SUSTAINABILITY OFFICERS PROJECT MANAGEMENT TOOLKIT- ORGANIZATIONAL TIPS FOR LONG-TERM SANITY Mieko A. Ozeki The University of Vermont

UVM Office of Sustainability Projects Coordinator since 2008 and 2 nd full-time employee in UVM’s Office of Sustainability. Charged with creating a structure and implementing a system for managing projects and programs in our department.

Visionaries & Pioneers

Premise At conferences like AASHE, we gain knowledge of: Best practices Lessons Learned Core concepts of campus sustainability Becoming a change agent But rarely do we hear about best practices on how to organize and manage the numerous projects we implement on our campuses.

Does managing campus sustainability projects look like this for you? Climate Action PlanGHG inventory Paper Policy Student Green Fund project

Or does the digital version look like this?

Sane Project Management Source: Ebaum’s World

Principle #1: Look at your sustainability agenda from 30,000 + feet Develop a work plan that captures the areas you’ll address during the academic year. Use AASHE STARS as a: ① Framework for your work plan, ② Metric to hold yourself, your department, and institution accountable.

From brain dump… From 30,000+ Feet To mind mapping

Individual Group Work Plan Make your work plan public

Principle #2: Find tools that work for you (and your team)

When selecting a PM tool It should be: -Accessible -Web-based -Cloud-based Source:

When selecting a PM tool It should not break the bank. Monthly or annual costs should be low, preferably free!

When selecting a PM tool - Function and makes sense to you and your team - Easy to use - Accommodates internal & external collaborators External Partners Internal Partners Core Users Who are your external partners? How do they work? What is the group culture? Who are your internal partners? How do they work? What is the group culture? Who is your core group? How do they work? What is the group culture?

Once you select the tool… Give your PM tool a test drive for at least a month. Customize the PM tool to your groups management needs. Take the time to train collaborators and/or your staff on how to use the tool. If the tool doesn’t work for your group, retool and look for a system that works for you.

UVM’s Project Management System: 37 Signals Suite

Basecamp™

Questions What systems do you have in place to manage your projects and programs? Is it well-organized and manageable? Are you able to collaborate with internal and external partners with the system you have set-up?

Thank you Mieko A. Ozeki Sustainability Projects Coordinator