• As a member of the Office of Sustainability, the associate helps drive sustainability change at GW by promoting current & future sustainability initiatives and practices.
• Manages the implementation and monitors the progress of projects that improve the university’s impact on ecosystems in an urban setting, with the intent to enhance social equity and economic prosperity. Projects may have educational components for students, staff, and faculty.
• Focuses on advancing GW’s zero waste aspirations, improving procurement practices, enhancing green space, fostering water conservation and healthy freshwater systems, supporting sustainable food production and food waste avoidance, promoting healthy air and climate, and encouraging low- and zero-carbon transportation options.
• Provides input to the university’s sustainability vision and strategy based on current technology and policy; accounts for the economic and social dimensions of sustainability; provides guidance on best and next practice for projects in higher education and other sectors, and monitors pending regulations and other forms of governance that may affect the implementation of GW sustain ability projects in positive and/or negative ways.
• Analyzes the viability of proposed projects and investigates practical financing options with input from GW finance, budget, development, and other offices with fiscal responsibility at both the university and school levels.
• Forms trusted and effective relationships and partnerships, and manage such partnerships in a way that leads to mutual benefit in the implementation of sustainability programs and projects.

Qualified candidates will hold a Bachelor’s degree in an appropriate area of specialization plus 2 years of relevant professional experience, or, a Master’s degree or higher in a relevant area of study. 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.

• A passion for and in-depth knowledge on sustainable initiatives
• Post-secondary coursework in business and/or environment is desired.
• A demonstrated experience building relations and working collaboratively.
• Strong knowledge of the issues of materials recovery and zero waste, energy and climate change, water conservation and quality, food systems, transportation alternatives, and/or urban biodiversity is highly desirable.
• Experience and skills at managing process projects, and cross-functional teams, and in facilitating group processes and meetings, as well as in change management.
• Highly motivated and self-directed, comfortable working in a loosely structured environment both independently and as part of a team, willing and able to assume a high level of responsibility for a project from start to finish, show initiative to seize and develop new opportunities, and persistence with organizational change.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, demonstrating tact and diplomacy to consistently interact effectively and flexibly with diverse groups of people including executive management, faculty, staff, students and the public is essential is desired.

How is pay for new employees determined at GW?

The university is an Equal Employment Opportunity/Affirmative Action 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.