Senior Director Sustainability
Job Summary
The Senior Director of Sustainability serves as the enterprise change agent responsible for coordinating Geisinger’s sustainability strategy and targets and translating them into a governed, measurable portfolio of initiatives led across business units. This role partners with executive and operational leaders to define priorities, establish success measures, and ensure proposed strategies, projects, and funding requests are prepared for review and approval through the sustainability governance structure. Rather than acting as the primary “doer,” the Senior Director enables delivery by business owners—removing barriers, building capability (standards, playbooks, toolkits), coordinating cross-functional dependencies, and tracking outcomes to ensure accountability and results. The Senior Director manages the sustainability governance operating rhythm, supports performance reporting to senior leaders and the board, and oversees a small budget including: contracting and the annual greenhouse gas (GHG) inventory process. The Senior Director acts in accordance with policies and procedures and exemplifies the mission, vision, and values of Geisinger.
Job Duties
- Steward the enterprise sustainability strategy and multi-year roadmap; coordinate the advancement of priorities and targets for review and approval through the sustainability governance structure
- Manage the enterprise sustainability portfolio end-to-end (intake, prioritization, sequencing, resourcing assumptions, dependencies, risks, and benefits realization), while enabling business units and functional owners to execute approved initiatives
- Establish a vision and enterprise strategies, and coordinate the development of SMART goals, to integrate sustainability cross-functionally across the organization
- Translate sustainability strategy into executable plans by setting enterprise standards and enabling consistent adoption through playbooks, toolkits, and implementation support across sites and departments
- Develop, facilitate, and continuously improve the sustainability governance bodies (e.g., executive sustainability council), including agendas, decision packages, and follow-through on approved actions
- Prepare and present proposed initiatives, business cases, and budget requests for governance review and approval; document decisions and ensure approved items are tracked through execution
- Define and track sustainability performance metrics (KPIs), ensuring data governance and regular performance reviews to drive measurable outcomes (e.g., emissions, waste, energy, water, and cost savings) including reporting progress to the executive team, board of directions, and key stakeholders.
- Oversee the production of Geisinger’s annual SASB-aligned Sustainability and Responsibility Report, including selecting and managing external reporting partners/consultants; coordinate inputs across business units and ensure timely review and approval through governance channels.
- Manage internal and external reporting requirements, like Practice Greenhealth’s Environmental Excellence Awards
- Oversee the annual greenhouse gas (GHG) inventory process, including vendor coordination, data collection across business units, methodology documentation, and readiness for internal and external reporting needs
- Lead enterprise sustainability workstreams across key domains (e.g., energy, waste, water, procurement/supply chain, and the built environment), prioritizing initiatives based on impact, feasibility, and organizational value
- Collaborate with the company’s internal groups (e.g., plant operations, engineering, environmental health and safety, marketing, and health professional representation) for the development and implementation of initiatives in support of the sustainability strategy
- Build effective partnerships with external community organizations to support sustainability efforts
- Create and strengthen partnerships with the vendor community to develop and implement new strategies for effective and efficient means of providing equipment, services, and supplies that minimize greenhouse gases and reduce the environmental footprint of the supply chain
- Serve as the internal leader and expert for sustainability, monitor trends, and communicate/educate all stakeholders on sustainability topics
- Collaborate with the marketing and/or communications department on a comprehensive communications strategy
- Develop website content, educational materials, and associated reports related to sustainability initiatives, education, and marketing in collaboration with internal departments, including information systems, marketing, and public relations
- Collaborate with the human resources department and the educational department to provide education about sustainability efforts during new employee orientation and annual departmental training
- Analyze and assess current operating procedures, materials, and methods, anticipate and implement changes or modifications based on sustainability goals, and perform life cycle assessments and cost analyses of proposed modifications
Work is typically performed in an office or remote environment. Accountable for satisfying all job specific obligations and complying with all organization policies and procedures. The specific statements in this profile are not intended to be all-inclusive. They represent typical elements considered necessary to successfully perform the job.
Position Details
Corporate or large not-for-profit organization sustainability experience required, healthcare sustainability experience preferred
Education
Bachelor's Degree- (Required), Master's Degree- (Preferred)Experience
Minimum of 7 years-Managing people, processes, or projects (Required), Minimum of 7 years-Related work experience (Required)About Geisinger
Founded more than 100 years ago by Abigail Geisinger, the system now includes ten hospital campuses, a 550,000-member health plan, two research centers and the Geisinger Commonwealth School of Medicine. With nearly 24,000 employees and more than 1,700 employed physicians, Geisinger boosts its hometown economies in Pennsylvania by billions of dollars annually. Learn more at geisinger.org or connect with us on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and Twitter.
Equal Opportunity Employer
All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, pregnancy, genetic information, disability, status as a protected veteran, or any other protected category under applicable federal, state, and local laws.
Our Vision & Values
Everything we do is about making better health easier for our patients, our members, our students, our Geisinger family and our communities.
KINDNESS: We strive to treat everyone as we would hope to be treated ourselves.
EXCELLENCE: We treasure colleagues who humbly strive for excellence.
LEARNING: We share our knowledge with the best and brightest to better prepare the caregivers for tomorrow.
INNOVATION: We constantly seek new and better ways to care for our patients, our members, our community, and the nation.
SAFETY: We provide a safe environment for our patients and members and the Geisinger family.
Our Benefits
We offer healthcare benefits for full time and part time positions from day one, including vision, dental and prescription coverage.