Simon Goldsmith

Head of Sustainability

Taking control of your future. Helping design and deliver a career you will be proud of.

How would you like the world to be in 20 years time?

What is most important to you?

What is your potential to help design and deliver a world you are proud to be part of?

Your working life is crucial to your vision becoming a reality.

Take responsibility, take action, take control.

Become a super hero!

Students Demand Sustainability• 90% of respondents want their college to take

sustainability seriously;• Two thirds of respondents agree that all

courses should actively incorporate and promote sustainable development

• 74% would give up £1K (53% would give up £3K) per year to work for an organisation committed to environment & society

NUS/HEA Student Skills Survey 2016

What is sustainability?

https://youtu.be/FFCNCQleCuk

In the UK Sustainability is BIG!• The sustainable (Green) economy worth £46billion

per year.• 96,000 businesses delivering sustainable

outcomes• 238,500 employees

Sustainability leaders:

https://www.unilever.co.uk/careers/graduates/

Making a difference though your career:

https://www.unilever.co.uk/careers/graduates/

https://www.unilever.co.uk/

Every job should relate to sustainability

Accountants Analysts Marketeers Managers Designers Project Managers Risk Assessors Strategists

Business Development HR Finance & Investments Trainers Etc Etc Etc…

Sustainability – probably the best knowledge & skill set to master.

Why?

Practice makes you:Forward looking

Risk assessing & managingOpportunity seeking

Creative thinkingAnalytical

ConnectingPrinciple driven

Strategic

Sustainability skill sets:• Systems thinking• Communication• Facilitation & innovation • Participatory & relationship building• Listening, empathy, reflection• Critical thinking, problem solving, adaptive• Technology & science thinking• Planning, (self) management• Leadership• Strategy! (HEA Employer Attitudes towards & Skills for SD 2015)

Sustainability jobs:• Consultancy/In-house, UK/International• Auditing:

Carbon/energy/environmental/ecological/social/supply chain/legal etc

• Reporting:Sustainability, CSR & Carbon etc,

• Life Cycle Analysis• Sustainability Software • Data Analysis• Policy application & development

Average sustainability professional’s salary: £43,812, Grad salary: £24,500 (2015).

Waste, energy, water, transport, emissions, procurement , supply chain, strategy, policy, sales & marketing, tech & innovation, law,

In your future grad role where do you think you can make a difference? How could you impress an interview panel?

Sustainability Projects Assistant jobPerson SpecificationEssential Selection Criteria• Candidates must be a graduate• An excellent communicator:

• Able to comfortably express themselves and sustainability issues verbally, in written text to a variety of different audiences as well as in one-to-one situations

• Experience and enthusiasm for articulating this through marketing materials (e.g. producing news items and a newsletter and creating on-line communities)

• Confident to communicate with people at all levels• Creative and innovative thinker and problem-solver that can formulate ideas and

appropriately execute them• Knowledge of, and commitment to sustainability issues and their importance within a

university environment• Conscientious organiser, able to plan, prioritise and work to tight deadlines

Sustainability Projects Assistant jobPerson SpecificationEssential Selection Criteria (Cont.)• ICT literacy in all Office applications but especially Word, Excel and PowerPoint• Demonstrable commitment and motivation to complete this role and deliver the key

outputs and able to motivate others into action• Knowledge of Environmental Management systems (e.g. ISO14001, BS8555, Ecocampus)

and aware of current environmental legislation, regulation and good practice.• Practical and self-motivated, and able to work in team environment• Data gathering and interpretation, research and reporting skills that include a high

attention to detail

Real Grad level sustainability rolePerson Specification (Cont.)

Desirable Selection • Previous experience in a similar role in either a voluntary or paid

position• Experience of maintaining or developing environmental

management system • A degree or postgraduate qualification in a related discipline

otherwise able to demonstrate knowledge of a wide range of environmental issues including energy, waste, transport, biodiversity, procurement etc.

• Experienced and confident with technology such as web content management programmes, prezi, wordpress, twitter, facebook

• Environmental auditing experience• Experience of project management and administration

Opportunities at Greenwich.Volunteering opportunities:Supporting and leading on projects: • Ethical Food & Fairtrade

Fortnight• Green Week• Freshers Fairs• Green Society• Edible Garden at Avery Hill• Student Representatives:

Sustainability Steering Groups –Food, Biodiversity, Carbon Management,

• Living Lab: Utility data analysts, marketing, psychology, design, film & animation,

• Student Switch Off Student Ambassadors

• SDU work experience & job shadowing

• End of Term Reuse Project Managers (paid)

• Guest Lectures, visit The Crystal, Mayor’s Student Entrepreneurs Prize,

Opportunities: Sign Up!

Greenwich one of the most sustainable universities in the UK• First Class Green League 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017

(winner 2012)• Food for Life Gold for all catering outlets• Green Gown Finalists (Student Engagement & Food Categories)• Times Higher Education award for “Outstanding Contribution to

Sustainable Development” 2013• Marine Stewardship Council’s ‘University of the Year’ 2014• Chartered Institute of Ecology & Environmental Management

Winner: ‘Corporate Achievement Award’ 2014• ISO 14001 (Environmental Management (E&FM operations)

My Career Path:• Age of 8 Inspired by David Attenborough at to become aware and care about the

environment• Age 18 travelled to South America to visit rainforests and communities living within

them• Age 19 Took Geography Degree (Staffordshire University)• Age 22 Took Masters in Environmental Policy (Imperial College)• Age 23 Volunteering for Friends of the Earth• Age 23 Working for British Gas – Finance Directorate & North Sea Gas Contracting• Age 26 Worked for Wastebusters sustainability consultancy• Age 27 Director of London Environment Centre• Age 36 Travelled to South America to gain better understanding of sustainability &

poverty issues• Age 37 Undertook Masters in Strategic Leadership towards Sustainability (Sweden)• Age 38 Set up independent sustainability consultancy• Age 44 Head of Sustainability UoG.• Top Tips about getting a great Sustainability Job:

Be inspired, be sustainable.

Google sustainability GreenwichTwitter: @sustainabilitygreenwichFacebook: UoG Sustainability