CSOs work across departments and teams to break down silos; they communicate and coordinate with management, stakeholders, customers, employees, and other constituents to advance sustainability goals. They often engage in performance management and evaluate organizational activities in service of sustainability metrics.

The breadth and depth of sustainability efforts are expanding rapidly, but the work is rooted in the triple bottom line: equity, economy, and environment. The CSO uses systems thinking to consider the impacts of its products or practices across the three pillars. A CSO might evaluate trends in building or community energy or water performance, improve working conditions in their supply chain, create better safety procedures for employees, or contribute to product development that addresses environmental or social problems. The CSO articulates complex issues and results clearly and effectively that must resonate with its broad stakeholder group.

Depending on a company's or a community's level of involvement with sustainability, the CSO’s role will differ. Some focus on complying with ESG reporting or regulations; others focus on finding inefficiencies and resolving or correcting them. Some work at the policy level embedding sustainability throughout the organization so that it becomes a part of the business model and culture, while others are deeply engaged in innovation and market transformation.