Sr. Sustainability Analyst - ESG

CBRE is seeking a motivated and detail-oriented Senior Sustainability Analyst to join our Americas Sustainability Advisory team. This role supports the delivery of sustainability solutions for a multi-year consulting project with a global real estate asset management firm, embedded full-time within the client’s US team to advance their US real estate portfolio sustainability program.

This position can work hybrid at either the New York City or Newark, NJ office (2–3 days remote, 2–3 days in-office per week) or fully remote anywhere in the United States. The ideal candidate is self-motivated, accountable, and capable of working independently.

Responsibilities

• Under the supervision of the Sustainability Director, assist in the development, benchmarking, implementation, and ongoing review of sustainability objectives, targets, and improvement programs for US assets and funds.
• Support the development and implementation of sustainability strategies for the client’s US funds and assets, aligned with organizational ESG targets and client mandates.
• Integrate sustainability strategies into US asset-level business plans, capital improvement roadmaps, and fund-level ESG programs.
• Monitor emerging US sustainability regulations, building performance standards, and ESG reporting requirements (e.g., NYC LL97, SEC climate rules, jurisdictional benchmarking) and support the development of protocols to align accordingly.
• Assist in developing and maintaining sustainability metrics, reporting frameworks, and dashboards to track performance against ESG objectives.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to identify and implement sustainable finance strategies aligned with client and organizational objectives.
• Evaluate and support recommendations on investment opportunities that align with sustainable finance principles and client ESG mandates.
• Engage with US asset management teams to assess building performance, identify sustainability improvement opportunities, and recommend cost-effective interventions.
• Collaborate with deal teams and investment partners during acquisitions, new developments, and dispositions to support sustainability due diligence, including ESG assessments and GHG emissions calculations using the GHG Protocol and other leading frameworks.
• Translate technical findings into actionable insights for investment committee briefs, capex planning, and operational improvement strategies.
• Prepare reports and presentations for internal and external stakeholders.
• Complete investor information requests and Due Diligence Questionnaires (DDQs).
• Liaise with portfolio managers, external partners, and clients to communicate sustainability insights, data findings, and strategies.
• Leverage relationships with portfolio and property managers to increase data collection quantity and quality across the portfolio.
• Engage with external consultants, engineers, and software vendors to improve data coverage and quality, monitor emerging sustainability trends and technologies, and maintain reporting integrity.
• Utilize internal and third-party software platforms to track ESG performance metrics, support data analysis, and benchmark performance across portfolios and assets.
• Analyze data to assess the impact of sustainability factors on investment performance and inform client reporting.
• Conduct market research to identify emerging trends in sustainable finance and real estate ESG.
• Research tax credits, rebates, and other incentives at federal, state, and local levels to subsidize sustainability projects (e.g., renewable energy, LED lighting, HVAC retrofits, energy audits, decarbonization assessments).
• Support portfolio teams in the ongoing management and maintenance of sustainability data fields in the proprietary global loan inventory (20% allocated).
• Oversee fund-level climate-risk disclosures for company and investor reporting.
• Assist in the ongoing evolution and automation of portfolio reviews (in line with global standards).
• Ensure compliance of debt tools and processes to meet U.S. regulatory requirements.
• Lead and improve GRESB performance for three debt funds submitting to the GRESB Lender Assessment.
• Oversee the accurate completion of investor questionnaires for debt funds.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Architecture, Environmental Science, Sustainability, Building Sciences, or a related technical field.
• Master’s degree in Sustainability Management, Environmental Engineering, Building Science, or Energy Systems is a plus.
• 3–6 years of experience in sustainability consulting, sustainable building operations, ESG program management, or a related field within commercial real estate for owner, operator, or investor organizations.
• Experience working in-house or in an advisory capacity for a real estate asset management firm or comparable organization is preferred.
• Exposure to sustainability program implementation and interaction with asset or portfolio managers is a plus.
• Experience writing or contributing to annual sustainability reports.
• Exposure to or interest in assembling financial proposals or business/capex plans for sustainability interventions and capital projects, with an ability to communicate findings clearly to non-technical audiences.
• Familiarity with GHG Protocol, scope 1–3 emissions tracking, and ESG data management concepts. Experience with corporate GHG inventories or emissions modeling tools is a plus.
• Familiarity with platforms, tools, and reporting frameworks such as ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager, Deepki, and GRESB is a plus.
• Interest in or exposure to energy audits, building performance assessments, or sustainability certifications (e.g., LEED, BREEAM, WELL). Active credentials such as CEM, CEA, or LEED AP are a plus but not required.
• Strong understanding of sustainability principles and North American state and local regulatory requirements.
• Excellent analytical and quantitative skills, with proficiency in data analysis tools and software (e.g., Excel, Power BI).
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to present complex information clearly and persuasively.
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively in a fast-paced environment.

Benefits

• 401(K)
• Dental insurance
• Health insurance
• Life insurance
• Vision insurance

Pay

The minimum salary for this position is $90,000 annually and the maximum salary is $125,000 annually, with an additional bonus target. Salary will vary depending on candidate’s location, skills, qualifications, and experience.