U-M Health Senior Sustainability Consultant

Job Summary:

Reporting to the U-M Health Sustainability Officer, the U-M Health Senior Sustainability Consultant is responsible as a subject-matter expert, to develop and implement environmental sustainability and carbon reduction initiatives across the health system, while overseeing the collection and reporting of key performance indicators (KPIs) to track progress and identify opportunities for improvement. Such initiatives include, but are not limited to, recycling, waste reduction, composting and energy conservation. This multifaceted role is intended to help position U-M Health as a leader in healthcare sustainability, with the strategic and operating goals to establish and uphold national environmental standards and best practices that reduce negative environmental impacts while improving health safety and operational efficiencies. The Sustainability Lead acts in accordance with policies and procedures and exemplifies the mission, vision, and values of U-M Health-Michigan Medicine.

Responsibilities:

• Collaborate with operational leaders to identify environmental sustainability improvement opportunities and redesign framework.
• Coordinate and manage multiple environmental sustainability initiatives simultaneously with limited oversight.
• Partner with others to promote and engage in enhancement of recycling, waste reduction, and composting programs.
• Coordinate efforts with Facilities colleagues to plan and implement energy conservation strategies.
• Lead special projects to advance sustainability goals.
• Collect, track, and organize sustainability data and outcomes for reporting to various stakeholders.
• Provide oversight over efforts to prepare sustainability reports for internal and external stakeholders, including annual submissions to Practice Green Health
• Develop and facilitate sustainability educational workshops and communications for both employees and external audiences.
• Assist with the creation and evaluation of requests for qualifications and proposals for sustainability-related products and services.
• Collaborate with and oversee the work of third-party vendors.
• Collaborate with other leaders to develop and carry out a strategy to merge aspects of environmental sustainability and justice initiatives into their operations.
• Develop and maintain relationships with external stakeholders to expand the organization's environmental sustainability work on local, regional and national scale.
• Work collaboratively with employees and leaders from U-M Office of Campus Sustainability and U-M Health regional network to align efforts in support of U-M and U-M Health climate action initiatives.
• Develop or identify an appropriate mechanism for establishing system baseline metrics and collecting data longitudinally in alignment with Practice Green Health's Environmental Excellence Awards criteria, and other agencies as applicable.
• Perform scheduled assessments to analyze the organization's current practices and identify opportunities for improvement in environmental sustainability and reducing carbon impact.
• Assist with the establishment of targets for tracking key performance indicators (KPIs) to identify progress and opportunities for improvement.
• Collaborate with department leaders and the Department of Communications to publicize the organization's environmental sustainability strategy, initiatives, progress, and achievements with colleagues, clients, stakeholders, and vendors
• Develop policies, procedures and trainings for areas including materials and waste, safer chemicals, environmentally preferable purchasing, transportation, energy, water, climate, and healthy foods
• Conduct regular rounding and audits and provide updates and brief in-services on environmental programs.
• Develop written sustainability plans to achieve SMART goals with roles, responsibilities and timelines identified.
• Facilitate sustainability committees and work groups to support continuous environmental quality improvement and employee engagement.

Required Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree, or an Advanced degree (preferred) in Sustainability, Environmental Sciences, Engineering or a related field (or equivalent experience)
• U.S. Green Building Council LEED Green Associate certification (preferred)
• Minimum of three years of sustainability-related experience
• Broad knowledge and appreciation of the key aspects of sustainable development, with a particular emphasis on life sciences and the associated business impacts
• Ability to think creatively to come up with solutions for complex problems
• Ability to plan and prioritize deadlines and think strategically
• Experience in the application of sustainability standards and reporting protocols, including but not limited to U.N. Sustainable Development Goals, Greenhouse Gas Protocol, ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager, and others
• Strong written and verbal communication skills with the ability to communicate sustainability initiatives and needs to both executive leadership and front-line staff
• Proven ability to engage with people at all levels across the organization with enthusiasm and empathy
• Strong interpersonal and project management skills with an open, constructive, and collaborative approach to working with colleagues
• Experience in change management and continuous quality improvement

Skills You Have:

• Energy Efficiency
• Waste Management Process Mapping
• Data Collection and Analysis
• Training
• Work independently
• Communications (Verbal and Written)
• Team Facilitation
• Change Management