Sustainability analyst — Isobel Seamer

Isobel's expertise in sustainability, honed through her BSc in geography and Masters in planning and environmental policy, has led to a rewarding career as a sustainability analyst. She shares her insights on the role and how to break into this growing field 

What's a typical working day like? 

My work changes depending on the time of year. Towards the end of our financial year is a reporting period for me, so I spend time working with colleagues to gather data which I then use to calculate carbon emissions across scopes one, two and three. I also work on our annual sustainability report, where I report the achievements from across the business against the UN Sustainable Development Goals. 

I also help with other projects in our sustainability programme, for example mapping the emissions of Jisc's key products and services, working to make our events more sustainable, or writing communications around sustainability for our staff or external stakeholders. I work closely with my manager, the head of sustainability, as well as other members of the wider governance team. 

What do you enjoy most about your job? 

Working in sustainability is really rewarding as you know you can have a tangible impact on the environment and society. It's great to be involved in purpose driven work that aligns with my personal values. I also enjoy getting to collaborate with different teams and work on different projects, so I'm constantly learning new things and developing my knowledge.  

What are the challenges? 

Corporate sustainability is a constantly changing landscape and there is always new legislation, requirements, standards and frameworks to keep up with. I work in a small team and there is a lot to do, and working towards sustainability is a journey, rather than something that will ever be 'finished', so you have to prioritise. Because of this, it can be a subject that is sometimes misunderstood and easy to criticise by those on the outside - some people may be resistant to change, but others might think you're not doing enough. 

How is your degree relevant? 

My degree taught me the fundamental principles of sustainability, including learning about climate change and environmental management. Sustainability is science based and can be quite technical, so you need that baseline knowledge to be able to implement change.  

My degree was more focused on the planning system and urban development, which is less relevant to my job now, but this still helped me understand the implications of different choices and how they can affect the environment, society and economies. It also helped me with my data skills, communication and report writing which I use every day in my job. 

How has your role developed? 

My role initially was more supportive and ad hoc work, as my manager and I formed a new sustainability team. Now that our team is growing and our sustainability strategy has become more developed, my role has become more focused, more data driven and I have more responsibility. I hope to continue to develop my technical skills in the field and in future work my way up the career ladder.  

What advice can you give to others wanting to find a job in sustainability?  

• Join a professional membership body such as the institute of Environmental Management and Assessment (IEMA). This is something lots of employers in sustainability look for and is great for networking opportunities for early careers. They also have lots of training courses, webinars, a jobs board and can help you identify what skills you need to develop to further your career in sustainability   
• Get experience wherever you can. When you're starting out, this can be through internships, volunteering for an environmental charity, helping a small local business with sustainability initiatives, or getting involved in an environmental related society at university   
• Stay up to date with the news around the environment and sustainability by reading articles, subscribing to mailing lists or listening to podcasts. This means you can bring the latest knowledge to your work. 

Find out more

• Explore the salary and responsibilities of a sustainability consultant. 
• Discover how to get a job in sustainability.