership in climate action.Your RoleBased in our Chicago office, you will play a key role in building Gensler’s sustainable design and climate action practice within the North Central Region, including Chicago, Minneapolis, Columbus and Detroit. Your focus will be to shape sustainable project outcomes while positioning Gensler as a leader in climate action and resilience.What You Will Do
  • Project Leadership – Guide clients and teams on high-performance, resilient design practices to set and achieve ambitious sustainability goals.
  • Design Excellence – Ensure that all projects maintain the highest level of design quality, with sustainability and performance-based measures integrated at every stage.
  • Mentorship – Foster professional growth by mentoring sustainability and design teams, developing the next generation of sustainability leaders.
  • Industry Leadership – Represent Gensler as a regional leader in sustainability through public speaking, publishing, and engagement with industry networks.
  • Workshop Facilitation – Lead workshops with teams, clients, and stakeholders to encourage and deepen their understanding of sustainability practices.
  • Performance Integration – Ensure key performance metrics, including energy, water, carbon, and materials impact, are tracked and leveraged across all projects.
  • Workshop Facilitation – Lead workshops with teams, clients, and stakeholders to encourage and deepen their understanding of sustainability and performance-based design.
  • Clear Communication – Translate complex data into compelling presentations and visuals, helping clients understand the value of sustainability strategies.
  • Business Development – Build and expand Gensler’s climate action services through new opportunities in Sustainability Strategy, Analytics, and Certification.
  • Client Relations – Cultivate trust and loyalty, positioning Gensler as a preferred sustainability partner.
  • Operational Planning – Coordinate with leadership on billing, fee management, and resource planning to support climate practice growth.
  • Hands-On Work – Contribute directly to project tasks as needed, particularly while growing the local team. Initially, you’ll focus on winning work to sustain your role, with a goal to build and lead a dedicated team within three years.
Your Qualifications
  • Sustainability Knowledge – Strong background in building science, high-performance systems, and sustainable strategies, with experience achieving building certifications.
  • Performance-Driven Expertise – Deep understanding of performance-based codes and ability to integrate innovative, data-driven solutions into design.
  • Software Skills – Knowledge of Revit for design and documentation; familiarity with Rhino, Ladybug, and Climate Studio for performance modeling.
  • Client Engagement – Proven ability to build trust, manage client relationships, and secure business, including a revenue target of $800k annually for climate action projects.
  • Strategic Planning – Experience driving change initiatives and developing strategic plans for team growth and climate action services.
  • Integrated Collaboration – Strong ability to work across disciplines, ensuring sustainability is seamlessly incorporated into management, technical, and design strategies.
  • Adaptable Communication – Skilled at aligning sustainability solutions with varied client priorities (e.g., profitability, fan engagement, employee wellbeing). Success in this role requires building rapport across generations and project roles, often with clients whose success metrics vary widely from Gensler’s sustainability goals.
  • Education and Certification – Master’s degree in sustainable building, architecture, engineering, or a related field, with LEED Accreditation required (additional certifications are a plus).
  • Familiarity with LEED and Other Certifications – Strong knowledge of LEED, WELL, Fitwel, and other green building certifications, with a proven track record of successfully implementing and achieving certification goals.
  • Life Cycle Assessment Expertise – Experience conducting Life Cycle Assessments (LCA) using tools such as One Click LCA, Tally, and Athena to assess and reduce embodied carbon impacts.
  • Leadership and Relationship Management – Strong relationship-building and collaboration skills across internal and external teams.
  • Curiosity and Engagement – Passionate about sustainability and eager to engage with new perspectives to foster a healthy, collaborative workplace.
  • Self-Starter – Able to manage multiple projects in a fast-paced environment with resilience and adaptability.
This role is an opportunity to make a lasting impact on the future of sustainable design within one of the most influential design firms in the world. If you are driven by a commitment to sustainability, integrated design excellence and fostering the next generation of sustainability leaders, we encourage you to apply.**The base salary will be estimated between $125k-155k plus bonuses and benefits and contingent on relevant experience. To learn more about our compensation philosophy and full benefits offerings, please visitLife at GenslerAt Gensler, we are as committed to enjoying life as we are to delivering best-in-class design. From curated art exhibits to internal design competitions to “Well-being Awareness Week,” our offices reflect our people’s diverse interests.We encourage every person at Gensler to lead a healthy and balanced life. Our comprehensive benefits include medical, dental, vision, disability, wellness programs, flex spending, paid holidays, and paid time off. We also offer a 401k, profit sharing, employee stock ownership, and twice annual bonus opportunities. Our annual base salary range has been established based on local markets.As part of the firm’s commitment to licensure and professional development, Gensler offers reimbursement for certain professional licenses and associated renewals and exam fees. In addition, we reimburse tuition for certain eligible programs or classes. We view our professional development programs as strategic investments in our future.

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