Creating a professional certification for the sustainability practitioner

Transcription

1 Creating a professional certification for the sustainability practitioner Marsha Willard, ISSP Board of Directors Maureen Hart, ISSP Executive Director

2 International Society of Sustainability Professionals Member-driven professional association with over 900 members around the world Focus on professional development, research, networking members and resource databank. Honor sustainability luminaries each year with induction into the Sustainability Hall of Fame Growing local chapters around the globe

3 Why certification is needed 1. Bring cohesion and definition to the emerging field of sustainability 2. Provide practitioners in the field evidence of competency, furthering their credibility, influence and career advancement opportunities 3. Provide organizations hiring employees and consultants assurance of a standard level of competency 4. Provide clear guidance and direction to educators & trainers

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5 What are we certifying? Sustainability Practitioner: A professional who spends more than 25% of his/her work time planning, implementing, managing and reporting sustainability efforts for organizations and communities. This includes internal practitioners who may hold a title like sustainability director as well as the external consultants who help organizations implement sustainable practices.

6 2010: Competency Study Nine Month Study Survey of 385 professionals Key Challenges: Promoting understanding of Sustainability Dealing with climate change and related energy needs Gaining support of management & customers Proving fiscal viability and getting funding Change management Hard Skills Needed Strategic Planning Systems Thinking Project Management Soft Skills Needed Communication with stakeholders Problem solving Inspiring and motivating org/sustainability professional 2010 competency survey report

7 Job Task Categories 1. Core Sustainability Concepts 2. Stakeholder Engagement 3. Plan Sustainability Strategies 4. Implement Sustainability Strategies 5. Evaluate Sustainability Efforts 6. Adjust Plans es/sust%20practitioner%20bok-%20rev%203%20- % _0.pdf

8 Job Task Subcategories org/issp-job-task-analysis-summary s/default/files/sust%20practitioner%20bok- %20Rev%203%20-% _0.pdf

9 Job Task Sub-categories 2. Stakeholder Engagement 2.1 Identify, map and prioritize stakeholders and their primary interests or concerns 2.2 Develop a strategy and means of engaging with each stakeholder 2.3 Implement and institutionalize procedures for engaging and communicating with internal stakeholders (e.g. senior management, functional leads, line employees) 2.4 Implement procedures for engaging and communicating with external stakeholders (e.g. suppliers, industry partners, NGO s community members) 2.5 Build relationships across organizational functions 2.6 Prepare communications with input from key stakeholders

10 Knowledge, Skills, and Attributes 2.1 Identify, map and prioritize stakeholders and their primary interests or concerns Skills: Facilitate stakeholder groups Identify driving forces behind stakeholder motivations Prioritize stakeholder needs and concerns Develop stakeholder maps Knowledge: Familiarity with personality styles Familiarity with environmental issues, community issues and interdependencies Attributes: Listener Open minded Organized Effective communicator

11 Certification Scheme Two levels both requiring on-going professional development to maintain the credential ISSP Sustainability Associate Code of Ethics Declaration Pass ISSP-SA Certification Exam ISSP Certified Sustainability Professional Meet ISSP-SA requirement Pass ISSP-CSP Certification Exam Educational qualifications Work experience

12 Certification Maintenance Certification last 3 years Renewal requires demonstrating continuous learning through activities such as... ISSP membership Conference, workshop and webinar attendance Professional activities Work experience Publications Etc.

13 Testing Platform Administered 100% on line Completed during testing windows Proctored electronically

14 Some Supporters to date

15 Next steps 1.Review and validate the exam items 2.Finalize Scheme and policies 3.Build Testing Platform and upload questions 4.Run Beta test - August 5.Launch - November

16 ISSP Contact information Marsha Willard Maureen Hart Declarations of support: JOIN US!

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