CSR MANAGER

PRESENTATION

According to a survey of 72,000 customers carried out by the Hilton Group, 33% of them prefer hotels with environmental and social programmes. CSR (Corporate Social Responsibility) will be a major challenge for the hotel industry in the years to come. A CSR manager is needed to anticipate and act on the needs of the organisation.

WHAT IS A CSR MANAGER? 

Identified under several pseudonyms (CSR project manager, CSR project manager or sustainable development manager), the CSR manager leads an environmental, societal and ethical policy for the good of his or her hotel franchise. This promising profession is still in its infancy, but in the future it will play a central role in the long-term future of an establishment.

In daily contact with his staff, he raises awareness in every area of the organisation, so that everyone understands the best practices to adopt. At the same time, this project manager has to deal with the scepticism and fears of some hotel professionals.

In addition to the hotel industry, CSR project managers can also work in other sectors (industrial, eco-industrial, agri-food, engineering, etc.). The versatile CSR project manager can also work in the civil service or in certain SMEs (small or medium-sized enterprises).

WHAT ARE THE CSR MANAGER‘S TASKS? 

As a major player in the field of sustainable development, the CSR manager initially coordinates a series of actions that comply with ecological, economic and social standards. Before defining or implementing their strategies, they take into account various business aspects (human resources, marketing, safety, etc.).

Here is a list of tasks that define the job of CSR manager in the hotel industry:

• Determine short-, medium- and long-term objectives
• Assess the company’s needs
• Develop different action plans
• Budget and defend their strategic plans
• Communicate regularly with general management
• Implement communications and lobbying actions
• Draw up reports (on economic, environmental impact, etc.) Understand
• everyone’s objectives, motivations and expectations
• Draw up detailed diagnoses
• Inform and raise awareness among staff about forthcoming actions
• Analyse the company to find out its foundations and expectations in terms of sustainable development
• Demonstrate the reliability and authenticity of the CSR
• Assimilate the various challenges of sustainable development
• Promote the responsibility of your organisation

Accustomed to working regular hours, your working hours may sometimes be extended if the hotel, or more generally the hotel franchise, needs your services. Like any employee working in the hotel industry, the Sustainable Development Manager may work later evenings, weekends and public holidays. The duties of the employee may also vary depending on the field and the size of the company.

WHAT QUALITIES AND SKILLS DO YOU NEED TO BECOME A CSR MANAGER? 

To make a difference in their profession, CSR managers need to have specific skills, as well as interpersonal and human qualities:

• A professional who is good at teaching and communicating: always there to understand and help others, this professional is capable of adapting quickly to solve internal or external problems. A good listener, the CSR manager has good social skills. These qualities are ideal for debating, convincing and negotiating with their contacts. At ease in dialogue, they have a good command of one or more foreign languages (at least English).
• A diplomat who brings people together: gifted with an exceptional ability to analyse and summarise, the CSR Project Manager has a wide-ranging knowledge of different fields. Rigour, motivation and patience are three essential skills for a job like this. Extremely methodical, they have unrivalled organisational skills to bring their projects to a successful conclusion.
• An autonomous leader: able to lead and manage a team of professionals, the CSR manager is equipped with a rather creative mind. Confident and proud of their abilities, they have no hesitation in defending their ambitions, ideas and projects against all odds.

WHAT ARE THE SALARY AND PROSPECTS FOR A CSR MANAGER?

In terms of salary, a CSR manager earns around €3,700 gross per month (€44,400 per annum). Like most jobs in the hotel industry, the salary varies according to the standing and size of the hotel.

Before advancing to this position, it’s worth bearing in mind that this profession is accessible with substantial technical and strategic professional experience (between 7 and 10 years). Jobs such as quality manager or environmental manager can be good stepping stones. As far as career opportunities are concerned, there are no real prospects for advancement. Because it’s difficult to get into, this job is more of a career option.

HOW DO YOU BECOME A CSR MANAGER?

To become a CSR manager, students must first obtain their baccalauréat (general, technological or vocational baccalaureate). Once they have a baccalauréat (or higher with a BTS or DUT), they can move on to a master’s degree. There are a number of level 7 diplomas that are relevant to this profession, such as:

• Master’s degree in CSR management
• Master’s degree in environment and risk management
• Master’s degree in environmental management
• Master’s degree in planning or eco-development

Other career paths are possible and accessible to motivated young graduates. For example, business schools and engineering schools are viable alternatives. In the wake of the Grandes Ecoles, there is also the CMH Academy, a private Parisian school specialising in hotels, tourism, luxury goods, communications and events.

CMH Academy offers a wide range of degree courses, and at the end of your studies you will be awarded a state-recognised RNCP level 7 or 6 qualification (depending on the course you choose). With bilingual programmes (French/English) and 3 compulsory modern languages, young graduates will be able to practise their foreign languages to their heart’s content. The presence of a qualified and attentive teaching staff will give students the tools they need to succeed in the job market.

Last but not least, extensive experience in the hospitality industry is an invaluable asset when dealing with potential recruiters. Whatever the position (cook, receptionist, concierge, baggage handler, barman, hotel manager, etc.) and the nature of the contract (permanent or fixed-term contract, work placement, sandwich course, etc.), knowing the day-to-day workings of large responsible companies or the hotel industry is an advantage over the competition.

WHERE ARE THEY TODAY?