Director Sustainability Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Payroll Title:
SUSTAIN OFCR 5 Department:
FACILITIES PLANNING & MGMT Hiring Pay Scale
$138,200 - $180,300 / Year Worksite:
Jacobs Medical Center Appointment Type:
Career Appointment Percent:
100% Union:
Uncovered Total Openings:
1 Work Schedule:
Days, 8-Hour Shifts, Monday-Friday
#139912 Director, Sustainability
Initial Review Date: Wed 7/1/2026
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UC San Diego values and welcomes people from all backgrounds. If you are interested in being part of our team, possess the needed licensure and certifications, and feel that you have most of the qualifications and/or transferable skills for a job opening, we strongly encourage you to apply.
Reassignment Applicants : Eligible Reassignment clients should contact their Disability Counselor for assistance.
DESCRIPTION
In alignment with UC Health climate commitments and the UC Sustainable Practices Policy, the Director, Sustainability leads strategy, alignment, and execution of sustainability efforts across UC San Diego Health within a highly matrixed, policy-driven environment.
This role ensures that Health system priorities are advanced while maintaining alignment with UC systemwide and campus sustainability goals. Success in this role requires the ability to navigate shared governance, balance competing priorities, and influence outcomes across a wide range of stakeholders.
The Director, Sustainability leads a small, high-impact team and works in close partnership with clinical, operational, campus, and UC system leaders to integrate sustainable practices into how care is delivered and how decisions are made across the organization. This role is part of the Office of Transformation at UC San Diego Health, reflecting a strong emphasis on integrating sustainability with continuous improvement, operational excellence, and organizational change and awareness that the best results come from connected, collaborative teams.
Key Responsibilities: • Leads interpretation, implementation, and advancement of sustainability-related policies, translating enterprise-level requirements into actionable strategies for UC San Diego Health
• Acts as primary liaison between UC San Diego Health, UC San Diego campus, and UC systemwide sustainability teams, advocating for Health system needs while ensuring alignment with broader climate and sustainability goals
• Oversees sustainability data strategy, including collection, validation, analysis, and reporting of metrics that inform decision-making, support regulatory and UC reporting requirements, and contribute to external rankings and reputation
• Leads a small, high-performing team, aligning work to strategic priorities and focusing efforts on initiatives that deliver the greatest environmental impact and organizational value
• Partners with clinical and physician leadership to align sustainability initiatives with enterprise priorities and operational realities
• Operates effectively in a highly matrixed environment, building consensus across clinical, operational, campus, and systemwide stakeholders
• Develops and leads implementation of sustainability initiatives across key domains, including climate action, waste reduction, water conservation, sustainable procurement, food, and transportation
• Works closely with facilities, infrastructure, and energy management teams to ensure alignment with sustainability goals (this role does not directly oversee energy operations)
• Partners with the Office of Transformation to apply continuous improvement methodologies, including Lean and data-driven approaches, to advance sustainability efforts and embed sustainable practices into daily operations
• Leads workforce planning and talent management for the Sustainability team, including hiring, performance management, and role development
• Champions a collaborative environment and actively supports the professional growth of team members. Builds an inclusive, supportive daily work culture
• Develops and executes communication strategies that build organizational awareness and engagement in sustainability across staff, physicians, and leaders
• Serves as a representative of UC San Diego Health in sustainability-related external forums, committees, and professional settings
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor's degree in a related field and seven or more years of relevant experience, or equivalent combination of education and experience
• Demonstrated experience working in complex, highly structured environments with layered governance and shared accountability
• Advanced knowledge of sustainability principles, policies, and regulatory frameworks
• Strong ability to influence, build alignment, and lead through complexity across diverse stakeholders
• Experience leading programs or initiatives that require cross-functional collaboration and strategic prioritization

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Experience within the University of California system or a similarly complex public or academic environment
• Master's or advanced degree in a relevant field
• Experience in healthcare, higher education, or similarly complex systems
• Experience applying continuous improvement, Lean, or organizational development methodologies
• Experience leading sustainability reporting, data analytics, or external benchmarking efforts
• Demonstrated ability to foster a collaborative team environment and support professional growth of team members

SPECIAL CONDITIONS

• Must be able to work various hours and locations based on business needs.
• Employment is subject to a criminal background check and pre-employment physical.

Pay Transparency Act
Annual Full Pay Range: $119,400 - $230,800 (will be prorated if the appointment percentage is less than 100%)
Hourly Equivalent: $57.18 - $110.54
Factors in determining the appropriate compensation for a role include experience, skills, knowledge, abilities, education, licensure and certifications, and other business and organizational needs. The Hiring Pay Scale referenced in the job posting is the budgeted salary or hourly range that the University reasonably expects to pay for this position. The Annual Full Pay Range may be broader than what the University anticipates to pay for this position, based on internal equity, budget, and collective bargaining agreements (when applicable).
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If employed by the University of California, you will be required to comply with our Policy on Vaccination Programs, which may be amended or revised from time to time. Federal, state, or local public health directives may impose additional requirements. If applicable, life-support certifications (BLS, NRP, ACLS, etc.) must include hands-on practice and in-person skills assessment; online-only certification is not acceptable.
UC San Diego Health is the only academic health system in the San Diego region, providing leading-edge care in patient care, biomedical research, education, and community service. Our facilities include two university hospitals, a National Cancer Institute-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center, Shiley Eye Institute, Sulpizio Cardiovascular Center, the only Burn Center in the county, and dozens of outpatient clinics. We invite you to join our team!
Applications/Resumes are accepted for current job openings only. For full consideration on any job, applications must be received prior to the initial closing date. If a job has an extended deadline, applications/resumes will be considered during the extension period; however, a job may be filled before the extended date is reached.
To foster the best possible working and learning environment, UC San Diego strives to cultivate a rich and diverse environment, inclusive and supportive of all students, faculty, staff and visitors. For more information, please visit UC San Diego Principles of Community .
The University of California is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, age, protected veteran status, or other protected status under state or federal law.
For the University of California's Anti-Discrimination Policy, please visit: https://policy.ucop.edu/doc/1001004/Anti-Discrimination
UC San Diego is a smoke and tobacco free environment. Please visit smokefree.ucsd.edu for more information.
UC San Diego Health maintains a marijuana and drug free environment. Employees may be subject to drug screening.
Misconduct Disclosure Requirement: As a condition of employment, the final candidate who accepts an offer of employment will be required to disclose if they have been subject to any final administrative or judicial decisions within the last seven years determining that they committed any misconduct; or have filed an appeal of a finding of substantiated misconduct with a previous employer.
a. "Misconduct" means any violation of the policies governing employee conduct at the applicant's previous place of employment, including, but not limited to, violations of policies prohibiting sexual harassment, sexual assault, or other forms of harassment, or discrimination, as defined by the employer. For reference, below are UC's policies addressing some forms of misconduct:

• UC Sexual Violence and Sexual Harassment Policy
• UC Anti-Discrimination Policy
• Abusive Conduct in the Workplace