What you need to know: Jobs in corporate social responsibility

Twenty years ago corporate social responsibility was a relatively new concept that businesses perceived as marginal, expendable. Today, there is an increasing awareness and respect for CSR, giving rise to a heightened interest in a popular new job sector. The good news: More businesses are taking CSR seriously, integrating responsible business practices into their mission, and as a result, jobs in the sector have increased in the last decade. The caveat: Interest in CSR jobs has outpaced the number of jobs available. “There’s more demand for jobs than availability,” said Katherine Neebe, director of sustainability and stakeholder engagement at Walmart, who noted that both career opportunities and job seekers have increased since 2000, when she was looking for a CSR position. “It’s become a more competitive field.” Nonetheless, it is an exciting time to enter a growing field, and with a little creativity, competitive job seekers will be rewarded with a fulfilling career. From small scale to center stage Corporate social responsibility, also called corporate citizenship, sustainable business and responsible business, is a commitment organizations voluntarily make to address societal challenges. “Companies need to be transparent and accountable in terms of the impact they have on the environment, society, and on ethical behavior, they have to manage their footprint,” said Steve Rochlin, co-CEO at IO Sustainability, a strategy firm focused on corporate responsibility. At its root, CSR is an experiment in democratic capitalism, Rochlin explained, “CSR is an incredibly important movement that starts to engage and understand and define the role of the private sector in partnership with government, society and with communities.” The field has grown significantly since its nascence, which many trace to the 1960s and the publication of Rachel Carson’s environmental manifesto “Silent Spring.” In 1992, the Nike sweatshop scandal brought fresh attention to the importance of responsible business practices. Subsequent sweatshop scandals and oil spills further forced businesses to begin implementing better labor, supply chain management and environmental standards, which made the early ‘90s a landmark era for the field of CSR. Though awareness was growing, the field remained very limited, Rochlin said. “The profession, in ‘92 … was most commonly about philanthropy, a little about the environment, staffed by either people in the company who needed to be put somewhere, were about to retire or just incredibly wonky types that no one wanted to talk to or deal with,” he said. It’s come a long way. “It’s sexier now,” said Katie Kerr, a director of communications at B Lab, a nonprofit that certifies businesses that meet rigorous standards in corporate social responsibility. “People want to work in CSR.” Today’s CSR CSR today is also more integrated into businesses, comprises a more complex and diverse scope, and is more valued by both businesses and consumers. Most recently, both the financial crisis and the influx of millennials into the workplace have helped bolster the field, Kerr said. “Workers are coming in with different values, pushing their companies to start considering who they are, what they do, and what they sell,” she said. “The financial crisis pointed out the shortfalls of capitalism and highlighted the importance of longevity and a long view of profits [that CSR supports].” Whereas CSR was once largely relegated to philanthropy work, today, CSR can encompass philanthropy, environmental management, stakeholder engagement, community investment, diversity initiatives, employee engagement, human rights work, responsible supply chain management, ethical performance, and transparency reporting and disclosure. And that means there are many more opportunities for folks interested in working in the field. But with a growing demand for CSR jobs, getting a foot in the door requires some savvy. The first step: Gaining experience — with an open mind. “There’s a lot of different ways to work in this space,” said Neebe. “You can do CSR in your current job … you can volunteer … you can take an internship … you have to work hard to position yourself for the job you want five or 10 years from now.” Part of that work is building a brand, or a specialty, so successful applicants are seen as experts on a given area. For the greatest pool of potential positions, target the right industries. “You want to look for industries that are highly regulated, under a lot of reputational pressure … and that are doing well, generating revenue,” Rochlin sad. Those may include the extractive industry, footwear and apparel, and food and beverage industries. When searching for jobs online, begin with keywords like “sustainability,” “environmental sustainability,” “corporate responsibility,” “corporate citizenship” or “supply chain management.” Interested applicants can search online resources like the newly launched job board on Devex Impact, Net Impact, Just Means, and CSRWire. Soft skills for CSR As with any job search, Rochlin says, the key is to network, and to be aggressive, flexible, and mobile — be willing to go wherever a job is. Additionally, remember to think outside the box. CSR jobs aren’t always plainly labeled as CSR, and sustainability work can be done in many places and positions. “Right now there’s an increasing amount of venture capital flowing to the startup world and business ideas structured to solve the challenges that CSR is created to deal with,” Rochlin said, suggesting applicants look to startups. Another overlooked space is the public sector. Many larger cities are beginning to launch programs in social responsibility and sustainability, such as Chicago’s Climate Action Plan. Cities like Denver, Portland, New York and Atlanta also have programs related to sustainability. Perhaps the most overlooked place to gain experience in CSR is one’s own job, Neebe shared. “One space people almost never look at is their own job and how they can start today doing CSR,” she said. “Anyone can be a social entrepreneur within their company by encouraging their employer to make changes. … It’s working from the inside to have a positive impact.” Perhaps most importantly, individuals interested in CSR work should focus less on a particular background, program or major, and more on mindset, every expert who commented for this piece advised. “It’s not about your background; it’s about your passion,” said Kerr, whose own journey to CSR is a lesson in creativity and adaptability. After attending a foreign service school in Washington, D.C., where she studied terrorism, Kerr gained experience through internships in Congress and the State Department. Her work in post-conflict rebuilding led to an interest in international aid work. A desire for more innovation led her to the private sector and to B Lab. “I was always passionate about humanitarian issues and the environment,” Kerr said. “I pursued my personal interest and passion and mixed it with skills learned through a liberal arts education, and then I built something from there.” She advises individuals interested in CSR to focus less on a particular background and more on their passion and soft skills. “[What’s important] is the ability to learn and adapt and throw yourself into something more than going to this school and getting this degree,” she said. “It’s an ability to learn and adapt — it’s a fast growing, fast changing sector — and evolve with it. It’s an ability to communicate complex issues in a simple way, to strategically analyze issues and come up with solutions that benefit everyone. Look at the big picture.” Looking to make a career move? Visit our career center for expert advice on how to navigate your job search - all you need is a Devex Career Account to get started.