Senior Manager Sustainability & Reporting Position Type: State: Virginia City: Arlington Zip Code: 22203 Overview AvalonBay Communities, Inc., an equity REIT, has a long-term track record of developing, redeveloping, acquiring and managing distinctive apartment homes in some of the best U.S. markets, and delivering outsized, risk-adjusted returns to shareholders. With equal parts experience and vision, we've established a leadership position rooted in our purpose of creating a better way to live and that is always focused on building value for the long term. Creating a better way to live is the purpose that binds AvalonBay associates. We take that purpose seriously and expect you will as well. By focusing on collaboration, innovation, and taking ownership of our choices and actions, we act in ways that focus on creating value for our customers, investors and associates. Your positive, professional, and consistent personal interactions make AvalonBay a great place to work. The Role This position will be responsible for managing our external ESG reporting efforts and helping to lead our environmental sustainability work related to new development and acquisition activity by managing implementation of related projects and programs that support the company's goals to reduce operational and embodied carbon emissions, energy, water, and waste consumption. The Senior Manager Sustainability & Reporting will support target setting and goal creation related to our corporate sustainability efforts and will be a key member of both our Sustainability Council and ESG Disclosure Committee. This position is also responsible for managing the team's ESG Analyst, who supports not only our reporting and sustainability work, but also our philanthropy and inclusion & diversity programs.
- Manages annual data collection and report creation process for all ESG Reporting, including the Annual ESG Report and the Global Real Estate Sustainability Benchmark (GRESB) and CDP submissions with support from ESG Analyst and others. Ensures alignment to various frameworks (GRI, SASB, TCFD, etc.) and provides recommendations for the strategic evolution of reporting, including the progression of message, content, and design. Works with ESG Analyst to perform gap assessments against frameworks, raters & rankers, industry best practice, and competitors' and other leaders' reports to support the evolution of the company's program. Works with Internal Audit to manage third party assurance process for environmental data ensuring the appropriate inclusion of information within the assurance scope. Engages with third-party raters and rankers to ensure accurate scoring for the company. Manages external reporting consultants including designer, digital platform, third-party assurer, and GRESB and CDP response reviewers.
- Helps identify and implement cross-functional sustainability initiatives to support the evolution and achievement of the company's sustainability goals and targets in partnership with the Vice President of ESG. Works closely with internal leaders and associates across design, construction, development, preconstruction, investment services, procurement, and operations to execute environmental initiatives. Partners with Vice President ESG, and other internal and external stakeholders to identify and pilot new technology and systems to support sustainability goals.
- Supports Sustainability Council and ESG Disclosure Committee by assisting with strategy development, project implementation, and committee governance and accountability. Creates and communicates educational content to internal team members in support of the company's sustainability goals. Presents to external audiences to share the company's sustainability experiences.
- Acts as an internal subject matter expert on embodied carbon working closely with preconstruction, construction, design, and development teams to track embodied carbon impacts, pilot materials, and share best practices to support progress in this key area of the company's scope 3 emissions.
- Manages water and waste task forces, identifying and implementing programs and initiatives that reduce water consumption and increase waste diversion.
- Works closely with the quality assurance team to ensure sustainability efforts are accurately represented and integrated appropriately into policy, compliance is monitored, and programs are managed as part of standard operating procedures.
- Manages relationships with 3rd party raters and rankers (MSCI, ISS, Sustainalytics, etc.) and ensures accuracy of company data and associated rankings. Confirms proper data mapping throughout the year to ensure the most current information is used for rating/ranking and scoring. Advocates for proper business type categorization and questionnaires within rater/ranker platforms to ensure questions, scoring, and peer group align accurately. Stays abreast of emerging raters/rankers to recommend possible participation or additional resources.
Minimum Qualifications: Education:
- Bachelor's degree in sustainability, engineering, business, or similar required
- Advanced degree or equivalent. MBA or degree in Real Estate, Sustainability, Economics, Public Policy, or Finance preferred.
Experience:
- Minimum 8 years of relevant real estate experience implementing sustainability initiatives and managing external ESG reporting.
- Deep experience managing GRESB, CDP, GRI, and investor facing raters and rankers such as MSCI, ISS, Sustainalytics, etc., required.
- Inclusion and Diversity expertise helpful.
- GHG accounting expertise required, SBTi experience preferred.
- Experience interacting directly with investors a plus.
Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:
- Excellent oral and written communication skills.
- Strong project manager, comfortable working across all levels of an organization. Ability to educate, engage, and influence internal and external stakeholders.
- Demonstrates excellent analytical capabilities with strong attention to detail.
- Ability to manage multiple projects concurrently with competing deadlines.
- Excels in a highly collaborative work environment.
- Capable of being a strategic thought partner to VP of ESG and other internal stakeholders
- Knowledge of quality assurance and compliance processes.
- Capable of working independently and interacting with and gaining consensus across large set of stakeholders. Adept at leading through influence.
- Executive presence and leadership.
- 3rd party accreditations preferred: LEED AP, WELL AP, Fitwell Ambassador, or similar.
Licenses/Certifications:
- LEED AP
- Sustainability or ESG Certificate preferred.
How AvalonBay Supports You We know that our teams are the beating heart of our success and we're committed to showing our appreciation. We offer: Comprehensive benefits - health, dental and vision, 401(k) with company match, paid vacation and holidays, tuition reimbursement, an employee stock purchase plan and more. Click on Benefits ( for information. Growth based on achievement and promotion from within. Associate recognition (a company-wide recognition program that celebrates associate efforts and successes in contributing to the overall success of the organization - including destination awards, 'AvalonBay's Very Best' recognition program and others!). A 20% discount on our incredible apartment homes. A culture built on purpose and our core values - A Commitment to Integrity, A Spirit of Caring, and A Focus on Continuous Improvement.
Additional Info AvalonBay is proud to be an equal opportunity employer and is committed to an inclusive and diverse work environment free of discrimination and harassment. We believe that in order to achieve our purpose of creating a better way to live, we must recruit, develop and retain associates with a wide range of backgrounds, experiences and perspectives and create an environment that encourages all voices to be heard, understood and appreciated. With this we know we can do great things. AvalonBay makes employment decisions without regard to a person's race, ethnicity, color, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, pregnancy (including childbirth, lactation or related medical conditions), age, physical or mental disability, genetic information (including characteristics or testing), citizenship status, military or veteran status, or any other status protected by the law. For California residents, if you elect to apply to AvalonBay you accept the AvalonBay California Personnel Privacy Notice (