Overview
According to a survey of 72,000 guests carried out by the Hilton group, 33% of them prefer hotels with environmental and social programmes. This commitment, known as CSR (Corporate Social Responsibility), represents a major challenge for the hospitality sector in the years ahead. To anticipate and act on the needs of their organisation, the involvement of a CSR manager is essential.
What is a CSR manager?
Known under several job titles (CSR officer, CSR project manager or sustainable development manager), the CSR manager drives an environmental, societal and ethical policy for the benefit of their hotel franchise. This forward-looking profession is still a young one, but it will play a central role in the long-term success of an establishment.
In daily contact with colleagues, the CSR manager raises awareness across every department of the organisation so that everyone understands the best practices to adopt. At the same time, this project manager has to address the scepticism and concerns of some hospitality professionals.
Beyond the hospitality sector, they can also work in other industries (manufacturing, eco-industry, food processing, engineering, and so on). Highly versatile, the CSR officer is equally well suited to a role in the public sector or in small and medium-sized enterprises.
What does a CSR manager do?
A key player in sustainable development, the CSR manager first coordinates a set of initiatives that comply with environmental, economic and social standards. Before defining or implementing their strategies, they take a range of business considerations into account (people, marketing, safety and more). Here is a list of the responsibilities that define the role of CSR manager in the hospitality industry:
- Setting short, medium and long-term objectives
- Assessing the company's needs
- Developing a range of action plans
- Budgeting for and championing strategic plans
- Communicating regularly with senior management
- Implementing communication and lobbying initiatives
- Producing reports (on economic and environmental impact, and more)
- Understanding everyone's objectives, motivations and expectations
- Drawing up detailed assessments
- Informing staff about upcoming initiatives and raising their awareness
- Analysing the company to understand its baseline and expectations in sustainable development
- Demonstrating the credibility and authenticity of CSR
- Grasping the various challenges of sustainable development
- Promoting the responsibility of their organisation
Although used to regular hours, their working time can occasionally be extended if the hotel, or the hotel franchise more broadly, needs their services. Like every employee working in hospitality, the sustainable development manager may work late in the evening, at weekends and on public holidays. Their duties may also vary according to the sector and the size of their company.
What skills & qualities does a CSR manager need?
To stand out in this profession, a CSR manager needs specific technical skills as well as strong interpersonal and human qualities:
- An approachable communicator: always on hand to understand and help others, this professional can adapt quickly to resolve an internal or external issue. A good listener, the CSR manager has excellent social skills. These are ideal qualities for debating, persuading and negotiating with the people they work with. Comfortable in conversation, they are fluent in one or more foreign languages (English as a minimum).
- A diplomat who brings people together: with an exceptional capacity for analysis and synthesis, the CSR officer has a broad general knowledge across a range of fields. Thoroughness, motivation and patience are three essential qualities for this role. Highly methodical, they demonstrate outstanding organisational skills in seeing their projects through.
- A self-reliant leader: able to lead and manage a team of professionals, the CSR manager has a distinctly creative turn of mind. Confident and proud of their abilities, they do not hesitate to stand up for their ambitions, ideas and projects against all odds.
What are the career prospects and salary for a CSR manager?
In terms of pay, a CSR manager earns around €3,700 gross per month (€44,400 a year). As with most hospitality roles, the salary varies according to the standing and size of the hotel.
Before moving into this role, it is worth knowing that the profession requires substantial technical and strategic professional experience (between seven and ten years). Roles such as quality manager or environmental director can therefore be excellent stepping stones. In terms of onward opportunities, there is little in the way of concrete progression beyond this position. Hard to reach, it tends to be a career destination in its own right.
How do you become a CSR manager?
To become a CSR manager, students must first obtain their baccalaureate (general, technological or vocational). Then, with a baccalaureate (or a higher qualification such as a two-year technical diploma), they can go on to a master's degree. Several Level 7 qualifications suit this profession, such as:
- a master's in CSR management
- a professional master's in environment and risk
- a master's in environmental management
- a master's in planning or eco-development
Other routes are possible and open to motivated young graduates. Business schools and engineering schools, for example, are viable alternatives. Alongside the Grandes Écoles, there is also CMH Academy, a private Paris-based school specialising in hospitality, tourism, luxury, communications and events.
Offering a wide variety of accredited programmes, CMH Academy awards, on completion of studies, a state-recognised RNCP Level 7 or 6 qualification (depending on the programme chosen). With bilingual programmes (French/English) and three compulsory modern languages, young graduates can practise a range of foreign languages as much as they wish. A qualified and attentive teaching team gives students the tools they need to succeed in the job market.
Finally, extensive experience in hospitality roles is a considerable asset in the eyes of potential recruiters. Whatever the position (chef, receptionist, concierge, porter, bartender, hotel manager and so on) and whatever the type of contract (permanent, fixed-term, internship, work-study and so on), knowing the day-to-day reality of large responsible companies or of the hotel industry is an advantage over the competition.
