Anyone here working as or with a “Sustainability Specialist" or "Director of Sustainability” at their arch. firm? I know sustainability specialists can be consultants but I am most interested in this role as an in-house responsibility. What size firm does this role make sense? When does a firm know when it is time to create and fill that position? What does the job description look like and how does it mix with other traditional roles in a firm? Thanks in advance. -EM
Well, there is a bridge in Rome that dates to 62 BC, the Pons Fabricius, that is still in use. Don't know who the "sustainability consultant" was on the project but the dude had it nailed.
Size: it depends on the firm involvement in sustainability, but in my opinion, above 50 persons will a good ballpark.
When: when the firm wants to make sustainability as their main selling point.
Job desk: it will vary. It can be marketing and interview, LEED consultant, research, review architects and engineer work, and building performance analyst (energy model, daylight, etc). the decision who you want to hire depends on skill sets that you look for (paper work/management (LEED) vs highly technical person).
Most SS in architecture firms are not very technical. It happens because the architecture firms tend to hire non-technical SS or SS that can do architecture works as well. Their job openings usually do not require technical SS skills. I was interviewed by different top engineering firms and architecture firms.
The interviews were different. The engineer firms will focus on technical skills and they didn't even ask portfolio because you can tell people technical skills by asking technical questions. The architecture firms will ask more management skill and simple technical skills (can you do XYZ software?), but they didn't ask the knowledge behind that. One of architecture firms even asked design philosophy question in their application requirement.
Technical SS are in high demand especially in engineering firms. I believe the demand of technical ones in architecture firms will grow in the future.
Feb 18, 14 8:06 pm ·
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Sustainability Specialist
Anyone here working as or with a “Sustainability Specialist" or "Director of Sustainability” at their arch. firm? I know sustainability specialists can be consultants but I am most interested in this role as an in-house responsibility. What size firm does this role make sense? When does a firm know when it is time to create and fill that position? What does the job description look like and how does it mix with other traditional roles in a firm? Thanks in advance. -EM
I don't know an answer to this question, but love the abbreviation: SusSpec't
Consider the compatibility , experience in the country and credibility of the consultant.
Well, there is a bridge in Rome that dates to 62 BC, the Pons Fabricius, that is still in use. Don't know who the "sustainability consultant" was on the project but the dude had it nailed.
I work as one of them.
Size: it depends on the firm involvement in sustainability, but in my opinion, above 50 persons will a good ballpark.
When: when the firm wants to make sustainability as their main selling point.
Job desk: it will vary. It can be marketing and interview, LEED consultant, research, review architects and engineer work, and building performance analyst (energy model, daylight, etc). the decision who you want to hire depends on skill sets that you look for (paper work/management (LEED) vs highly technical person).
Most SS in architecture firms are not very technical. It happens because the architecture firms tend to hire non-technical SS or SS that can do architecture works as well. Their job openings usually do not require technical SS skills. I was interviewed by different top engineering firms and architecture firms.
The interviews were different. The engineer firms will focus on technical skills and they didn't even ask portfolio because you can tell people technical skills by asking technical questions. The architecture firms will ask more management skill and simple technical skills (can you do XYZ software?), but they didn't ask the knowledge behind that. One of architecture firms even asked design philosophy question in their application requirement.
Technical SS are in high demand especially in engineering firms. I believe the demand of technical ones in architecture firms will grow in the future.
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