Sustainability Strategist - Junior

At Gensler, we believe design has the power to create a better world. Through the Gensler Cities Climate Challenge (GC3) and our Climate Action & Sustainability practice, we partner with clients and project teams to advance decarbonization, resilience, wellness, and high-performance design. Gensler is committed to helping clients achieve ambitious sustainability goals and a net-zero future through measurable, design-driven solutions.

Your Role

As a Junior Sustainability Strategist, you will support project teams in integrating sustainability strategies throughout the design and construction process, with a primary focus on assisting with, but not limited to, sustainable design strategy, third-party certification efforts, building performance analytics, design and material guidelines, analyze large scale qualitative and quantitative data sets to determine impact on sustainability performance criteria for spatial design. This role combines sustainability coordination, certification support, materials evaluation, research, and collaboration with multidisciplinary design teams. You will work closely with sustainability leaders, architects, interior designers, engineers, and consultants to help deliver high-performance, low-carbon projects across multiple practice areas.

The role involves, but not limited to, direct hands-on LEED project experience, ability to manage assigned LEED certification tasks with minimal supervision, integrating sustainability into the design process, coordinating life cycle assessment, energy modeling, daylighting, and other technical analyses, and effectively balancing multiple project deadlines. Success in this role requires strong organizational skills, initiative, attention to detail, and the ability to work independently on assigned responsibilities while seeking guidance and collaborating with senior sustainability staff and project teams as needed.

What You Will Do

• Sustainability focused project work, with oversight from Sustainability Directors, including the development of design guidelines and materials standards, sustainable strategy identification and goal setting for single projects and portfolios of buildings
• Design and support engaging workshops with internal teams, clients, and other stakeholders
• Undertake performance analysis including but not limited to embodied carbon/whole- building lifecycle analysis, daylight simulations, energy simulations, and climate risk assessments to determine impact on clients' project and organizational goals, and/or performance criteria for sustainable design solutions
• Synthesize information and data into narratives told through presentations and reports
• Identify and maintain awareness of current and emerging technologies, tools, and methods as they impact the delivery of green building design
• Track Federal, State, and local regulations and incentives and provide guidance to clients and internal teams
• Ensure sustainable design projects status is integrated into Gensler Digital Library
• Support LEED certification processes from project kickoff through certification submission, including credit tracking, documentation review, consultant coordination, and communication with certification bodies
• Have experience with research methodologies and activities, and can work with both qualitative and quantitative data
• Collaborate with sustainability leaders and project teams to integrate sustainability, wellness, and resilience strategies into architecture and interior design projects
• Assist with sustainability goal setting, design reviews, and project performance evaluations
• Conduct research on sustainable materials, products, technologies, and industry best practices
• Assist with embodied carbon assessments and sustainability analyses to inform design decisions
• Support the evaluation of Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs), Health Product Declarations (HPDs), Declare labels, and other sustainability documentation
• Collaborate with project teams to identify opportunities for improved environmental performance and carbon reduction
• Prepare sustainability reports, presentations, graphics, and client-facing materials
• Contribute to internal sustainability education, research, and knowledge-sharing efforts

Tools Knowledge

• Knowledgeable in third-party green building rating systems (LEED, WELL, Green Globes, Fitwel, etc.)
• Proficient user of building performance simulation and LCA software including Climate Studio, IES/Energy Plus, OneClick LCA, or Tally
• Proficient user of design software including Revit, Rhino with Grasshopper

Your Qualifications

• Bachelor's or master's degree in architecture, Interior Design, Engineering, Environmental Design, Sustainability, Building Science, or a related field
• 0-2 years of experience in sustainability certification, research, analytics and/or strategy focused project work
• Demonstrated ability to work collaboratively with multidisciplinary project teams while supporting senior sustainability staff and project leadership
• Comfortable interpreting LEED requirements and assisting project teams in meeting certification goals while escalating complex issues as appropriate
• LEED Green Associate preferred; actively pursuing LEED AP accreditation
• Strong knowledge of lifecycle assessments, integration of embodied carbon into sustainability goals, and building performance analytics
• Strong knowledge of building systems, climatic and passive design principles, integrative design practices, and consultant coordination
• Experience with data science, coding, and data visualization a plus
• Proficiency with Passivhaus and/or THERM a plus
• Ability to read, interpret, and review construction documents, drawing sets, project manuals, specifications, and material submittals.
• Familiarity with green building certification systems such as WELL, Green Globes and Fitwel a plus
• Strong interpersonal skills with the ability to collaborate effectively across disciplines and contribute as part of a team-oriented project environment
• Passion for sustainability, climate action, and creating positive environmental impact through design

TO BE CONSIDERED, PLEASE SUBMIT A CURRENT RESUME AND/OR WORK SAMPLES IN PDF FORMAT

This position is in-person. Successful candidates will be located in the Houston, Texas area. If you're open to relocating to the area, please apply! Non-local candidates are welcome. U.S. News & World Report's 2025-2026 study ranks Houston in the top 10 Best Big Cities to Live in the U.S.!

Life at Gensler

At Gensler, we are as committed to enjoying life as we are to delivering best-in-class design. From curated art exhibits to internal design competitions to "Well-being Awareness Week," our offices reflect our people's diverse interests.

We encourage every person at Gensler to lead a healthy and balanced life. Our comprehensive benefits include medical, dental, vision, disability, wellness programs, flex spending, paid holidays, and paid time off. We also offer a 401k, profit sharing, employee stock ownership, and twice annual bonus opportunities. Our annual base salary range has been established based on local markets.

As part of the firm's commitment to licensure and professional development, Gensler offers reimbursement for certain professional licenses and associated renewals and exam fees. In addition, we reimburse tuition for certain eligible programs or classes. We view our professional development programs as strategic investments in our future.

NOTICE TO APPLICANTS

We are proud to be an Equal Employment Opportunity and Affirmative Action employer of choice. All aspects of employment decisions will be based on merit, performance, and business needs. We do not discriminate on the basis of any status protected under federal, state and local law.

Individuals with disabilities and protected veterans are encouraged to apply. We also consider qualified applicants with criminal histories consistent with federal, state and local law.

See also Know your rights: Workplace discrimination is illegal, right to work and E-verify program, as required by law.

Gensler endeavors to make gensler.com/careers accessible to all applicants. If you need assistance or an accommodation due to a disability, you may contact us.

Regarding Gensler's approach to recruiting new talent, we will never ask an applicant for sensitive or personal financial information during the recruitment process. We advise all applicants seeking employment with Gensler to review available information on recruitment fraud. Anyone who suspects that they have been contacted by someone falsely representing Gensler should email talentacquisition@gensler.com.