CEOs, also sometimes called Vice-President, Chief Executive, Executive Director, and Co-Founder, are responsible for managing the overall decisions, operations and resources of an organisation. This may include delegating and directing the company’s mission and agenda, improving profitability, managing the organisational structure, company strategy and communicating with the leadership team and board of directors. CEOs are also responsible for setting the culture and ethics of an organisation; ensuring that the people and resources are in place to deliver on the board’s strategy.
Chief Executive Officer (CEO)
£75k – £200k+
Salary range
The position entails a high degree of responsibility, and crucial decisions made by a CEO can have a significant impact on the future of a company and its employees. CEOs can use their position to respond positively to climate change and environmental issues.
Please note: the information in our job profiles aims to give a general overview of the role and a guideline to what it involves. The content is not intended to be exhaustive and roles will vary depending on the organisation and sector. The salary ranges are a guide only, as these are dependent on the size and location of the organisation.
How does this role align to the green agenda?
In relation to the green agenda, a CEO’s role is to develop and communicate a commitment across their organisation to becoming a ‘force for good’.
CEOs should drive sustainability initiatives throughout the core of their organisation, embedding environmental responsibility into the fabric of the company ethos and strategy. It is important for CEOs to consider all areas of sustainable development, including circular thinking, measuring and being accountable for the company’s carbon footprint, green energy efficiency and reduction of resources and waste. Integrated reporting will form the basis of the environmental, social and governance goals for the organisation, which the CEO will need to implement and drive forward.
According to Nesta’s Green Jobs Explorer, this job spends 39.0% of the time doing green tasks. 0.8% of the skills listed on the job adverts for this occupation are green skills.
Skills and capabilities
Green leaders inspire people to work together for a better world and a nature positive economy. They are often considered agents of change as they initiate, enable and promote new ways of doing things. Leaders inspire and support people to make a difference to achieve a vision or ideal. In sustainability, leadership plays a crucial role in managing the change process.
Technical knowledge
- Strategic leadership: High level leadership position experience (for example Chief Executive or Managing Director), successful leadership of teams with proven results and outcomes.
- Sector knowledge: Extensive working knowledge of the sector and ability to demonstrate they are engaged with current affairs and social change.
- Organisational development: Knowledge of current legislation and policy challenges in government and opportunities relating to the sector.
Transferable skills
A day in the life of a CEO
The role of CEO is likely to be full-time and, although office based, they will spend a large portion of their time in meetings with various senior business leaders, and important stakeholders. They may also be involved in industry and sector governing groups.
CEOs will often seek counsel and advice from peers in steering groups and committees to share knowledge and best practice, as well as identifying and establishing business trends and threats. CEOs will spend time planning, strategising and preparing reports and presentations for the board, and communicating to the wider workforce within the organisation. The role is demanding, and CEOs frequently have personal assistants to coordinate their diaries and help manage their workloads.
Typical duties and responsibilities:
Entry routes
Most CEOs have at minimum a bachelor’s degree and five years of management experience, and quite often an MBA. The Senior Leader apprenticeship in England also aligns to this job role, and there are management-related apprenticeships in Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales.
Numerous CEOs have a strong financial background. In some cases, for smaller organisations, a CEO may be an entrepreneur who has created a new business, idea, service or product.
Many CEOs will have spent time learning and experiencing a variety of different operational management roles in their chosen profession, sector or industry over a matter of years, and worked their way up through middle management to Managing Director before becoming a CEO.
To note: in England, Northern Ireland and Wales, it will typically take three years to complete a full-time, undergraduate degree. In Scotland, it typically takes four years. Apprenticeship courses vary in length, and also require an end-point assessment period. Please check this information on a case-by-case basis.
Potential career progression
An individual at CEO level is considered to have reached the pinnacle position. Progression from this point may take an individual to:
Relevant sectors
CEOs are needed in businesses across all sectors and organisations, from the public to the private sector.
Learn about the green agenda across different sectors
Information kindly supplied by:
ISEP, the Institute of Sustainability and Environmental Profesionals
ISEP is the membership body for environment and sustainability professionals. Together we are transforming the world to sustainability.
