Sustainability Director

At Gensler, we envision a future where every building and space is designed with the planet in mind, targeting carbon neutrality for all our projects by 2030. Through the Gensler Cities Climate Challenge (GC3), launched in 2019, we are committed to reducing the operational and embodied carbon footprint across the built environment. We seek dedicated leaders in sustainable design who are as passionate as we are about reshaping the world’s skylines responsibly.

In this role, you’ll lead sustainable design efforts within a dynamic, collaborative environment, supporting our clients and internal teams as we work toward a carbon-neutral future. As a key member of Gensler’s sustainability and climate action practice, you’ll balance technical leadership, client engagement, and mentorship to drive sustainable design innovation. As part of Gensler’s sustainability practice, you’ll have opportunities for public visibility through collaborations, speaking engagements, and media interactions, reinforcing our leadership in climate action.

Your Role

Based in our Chicago office, you will play a key role in building Gensler’s sustainable design and climate action practice within the North Central Region, including Chicago, Minneapolis, Columbus and Detroit. Your focus will be to shape sustainable project outcomes while positioning Gensler as a leader in climate action and resilience.

What You Will Do

• Project Leadership – Guide clients and teams on high-performance, resilient design practices to set and achieve ambitious sustainability goals.
• Design Excellence – Ensure that all projects maintain the highest level of design quality, with sustainability and performance-based measures integrated at every stage.
• Mentorship – Foster professional growth by mentoring sustainability and design teams, developing the next generation of sustainability leaders.
• Industry Leadership – Represent Gensler as a regional leader in sustainability through public speaking, publishing, and engagement with industry networks.
• Workshop Facilitation – Lead workshops with teams, clients, and stakeholders to encourage and deepen their understanding of sustainability practices.
• Performance Integration – Ensure key performance metrics, including energy, water, carbon, and materials impact, are tracked and leveraged across all projects.
• Workshop Facilitation – Lead workshops with teams, clients, and stakeholders to encourage and deepen their understanding of sustainability and performance-based design.
• Clear Communication – Translate complex data into compelling presentations and visuals, helping clients understand the value of sustainability strategies.
• Business Development – Build and expand Gensler’s climate action services through new opportunities in Sustainability Strategy, Analytics, and Certification.
• Client Relations – Cultivate trust and loyalty, positioning Gensler as a preferred sustainability partner.
• Operational Planning – Coordinate with leadership on billing, fee management, and resource planning to support climate practice growth.
• Hands-On Work – Contribute directly to project tasks as needed, particularly while growing the local team. Initially, you’ll focus on winning work to sustain your role, with a goal to build and lead a dedicated team within three years.

Your Qualifications

This role is an opportunity to make a lasting impact on the future of sustainable design within one of the most influential design firms in the world. If you are driven by a commitment to sustainability, integrated design excellence and fostering the next generation of sustainability leaders, we encourage you to apply.

Life at Gensler

At Gensler, we are as committed to enjoying life as we are to delivering best-in-class design. From curated art exhibits to internal design competitions to “Well-being Awareness Week,” our offices reflect our people’s diverse interests.

We encourage every person at Gensler to lead a healthy and balanced life. Our comprehensive benefits include medical, dental, vision, disability, wellness programs, flex spending, paid holidays, and paid time off. We also offer a 401k, profit sharing, employee stock ownership, and twice annual bonus opportunities. Our annual base salary range has been established based on local markets.

As part of the firm’s commitment to licensure and professional development, Gensler offers reimbursement for certain professional licenses and associated renewals and exam fees. In addition, we reimburse tuition for certain eligible programs or classes. We view our professional development programs as strategic investments in our future.

About Us

At Gensler, the value of our work stems from its positive impact on the human experience. We are a dynamic and collaborative design firm uniting creativity, research, and innovation to solve complex problems for our clients. Our work challenges conventional ideas about architecture and the built environment. We aren’t just designing buildings—we are reimagining cities and places that make a difference in people’s lives.

Founded in 1965, Gensler has built a team of 6,000 professionals who partner with clients in over 100 countries each year. Everything we do is guided by our mission : to create a better world through the power of design.

NOTICE TO APPLICANTS

We are proud to be an Equal Employment Opportunity and Affirmative Action employer of choice. All aspects of employment decisions will be based on merit, performance, and business needs. We do not discriminate on the basis of any status protected under federal, state, or local law.

Individuals with disabilities and protected veterans are encouraged to apply. We also consider qualified applicants with criminal histories consistent with applicable federal, state and local law.

Gensler endeavors to make gensler.com / careers accessible to all applicants. If you need assistance or an accommodation due to a disability, you may contact us .

Regarding Gensler’s approach to recruiting new talent, we will never ask an applicant for sensitive or personal financial information during the recruitment process. We advise all applicants seeking employment with Gensler to review available information on recruitment fraud . Anyone who suspects that they have been contacted by someone falsely representing Gensler should email info@gensler.com .

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