Position Announcement: VP, Real Estate Sustainability
Title: Vice President, Real Estate Sustainability
Business Unit: Real Estate
Work Schedule: Hybrid
Status: Full-Time
FSLA Status: Exempt
Work Location: Mountain View, CA
Date Submitted: March 2025
Base Paying Range: $200,000 - $250,000, plus bonus eligibility.
JOB SUMMARY
The Vice President of Real Estate Sustainability will drive the business group’s sustainability strategy, optimizing return on investment (ROI) and net operating income (NOI) through initiatives that reduce the carbon footprint while accessing financial incentives such as tax credits and rebates. This individual will play a critical role in enhancing the environmental performance of a portfolio of commercial and residential real estate assets across the Western United States. The portfolio consists of approximately 7 million square feet of office and nearly 7,000 multifamily units.
Reporting to the Co-Chief Real Estate Officers, the VP of Real Estate Sustainability will work cross-functionally with the Chief Impact Officer, Asset Management, Development, and Property Management teams to implement sustainability best practices, ensure regulatory compliance, and integrate innovative technologies that enhance efficiency and long-term asset value.
RESPONSIBILITIES AND TASKS
Job Responsibility 1: Sustainability Strategy & Implementation
25% of Time
- Collaborate with Co-Chief Real Estate Officers and the Chief Impact Officer to define and execute sustainability goals that align with financial and operational priorities.
- Lead government-mandated energy benchmarking efforts and oversee third-party sustainability performance reporting.
- Research, recommend, and oversee the implementation of emerging sustainability technologies that enhance efficiency and cost savings.
Job Responsibility 2: Portfolio Analysis & Performance Benchmarking
30% of Time
- Monitor and analyze energy consumption, carbon emissions, and solar generation data across the real estate portfolio.
- Establish baselines, benchmarks, and KPIs to track and improve portfolio-wide sustainability performance.
- Develop and manage data dashboards and reporting systems to measure progress toward sustainability goals.
Job Responsibility 3: Financial Impact & Incentives
25% of Time
- Manage and track the real estate sustainability budget (1% of NOI), ensuring high-impact deployment of funds.
- Conduct financial modeling and feasibility analyses for sustainability initiatives, ensuring measurable value creation.
- Identify and capitalize on tax incentives, rebates, and funding opportunities to maximize financial returns on sustainability investments.
Job Responsibility 4: Cross-Functional Collaboration & Compliance
15% of Time
- Partner with Development, Asset Management, and Property Management teams to standardize sustainability best practices across the portfolio.
- Monitor policy changes, regulations, and industry trends to ensure compliance and maintain a proactive market position.
- Actively participate in The Sobrato Organization’s Sustainability Working Group to advance enterprise-wide sustainability efforts.
Other Responsibilities as Assigned
5% of Time
QUALIFICATIONS (KNOW HOW)
Education / Training
- Bachelor's degree with emphasis in environment, sustainability, or a related field.
- Masters degree in a related field is a plus.
Experience/Technical Skills
- 10 years of leadership experience within the industry, including at least 5 years focused on real estate sustainability, ESG, and corporate social responsibility.
- Extensive analytical skills with experience in carbon footprint assessment, utility tracking, and financial modeling.
- Deep knowledge of energy efficiency technologies, renewable energy solutions, and green building certifications.
- Proven ability to identify and secure tax credits, rebates, and incentives for sustainability initiatives.
- Experience with energy/GHG performance management systems such as Energy Star Portfolio Manager, Measurabl, etc.
- Knowledge of green building and health/wellness certifications, including LEED, Green Building, Fitwel and/or Well.
- Familiarity with ESG reporting standards and benchmarking platforms such as GRESB.
- Familiarity with government energy benchmarking requirements and ESG reporting standards.
- Proficient with Microsoft Office software products, including Outlook, Excel, Word, Teams and Projects.
- Excellent communication and presentation skills.
- Experience collaborating with cross-functional teams in real estate development, asset management, and operations but also individually with minimal supervision.
- Ability to travel within the SF Bay Area and other West Coast markets.
ORGANIZATION
Reports to: Co-Chief Real Estate Officers
Direct Reports: N/A
Alignment to our Mission, Culture, and Values
We hire individuals who share our vision of building a better future through business and philanthropic leadership, impacting the lives of countless fellow residents of our region in a way that could be replicated in other major metropolitan regions around the country and affecting the lives of millions.
Our Mission and Values
The Sobrato Organization’s mission is to build a more equitable and sustainable world through business and philanthropic leadership. We work to inspire current and future generations to steward family resources in service of others around the world. We have established a deep legacy in Silicon Valley that includes a commitment to community, and our values honor and promote this legacy:
Mutual Accountability: We earn trust by taking ownership of our work and honoring our commitments to each other, our partners and our communities.
Collaboration: We believe in the value of collaboration and partnership in achieving effective solutions. We treat people with respect and value the diverse experiences and perspectives of our partners, colleagues and investees.
Engagement: We recognize that lasting impact requires building deep relationships with our stakeholders and getting proximate to our communities and the work. We act with humility, respect and compassion.
Excellence: We focus on results, maintain a strong work ethic, and persist through challenges. We innovate, take risks, and embrace creativity and continuous learning.
Integrity: We endeavor to deal transparently, honestly and fairly. We strive to do what is right, especially when it is hard.
Benefits
- Medical, dental, and vision benefits for employees and dependents on the first of the month following the hire date
- Short and long-term disability and life insurance
- Fertility program benefits
- Comprehensive mental health benefits for employees and dependents
- Retirement savings account with matching contributions of up to 10%
- Twenty PTO days in the first year of service in addition to paid year-end closure days between Christmas and New Year’s Day
- Eleven paid holidays
- Transit commuter benefits
- Tuition assistance and professional development initiatives for growth
- Technology allowance
- Employee matching gifts program
- Generous parental leave
- Flexible and inclusive work environment
- Enjoy a professional yet comfortable work environment with our business casual dress code
- Catered lunches, healthy snacks and beverages
- Acknowledgement for exceptional work as well as important moments in the lives of those we work with
Compensation Transparency
At TSO, base pay is part of a broader compensation package and is set within a range, allowing for growth as you advance in your role. The pay range for this role is between 200,000 and 250,000 plus bonus eligibility.
Salary offers are determined based on various factors, including experience, education, licensure and/or certifications, internal equity, and specific business and organizational needs. TSO is fully committed to complying with California's pay transparency laws to ensure fair and equitable compensation practices.
About Us
Founded by John A. Sobrato in 1979 and led by CEO Tony Mestres, The Sobrato Organization remains a family-owned firm known for integrity and dedication, with no outside investors or joint venture partners. Since 1953, the Sobrato Family has played a pivotal role in shaping Silicon Valley through its real estate development. Its office, and R&D projects comprise 7.5 million square feet, most of which are Class A, mid-rise office buildings. TSO also owns 30 apartment communities totaling 6,700 units along the West Coast. Through Sobrato Philanthropies, the firm has donated more than $379 million in cash and real estate to the Silicon Valley community. We have established a deep legacy in Silicon Valley that includes a commitment to community and our values honor and promote this legacy.
The Sobrato Organization is committed to its mission of building strong and vibrant communities where we live and do business. To achieve this, we embrace becoming a more diverse, inclusive, and equitable organization that empowers our people. Our team remains at the core of what we do. We strive to consistently lead from a space of learning and strengthening our capacity for change. We understand our responsibility to cultivate a culture of belonging, appreciation, and respect. We believe that TSO must be a place where staff feel at ease in expressing themselves honestly and openly. Advancing these important initiatives is mission-critical to our ability to maximize our impact in the world.
The Sobrato Organization is an equal-opportunity employer dedicated to building a team that represents a diversity of backgrounds, cultures, experiences, perspectives, and skills and to creating an environment and inclusion and belonging for all employees regardless of race, skin color, ethnicity, religion, gender, sexual orientation, national origin, disability, age, marital status, military status, pregnancy, or parenthood. The Sobrato Organization is expanding, and we are passionate about growing our staff with people who have diverse voices with different lived experiences.