Chief Sustainability Officer

Overview:

Plans, develops and leads HKS Enterprise Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) efforts. Works with Enterprise leadership to embed sustainability principles across the enterprise and into all HKS projects. Works with CEO, design and innovation leadership and relevant Enterprise teams to strengthen the firm’s integrative, high-performance and regenerative design and implementation through the firm’s mission and strategic goals.
Possesses strong leadership and communication skills, a flexible attitude, ability to solve problems creatively and foster and manage effective client relationships. Leads with generosity, creativity, deliberation, vision and joy. Responsible for high-impact decisions across HKS globally and on multiple projects. Endorses the firm’s values by personally influencing resources, innovation and communication.

Responsibilities:

• Works with Enterprise leadership to establish and manage annual Environmental, Social & Governance (ESG) objectives, key results and actions
• Creates annual Communication on Progress to the United Nations Global Compact.
• Represents ESG at HKS Enterprise to support Sector, Practice, design, research and enterprise objectives
• Collaborates with HKS Enterprise Research, Design, and Process leadership to promote integrative sustainable strategies, develop and leverage complex data sets and analytics to support project design decisions, enterprise objectives and research goals
• Responsible for the annual HKS carbon footprint assessment and carbon neutrality efforts; including implementation of reduction programs and the purchase of carbon offsets
• Works with Enterprise to create data systems to support design quality and continuous improvement
• Initiates and deploys creative solutions advancing ESG objectives within the firm
• Represents and reports on ESG efforts to the HKS Board
• Works with Enterprise leadership to ensure sustainability is fully embedded into HKS research objectives
• Supports and/or leads engagement with project teams as HKS Chief Sustainability Officer
• Coordinates strategic direction with the Chief Design Officer, Innovation Sector Director, Director of Sustainability, and Director of Integrated Energy Engineering
• Identifies and coordinates process and technical improvements in concert with Enterprise leadership
• Leads and/or assists with specialized research activities
• Ensures DesignGreen team has the resources needed to advance ESG across the firm
• Integrates HKS expertise and innovation in all projects, while actively seeking opportunities to incorporate HKS best practices, sustainable design solutions, subject matter expertise and resources strategically and efficiently for the client, user and community
• Exercises skills of persuasion and negotiation on critical issues
• Leads client presentations and public hearings as needed
• Leads team meetings to discuss project issues, technical issues and coordination with other disciplines

Qualifications:

• Accredited professional degree in Architecture, Engineering, Sustainable Design or related field; post-graduate degree preferred
• Professional licensure in architecture or engineering
• Typically 20+ years of experience
• Sustainable design accreditation
• Recognized for industry leadership such as LEED Fellow, FAIA or similar
• Familiarity with design and performance modeling applications
• Proficiency in MS Office Suite preferred
• Experience with the development and deployment of ESG programs at an enterprise level
• Working familiarity with the global protocols for corporate sustainability assessment and reporting
• Working understanding of high-performance codes and regulations in North America and abroad; experience in the development of such codes and regulations preferred
• Experience in applying green building frameworks such as LEED, WELL, Living Buildings, and/or BREEAM
• Advanced knowledge of sustainability and integrated design guidelines and processes
• Strong knowledge in interpreting and applying high-performance building standards such as ANSI, ASHRAE, IESNA and ASTM as well as building energy codes such as IECC and T24
• Strong knowledge of architectural and/or engineering building systems
• Working knowledge of building physics, energy transfer, mechanical design, system control strategies and economics is required
• Knowledge of QA/QC and specification process
• Knowledge of building codes and ability to research and apply/incorporate into technical documents
• Successful track record with managing a team and performing duties in a fast-paced environment
• Proficiency in logistics management including connecting people and resources t