What soft skills make an effective sustainability manager in sports?
The Premier League is hiring a sustainability manager to drive its environmental initiatives, but what qualities define a truly effective one?
As one of the world’s most-watched sports leagues, the Premier League has a unique opportunity to lead by example in the fight against climate change.
With its matches broadcast in 189 countries, any sustainability initiative launched by the league has the potential to reach millions while inspiring change in the global sports industry.
In recent years, sports organisations have increasingly embraced green initiatives to reduce emissions and protect the environment, a trend driven by sustainability experts working behind the scenes.
Sustainability specialists are among the most sought-after roles, according to the World Economic Forum’s Future of Jobs 2023 report, which predicts a 30% growth in the coming years.
There has been an increasing trend of Premier League clubs hiring sustainability managers over the past two years.
Building on this trend, England’s top-tier football division is strengthening its efforts with the addition of a sustainability manager.
Like any role, this position requires essential hard skills, such as developing and implementing an Environmental Management System and creating or amending environmental policies.
However, people in this role with hard skills often don’t have the soft skills to go with it, points out Claire Poole, Founder of Sport Positive, an organisation dedicated to sustainability in sports.
What soft skills are necessary to be an effective sustainability manager?
“Leading sustainability in sports is more than just being an analyst in information and data and creating a carbon footprint or environmental report,” says Poole in The Climate of Sport podcast.
A commercial background is invaluable for navigating the business side of sports.
“It really helps if you’ve got a commercial mindset,” says Poole. “Because sports business is so focused on the financial side, if you understand that, you’re a credible voice within it.
“You’re probably going to go much further than you would if you’re just looking at things from a technical or analytical perspective.”
Many sustainability managers in the Premier League lack commercial experience.
Brentford's Sustainability Manager, James Beale, brings commercial experience from his seven years at Deloitte before joining the Bees.
While it is unclear who leads sustainability operations at Bournemouth, Commercial Director Rob Mitchell has played an active role in the club's green initiatives.
“If you have an understanding of the sport landscape and how decisions are made in sport, and some of the intersecting agendas, that is also an incredibly useful soft skill in terms of the way a strategy moves forward in sport,” says Poole.
“You’re basically an incredibly internal and external voice for this (sustainability),” she adds.
As sustainability becomes a greater priority for organisations, specialists will need to combine technical expertise with a strategic, commercial mindset to make a lasting impact and shape the future of the industry.
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