Sustainability Strategy Manager 

Sustainability Strategy Manager   

Compensation Range: $74,000-$125,000 based on market location and experience. 

Location: This role’s preferred location is in San Francisco, San Diego, Denver or can be located anywhere in the U.S., or Vancouver, Calgary, Edmonton, Toronto or can be located anywhere in Canada.  

Stok has a hybrid workforce across North America and globally. Although we have offices in San Francisco, San Diego, Denver and some co-working locations across the continent, we encourage team members to pursue a work from home, hybrid or in-person setup that works best for them. There are no mandated in-person working requirements. 

Job Description 

Stok leads organizations to decarbonize now. We integrate expertise across ESG and sustainability consulting, carbon, energy engineering, commissioning, and project delivery. From the enterprise to asset level, we provide clients with strategy, management, and technical support to translate bold commitments into impact. Our global team delivers on client ambitions across programs and projects worldwide. In our own operations, Stok uses third-party frameworks such as B Corp, the International Living Future Institute (ILFI) Just Label, and the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) to guide, verify, and share our progress toward our commitment to a radically better world for all. 

Stok is seeking a Sustainability Manager to join our Strategy team. As a consultant at Stok, you will work with some of the world’s most innovative companies, including those influencing iconic corporate climate programs and real estate projects for positive impact. Ideal candidates have a background in ESG/sustainability strategy development and implementation, commercial/corporate real estate, ESG and sustainability frameworks including GRESB, IFRS, and healthy building rating systems. Candidates should also be detail-oriented and able to communicate complex ideas, strategies, and data to technical and non-technical audiences. Together we will deliver high-performance real estate in pursuit of Stok’s purpose: to boldly catalyze an environmentally restorative and socially equitable world.   

At Stok, We Seek Culture Add, Not Culture Fit.  

At Stok, our values guide every decision we make and action we take on behalf of our partners and clients. They are:   

1. Stok joy 
2. Own it 
3. Care deeply 
4. Demand better 

Our Values-Aligned Team Members: 

• Craft innovative ideas and have a say in how the firm operates. We have built self-management and distributive governance into our organizational structure to enable every team member to share input on policies and procedures. 

• Strive for a better way to do business and create a positive impact through their work. Stok believes in business as a force for good and is a certified B Corp, demonstrating our commitment to maximizing social and environmental impacts, in addition to profit. 

• Give back in a meaningful way. We donate 3% of profits to causes we believe in through a combination of pro-bono services and donations. 

• Advocate for a level playing field. Stok has intentionally baked social justice into our operations, which we hold ourselves accountable to through our International Living Future Institute JUST Label. 

• Participate in a transparent, objective, merit-based compensation and profit distribution processes and policies 

Our purpose is to boldly catalyze an environmentally restorative and socially equitable world, and Stok needs you to fulfill it! 

RESPONSIBILITIES 

Responsibilities may vary by client's needs. An ideal candidate does not need to possess all technical skills listed in this job post but should possess the skills related to strategy planning and client management. 

• Manage all aspects of ESG/corporate sustainability client engagements, including setting client goals, establishing project schedules, leading meetings, issuing regular project updates, and guiding the creation of deliverables with minimal guidance. May be responsible for multiple client engagements at the same time and in various stages. Establish and maintain effective client relationships, actively listening to problems and identify solutions to appease diverse stakeholder groups, and aiding in decision-making. Some engagements may include becoming an embedded consultant on key accounts.  

• Set and manage project expectations and effectively deliver project scopes within budget allocated. 

• Facilitate cross-functional collaboration within client organizations to ensure buy-in. 

• Facilitate and manage cross-functional collaboration within Stok to ensure proper subject matter experts support ESG/corporate sustainability scopes and are budgeted into projects as necessary. 

• Create and implement bespoke ESG/corporate sustainability programs which may include materiality assessments; goal setting; ESG/corporate sustainability roadmap and strategy development; sustainable design, construction, and operations standards development; data benchmarking and performance tracking; resilience and climate change analysis; health and well-being strategies; stakeholder engagement; sustainability reporting; and other sustainability topics identified by client. 

• Collect, track, and analyze data related to all aspects within a sustainability strategy for enterprise-wide environmental impacts, including but not limited to: energy use, water use, waste generation, building construction, and transportation.   

• Conduct research and analysis of current and pending regulations and industry trends/requirements. Understand sector, regional, and economic factors that could impact a client's ESG/corporate sustainability strategy. 

• Assist in the creation of internal and external communications for clients related to ESG/corporate sustainability programs and successes, including impact/sustainability reports and executive presentations that verbally and visually communicate project performance updates and sustainability impact metrics in a concise and compelling format.  

• Manage the submission process for leading ESG/sustainability frameworks and regulations.  

• Contribute to the build out of Stok’s Strategy services including creating tools, case studies, best practices, and mentoring other team members, as necessary. 

QUALIFICATIONS 

• Bachelor’s degree in business administration, real estate, public policy, environmental science, building science such as sustainability, architecture, engineering, or construction management or related field.  

• 5+ years’ experience working in the ESG/sustainability consulting field, with a focus on the built environment and commercial real estate. 

• Experience working with the leading ESG frameworks and ratings including GRESB, SASB, TCFD, IFRS, etc. 

• Understanding of common ESG/sustainability metrics, data collection methods, and tools. 

• Interest and experience in implementing best practices covering environmental sustainability, social responsibility, and governance of environmental and social topics. 

• Strong research, writing, analytical, communications, and organizational skills; demonstrated project management and time management skills. 

• Ability to read and interpret formal construction documents, inclusive Architectural, Mechanical, Electrical, Plumbing, Landscape, and Civil plan sets and specifications 

• Knowledge of Construction Specification Institute (CSI) format 

• Knowledge of WELL Building Standard and Living Building Challenge a plus 

What you’ll need to be successful in this role:  

• Strong organizational skills and program management skills – possesses the ability to successfully manage multiple projects/deadlines simultaneously in a fast-paced environment.  

• An innate attention to detail. 

• A team player that gets the job done and sees no task as too small 

• Thrives on building and managing relationships with clients as well as team members. 

• Requires minimal guidance and possesses the ability to find solutions via research and/or connect with the appropriate resources. 

• Proactive, and with a solution-oriented mindset.  

• A passion for sustainability and climate action. 

• Proficient use of Microsoft Office 365 suite and Google suite 

Additional experience we’d be excited for you to bring (not required, but a bonus to our team and our clients):  

• General knowledge of GHG protocol and carbon accounting. 

• General knowledge of climate strategies. 

• Development of sustainable supply chain 

• Development of biodiversity programs 

• LEED GA, and LEED AP BD+C or ID+C, GRESB AP, or other relevant technical accreditation 

How We Support You 

Health Benefits 

US-Based Team Members 

• Medical, dental and vision coverage (can also include dependents) 

• Employer-funded and tax-deductible Health Reimbursement Account 

• Employee-funded and tax-deductible Flexible Spending and Health Savings Accounts 

• Mental health concierge service 

• Life, accidental death, long-term and short-term disability coverage 

Canada-Based Team Members 

• 50% Employer-funded group health benefit plan 

• Employer-funded Health Spending and Wellness Spending Accounts 

• Employee Assistance Program 

• Life, Accidental Death, Long-Term Disability coverage 

Paid Time Off Benefits 

Autonomy is structured into Stok’s culture by design. We value self-management practices, and we know taking time for ourselves is healthy and fosters growth. That’s why we offer: 

• Flexible work schedules. We work best in different ways, so we empower you to find yours and make a schedule that works for you, the team and clients. 

• Quiet Fridays: Stok offers everyone two days a month meant to tune out the noise and prioritize what needs to get done (whether that’s work or life related) 

• Flexible Personal Time Off 

• Minimum of 80 hours per year for Paid Time Off (PTO) or vacation time 

• 80 hours per year for holiday time (floating holidays) 

• 80 hours per year for wellness (or sick) time 

• 40 hours per year for learning and development 

• 16 hours per year for volunteer time (to give back to your community and the causes that matter most to you!) 

Stipends and Perks 

Social and environmental justice are critical to our vision, so we bake them into everything we do including the following: 

• 401(k) (world’s first fossil fuel-free and gun-free 401(k) plan so you can invest in a future you believe in) or Registered Retirement Savings Plan (Canada) 

• Annual Learning and Development stipend 

• Work from Home stipend (to support remote ergonomics) 

• Annual US National Parks Pass or Parks Canada Discovery Pass 

• Donation program 

• Cellphone benefit 

• Personal company credit card 

Guidelines for using AI in our interviewing process 

As your prospective employer, Stok wants to get to know the authentic, not the artificial, you. We believe we can unlock true human potential when we add the right person to the right team at the right time. This approach serves the candidate and the team, leading to synergistic outcomes. To get this right, we need to be able to get to know you – your intelligence, your skills, and your experience. We look to uncover these things, how you personally align with our company values, as well as your ability to think and perform independently in real-time. 

Stok continues to learn about and experiment with AI, however, we know that many tasks cannot be replaced by AI. Here is where we expect you to use AI and where we do not: 

• Resume and cover letter: AI assistance is acceptable; however, we expect these materials to represent your true qualifications and skills accurately 

• Phone and Video Interviews: AI assistance is not acceptable; we ask that you engage in our interviews without reading from or referencing AI-generated answers 

• Take-home assignments: AI assistance is not acceptable; any submissions should reflect your original conclusions and perspectives  

If we detect that you are using AI without permission or advance disclosure, your candidacy may be disqualified. 

Knowing that the way we work with AI may change over time, we will regularly check back on our approach to AI in our hiring process to stay values-aligned, in compliance with current legislation, and mitigate potential biases in our processes.