H-1B Visa Sustainability Jobs
Sustainability roles, from ESG analysts to environmental compliance managers, qualify as H-1B visa specialty occupations when they require at least a bachelor's degree in environmental science, sustainability, engineering, or a related field. Employers in energy, consulting, and corporate sustainability divisions actively sponsor H-1B petitions for these positions.
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$130,000.00 - $150,000.00 Annually
Location
0112 - Office of Sustainability
Job Type
Full-time
Job Number
11210-HR
Department
0112 - Office of Sustainability
Division
011201 - Office of Sustainability
Opening Date
11/03/2026
Closing Date
11/27/2026 11:59 PM Eastern
Description
Director of Sustainability & Climate Justice
Mayor Justin Bibb is continuing to build a team that reflects the diversity of our city and is committed to delivering a modern and responsive city government to bring City Hall into the 21st century. The City of Cleveland has a proud history as the birthplace of the Environmental Protection Agency, the healthcare capital of the world and the home of manufacturing. It is that ingenuity, grit and resilience that we share as Clevelanders that will drive the new wave of leadership and innovation in our city. Mayor Bibb’s vision for Cleveland is to become a national model for city management, police reform and neighborhood revitalization. This is our moment to lead. It is time to take our city’s proud heritage to the next level by investing in homegrown talent and attracting new talent to the city. The City of Cleveland employs nearly 8,000 people dedicated to public service and we are looking for emerging and experienced leaders to help us move forward. Join us today as we shape our future.
Climate change is the single greatest challenge humanity has ever faced, threatening water and food security, health, livelihoods, and the safety of billions of people together with drastic negative impact on global ecosystem balance. The City of Cleveland’s Mayor’s Office of Sustainability & Climate Justice seeks to enhance their climate ambitions under the Paris Agreement, with focus on greater emissions reduction and resilience building. The next phase of the Climate Action Plan update will focus on climate advocacy and long-term planning to ensure inclusive climate action at the speed and scale required to keep global temperature below 1.5°C. Achieving the carbon neutrality in the second half of the century by all countries is a crucial requirement set by the Paris Agreement to avoid the irreversible global climate change. Realization of this goal involves work on local, regional, national, and global levels, as well as participation of all relevant stakeholders – governments, business, non-profit organizations, community members. The path to carbon neutrality should be just and leave no one behind, while empowering women, youth, black, indigenous and people of color, and vulnerable groups of population.
The Director of Sustainability & Climate Justice manages and directs the operations of the Mayor’s Office of Sustainability & Climate Justice (“Sustainability”). The Director of Sustainability & Climate Justice (“Director”) is appointed, reports to the Mayor and serves at the pleasure of the Mayor. The Mayor’s vision is for Cleveland to continue to be a leader in demonstrating the broad community benefits of a strategic end-to-end operational transformation with sustainability at the center of how the City creates growth, opportunity and value for all community members, including residents, community-based organizations, businesses and non-profit organizations. The need is to lead collaborative integration of purposeful sustainability and climate justice into all of the City’s activities and operations with deliberate implementation of 1st term strategic planning. The purpose of this position is to lead the management of the overall day-to-day operations and personnel of the Mayor’s Office of Sustainability & Climate Justice to assure the successful achievement of the office's vision, mission, and program objectives through the implementation of the 2025 Municipal Action Plan for city operations and the 2025 community-based Cleveland Climate Action Plan.
Examples of Duties
Essential Duties & Job Functions
- Responsible for routinely updating and executing the City’s strategic sustainability strategic plans (Municipal Action Plan “MAP” and Cleveland Climate Action Plan “CAP”), while incorporating internal and industry best practices and ensuring compliance with City policies and procedures and all applicable local, state and federal regulations.
- Develops and builds upon an active culture of engagement and participation related to environmental sustainability and climate action topics at all levels of the City as well as with corporations, community development corporations, community organizations and activists.
- Engages with environmental justice and other external stakeholders to shape a climate agenda that is deeply participatory and centered in community.
- Provides thought leadership and use sustainable objectives and concepts to respond to real-time business issues at the request of Departments, Divisions and leadership of the City.
- Demonstrates strong leadership and significant influence management skills to challenge the status quo and implement strategies to ensure environmental sustainability and climate action initiatives are not “siloed”.
- Regularly and routinely examines the City’s environmental sustainability and climate action MAP and CAP goals and direct short- and long-range strategic planning and analysis of trends to recommend future goals to shape the City’s sustainable agenda and actionable solutions to its implementation.
- Develops positions on legislation as well as other public rulings and advocate the City’s position before state and federal agencies and community groups at the request of the Mayor and other Chiefs and Directors.
- Acts as a spokesperson, advocate and speaker about the City’s sustainability and climate action initiatives, representing the City and the Mayor on behalf of Sustainability, secures and maintains community support for Sustainability programs and projects in coordination with the Mayor’s Office of Communications.
- Represents the Mayor on environmental sustainability and climate action related regional, national and international boards, commissions and other networks as a proxy or delegate, as requested by Mayor and/or Chief of Staff.
- Directs and performs statistical and other analyses of contracts and programs to assess their effectiveness and adjusts or modifies operations to ensure maximum effectiveness and direct improvements or changes as needed to align with city-wide environmental sustainability and climate action objectives.
- Researches and applies for applicable grants to further develop and improve environmental sustainability and climate action initiatives and programs. Conducts research studies and surveys and produces reports recommending appropriate courses of action for solutions to environmental sustainability and climate change problems.
- Performs energy evaluations and verification analyses, energy accounting, and life cycle costing to ensure operational goals and objectives are being met. Tracks and documents energy and cost savings and greenhouse reductions associated with projects.
- Supervises employees of the Sustainability department. Mentors, coaches, trains and develops team members. Sets goals, objectives, staffing and work standards, and monitors performance against standards. Acts as resource and support to staff, removing barriers to effective performance.
- Directs the preparation of annual budgets; monitors and evaluates budget expenditures.
- Directs the development, planning, implementation and administration of departmental programs and policies.
- Performs other tasks as requested.
(These are intended only as illustrations of the various types of work performed. The omission of specific duties do not exclude them from the position if the work is similar, related or a logical assignment of the position.)
Minimum Qualifications
- Bachelor’s Degree in a scientific, engineering, environmental, or related technical field, Business Management or Public Administration; ideally with focus on sustainability.
- Minimum of five (5) years of relevant professional experience, including experience successfully leading project initiatives and teams in the field of sustainability and climate action.
- Extensive knowledge of current issues, laws, and regulations related to all areas of environmental sustainability and climate change, including resource conservation, transportation, pollution prevention and public health protection as well as community and economic development.
- General knowledge of energy markets, greenhouse gas emissions reduction methodologies, electric and heating grids, and the dynamics of renewable energy, land use and transportation programs.
- Ability to anticipate and evaluate problems that would create barriers to achieving goals and develop innovative solutions to resolve issues.
- Ability to maintain focus on and prioritize implementation of high-stakes projects and programs in a time-constrained and political environment.
- Ability to establish and maintain meaningful work relationships with professional groups, stakeholders and the public with the ability to implement services and solutions that create buy-in and support.
- Ability to relate to, and work effectively with, persons of diverse racial, ethnic, gender, sexual preference or orientation, religious and socioeconomic backgrounds. Communicates effectively and appropriately with each while maintaining a high level of professionalism.
- Dedicated to maintaining high ethical standards, including a dedication to the tenets of environmental and climate justice at the strategic level of planning and implementation.
- Ability to perform duties with tact, discretion, and confidentiality while exercising good judgment and decision-making abilities.
- Commitment to public and customer service, particularly in the areas of diversity, equity and inclusion.
- Physical abilities to perform essential job functions with or without reasonable accommodation.
Supplemental Information
Preferred Expertise:
- Proven experience as a strong communicator through public speaking, media interviews, participation in community or other leadership groups, etc.; possesses excellent speaking, listening, and writing skills. Can communicate easily across all levels of government.
- Demonstrated exemplary leadership qualities and influence management skills, with training and expertise in leadership improvement, building effective teams, coaching, and ensuring professional growth for themselves and all team members.
- Has a proven track record in change-management and accomplishment leading and executing multi-stakeholder / large-scale sustainability or climate action related projects, preferably in the public or non-profit sector.
- Demonstrated skillsets in analysis of complex and interrelated issues, effective structuring of workflows, negotiating terms and conditions for contracts and agreements, and using a positive customer service approach.
- Strategic and business planning experience using Project Management tools and concepts.
The City of Cleveland makes available a variety of benefit options depending upon your employment status and any applicable union membership. In general, benefit options include comprehensive medical, dental, vision, prescription medical and life insurance. Specific information regarding benefit eligibility will be discussed and reviewed at the time of hire.
Employer
City of Cleveland
Address
601 Lakeside Avenue
Cleveland, Ohio, 44114
Phone
216-664-2493
Salary
$130,000.00 - $150,000.00 Annually
Location
0112 - Office of Sustainability
Job Type
Full-time
Job Number
11210-HR
Department
0112 - Office of Sustainability
Division
011201 - Office of Sustainability
Opening Date
11/03/2026
Closing Date
11/27/2026 11:59 PM Eastern
Description
Director of Sustainability & Climate Justice
Mayor Justin Bibb is continuing to build a team that reflects the diversity of our city and is committed to delivering a modern and responsive city government to bring City Hall into the 21st century. The City of Cleveland has a proud history as the birthplace of the Environmental Protection Agency, the healthcare capital of the world and the home of manufacturing. It is that ingenuity, grit and resilience that we share as Clevelanders that will drive the new wave of leadership and innovation in our city. Mayor Bibb’s vision for Cleveland is to become a national model for city management, police reform and neighborhood revitalization. This is our moment to lead. It is time to take our city’s proud heritage to the next level by investing in homegrown talent and attracting new talent to the city. The City of Cleveland employs nearly 8,000 people dedicated to public service and we are looking for emerging and experienced leaders to help us move forward. Join us today as we shape our future.
Climate change is the single greatest challenge humanity has ever faced, threatening water and food security, health, livelihoods, and the safety of billions of people together with drastic negative impact on global ecosystem balance. The City of Cleveland’s Mayor’s Office of Sustainability & Climate Justice seeks to enhance their climate ambitions under the Paris Agreement, with focus on greater emissions reduction and resilience building. The next phase of the Climate Action Plan update will focus on climate advocacy and long-term planning to ensure inclusive climate action at the speed and scale required to keep global temperature below 1.5°C. Achieving the carbon neutrality in the second half of the century by all countries is a crucial requirement set by the Paris Agreement to avoid the irreversible global climate change. Realization of this goal involves work on local, regional, national, and global levels, as well as participation of all relevant stakeholders – governments, business, non-profit organizations, community members. The path to carbon neutrality should be just and leave no one behind, while empowering women, youth, black, indigenous and people of color, and vulnerable groups of population.
The Director of Sustainability & Climate Justice manages and directs the operations of the Mayor’s Office of Sustainability & Climate Justice (“Sustainability”). The Director of Sustainability & Climate Justice (“Director”) is appointed, reports to the Mayor and serves at the pleasure of the Mayor. The Mayor’s vision is for Cleveland to continue to be a leader in demonstrating the broad community benefits of a strategic end-to-end operational transformation with sustainability at the center of how the City creates growth, opportunity and value for all community members, including residents, community-based organizations, businesses and non-profit organizations. The need is to lead collaborative integration of purposeful sustainability and climate justice into all of the City’s activities and operations with deliberate implementation of 1st term strategic planning. The purpose of this position is to lead the management of the overall day-to-day operations and personnel of the Mayor’s Office of Sustainability & Climate Justice to assure the successful achievement of the office's vision, mission, and program objectives through the implementation of the 2025 Municipal Action Plan for city operations and the 2025 community-based Cleveland Climate Action Plan.
Examples of Duties
Essential Duties & Job Functions
- Responsible for routinely updating and executing the City’s strategic sustainability strategic plans (Municipal Action Plan “MAP” and Cleveland Climate Action Plan “CAP”), while incorporating internal and industry best practices and ensuring compliance with City policies and procedures and all applicable local, state and federal regulations.
- Develops and builds upon an active culture of engagement and participation related to environmental sustainability and climate action topics at all levels of the City as well as with corporations, community development corporations, community organizations and activists.
- Engages with environmental justice and other external stakeholders to shape a climate agenda that is deeply participatory and centered in community.
- Provides thought leadership and use sustainable objectives and concepts to respond to real-time business issues at the request of Departments, Divisions and leadership of the City.
- Demonstrates strong leadership and significant influence management skills to challenge the status quo and implement strategies to ensure environmental sustainability and climate action initiatives are not “siloed”.
- Regularly and routinely examines the City’s environmental sustainability and climate action MAP and CAP goals and direct short- and long-range strategic planning and analysis of trends to recommend future goals to shape the City’s sustainable agenda and actionable solutions to its implementation.
- Develops positions on legislation as well as other public rulings and advocate the City’s position before state and federal agencies and community groups at the request of the Mayor and other Chiefs and Directors.
- Acts as a spokesperson, advocate and speaker about the City’s sustainability and climate action initiatives, representing the City and the Mayor on behalf of Sustainability, secures and maintains community support for Sustainability programs and projects in coordination with the Mayor’s Office of Communications.
- Represents the Mayor on environmental sustainability and climate action related regional, national and international boards, commissions and other networks as a proxy or delegate, as requested by Mayor and/or Chief of Staff.
- Directs and performs statistical and other analyses of contracts and programs to assess their effectiveness and adjusts or modifies operations to ensure maximum effectiveness and direct improvements or changes as needed to align with city-wide environmental sustainability and climate action objectives.
- Researches and applies for applicable grants to further develop and improve environmental sustainability and climate action initiatives and programs. Conducts research studies and surveys and produces reports recommending appropriate courses of action for solutions to environmental sustainability and climate change problems.
- Performs energy evaluations and verification analyses, energy accounting, and life cycle costing to ensure operational goals and objectives are being met. Tracks and documents energy and cost savings and greenhouse reductions associated with projects.
- Supervises employees of the Sustainability department. Mentors, coaches, trains and develops team members. Sets goals, objectives, staffing and work standards, and monitors performance against standards. Acts as resource and support to staff, removing barriers to effective performance.
- Directs the preparation of annual budgets; monitors and evaluates budget expenditures.
- Directs the development, planning, implementation and administration of departmental programs and policies.
- Performs other tasks as requested.
(These are intended only as illustrations of the various types of work performed. The omission of specific duties do not exclude them from the position if the work is similar, related or a logical assignment of the position.)
Minimum Qualifications
- Bachelor’s Degree in a scientific, engineering, environmental, or related technical field, Business Management or Public Administration; ideally with focus on sustainability.
- Minimum of five (5) years of relevant professional experience, including experience successfully leading project initiatives and teams in the field of sustainability and climate action.
- Extensive knowledge of current issues, laws, and regulations related to all areas of environmental sustainability and climate change, including resource conservation, transportation, pollution prevention and public health protection as well as community and economic development.
- General knowledge of energy markets, greenhouse gas emissions reduction methodologies, electric and heating grids, and the dynamics of renewable energy, land use and transportation programs.
- Ability to anticipate and evaluate problems that would create barriers to achieving goals and develop innovative solutions to resolve issues.
- Ability to maintain focus on and prioritize implementation of high-stakes projects and programs in a time-constrained and political environment.
- Ability to establish and maintain meaningful work relationships with professional groups, stakeholders and the public with the ability to implement services and solutions that create buy-in and support.
- Ability to relate to, and work effectively with, persons of diverse racial, ethnic, gender, sexual preference or orientation, religious and socioeconomic backgrounds. Communicates effectively and appropriately with each while maintaining a high level of professionalism.
- Dedicated to maintaining high ethical standards, including a dedication to the tenets of environmental and climate justice at the strategic level of planning and implementation.
- Ability to perform duties with tact, discretion, and confidentiality while exercising good judgment and decision-making abilities.
- Commitment to public and customer service, particularly in the areas of diversity, equity and inclusion.
- Physical abilities to perform essential job functions with or without reasonable accommodation.
Supplemental Information
Preferred Expertise:
- Proven experience as a strong communicator through public speaking, media interviews, participation in community or other leadership groups, etc.; possesses excellent speaking, listening, and writing skills. Can communicate easily across all levels of government.
- Demonstrated exemplary leadership qualities and influence management skills, with training and expertise in leadership improvement, building effective teams, coaching, and ensuring professional growth for themselves and all team members.
- Has a proven track record in change-management and accomplishment leading and executing multi-stakeholder / large-scale sustainability or climate action related projects, preferably in the public or non-profit sector.
- Demonstrated skillsets in analysis of complex and interrelated issues, effective structuring of workflows, negotiating terms and conditions for contracts and agreements, and using a positive customer service approach.
- Strategic and business planning experience using Project Management tools and concepts.
The City of Cleveland makes available a variety of benefit options depending upon your employment status and any applicable union membership. In general, benefit options include comprehensive medical, dental, vision, prescription medical and life insurance. Specific information regarding benefit eligibility will be discussed and reviewed at the time of hire.
Employer
City of Cleveland
Address
601 Lakeside Avenue
Cleveland, Ohio, 44114
Phone
216-664-2493
See all 90+ H-1B Visa Sustainability Jobs
Sign up for free to unlock all listings, filter by visa type, and get alerts for new H-1B Visa Sustainability Jobs.
Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding H-1B Visa Sponsorship in Sustainability
Align your degree to the role
USCIS evaluates whether your degree field directly relates to the sustainability position. A sustainability management or environmental science degree strengthens your case; a general business degree may require additional documentation showing the connection.
Check LCA filings for sustainability roles
Use the OFLC Wage Search to look up Labor Condition Applications filed under SOC codes like Environmental Scientists or Sustainability Specialists. This shows which employers have recently sponsored H-1B workers in comparable roles.
Target employers with ESG reporting mandates
Publicly traded companies required to file ESG disclosures have ongoing, budget-backed sustainability headcount. Their compliance deadlines create predictable hiring cycles you can time your application to.
Find H-1B sponsors on Migrate Mate
Use Migrate Mate to filter sustainability jobs by employers with verified H-1B filing history. This removes the guesswork of cold-applying to companies that have never sponsored the visa for this role type.
Clarify specialty occupation early in interviews
Ask whether the role requires a degree in a specific sustainability-related field, not just any bachelor's degree. If the job description says 'preferred,' work with HR to get it changed to 'required' before your employer files the I-129.
Request premium processing for offer deadlines
If your start date is firm, ask your employer to file the I-129 with premium processing through USCIS. Standard processing can take months; premium processing returns a decision within 15 business days, protecting both sides of the offer.
H-1B Visa Sustainability: Frequently Asked Questions
Do sustainability jobs qualify as H-1B specialty occupations?
Yes, when the role requires at least a bachelor's degree in a directly related field such as environmental science, sustainability, engineering, or urban planning. Titles like ESG analyst, sustainability manager, or environmental compliance specialist typically meet the specialty occupation standard. Generalist roles where any degree qualifies are harder to support and may draw a Request for Evidence from USCIS.
Which employers commonly sponsor H-1B visas for sustainability roles?
Large consulting firms, Fortune 500 companies with dedicated ESG teams, utilities, and renewable energy developers are among the most consistent H-1B sponsors for sustainability positions. Government contractors and international corporations with U.S. offices also file regularly. You can filter by verified H-1B filing history on Migrate Mate to see which companies have sponsored similar roles.
What if my sustainability degree is from outside the United States?
Foreign degrees are acceptable, but your employer's immigration attorney will typically request a credential evaluation from a NACES-recognized agency to confirm U.S. equivalency. A three-year bachelor's from certain countries may or may not be accepted as equivalent to a four-year U.S. degree, depending on the evaluator and the adjudicating officer. Get the evaluation done before your employer starts the H-1B petition.
Can I switch sustainability employers on an H-1B?
Yes. Under H-1B portability rules established by AC21, you can start working for a new employer as soon as they file a new I-129 petition, provided your original petition was approved and you've been in valid H-1B status. The new employer must file before your current status expires. Confirm the new role also meets specialty occupation requirements for your degree field.
How does the H-1B lottery affect sustainability job seekers?
If you need a cap-subject H-1B, your petition enters the annual lottery in March for an October 1 start date. Selection is not guaranteed. Cap-exempt employers, including universities, nonprofits affiliated with higher education, and certain research institutions, can file outside the lottery. Some sustainability roles at think tanks or academic research centers fall into cap-exempt categories, which is worth exploring early in your search.