Job profile

Corporate Social Responsibility Manager

Corporate Social Responsibility Manager Job Profile

What is a Corporate Social Responsibility Manager?

A Corporate Social Responsibility Manager (CSR Manager) oversees the creation and implementation of an organisation’s social responsibility objectives. They are in charge of designing and developing the strategies that support the companies’ CSR goals.

They do research, generate ideas, formulate policies, construct comprehensive plans, establish links with partner organisations, and then implement, manage and oversee a variety of activities and projects aimed at improving the environment and local communities.

Some examples of CSR initiatives include:

  • Cutting down on carbon emissions.
  • Making labour policies better.
  • Taking part in fair-trade.
  • Supporting diversity, equity, and inclusion. 
  • Global charitable giving.
  • Volunteering in the community and online.
  • Creating corporate policies that are environmentally friendly.
  • Investments that are socially and ecologically responsible.


Corporate social responsibility is important to many businesses. However, putting it into reality needs more than CEO speeches and business policies; managers and workers must be on board in order to implement projects and maintain CSR momentum, and CSR Managers are there to guide them through that process.

Corporate Social Responsibility is a rising task in industry and corporations are responding swiftly to the general public’s need for ethical choices and sustainability. Because the sector is still relatively young, many organisations do not currently require whole corporate social responsibility units, but this is expected to change in the future. By definition, Corporate Social Responsibility efforts push company executives to assess activities such as hiring and managing workers, sourcing goods or components, and providing value to consumers.

Responsibilities

CSR Managers’ job tasks vary based on the organisation’s size, requirements, and goal, but typical responsibilities may include the following:

  • Assisting the company in the development, management, and modification of social responsibility policies.
  • Increasing public awareness of a company’s social responsibility commitments through marketing
  • Reiterating the company’s social responsibility policies through internal communication.
  • Reaching out to the public through public relations and marketing to convey the company’s commitment to social responsibility.
  • Conducting research into best practice
  • Fostering connections between the company and other organisations
  • Ensuring that a company’s policies fulfil legal and commercial requirements
  • Reporting on social responsibility activities to top management
  • Collaborating with the marketing department on companies branding ideas
  • Attracting new talent

Salary

In the United Kingdom, the national average income for a Corporate Social Responsibility Manager is £41,977. Ranging from £29,000 to £61,000. Slightly higher salaries in London range from £30,000 to £64,000, averaging at £43,779.

Working hours and work location 

Corporate Social Responsibility Managers are usually full-time workers, however, they may also work as consultants, contractors, or on a part-time basis.

They frequently work for the following organisations:

  • Private Corporations
  • NGOs
  • Corporations owned by the public
  • Agencies of the national, regional or local governments


Their work is mostly office-based while some travel to participate in meetings and events relative to the CSR sector.

Qualifications

The role in Corporate Social Responsibility is often at the executive or senior level. 

Significant managerial expertise in a variety of sectors is desirable, and applicants for these roles should have a bachelor’s degree in areas like International Business, Communications, Environmental Science or Management.

Ideally, an advanced degree, such as a Master of Public Administration (MPA), can ensure CSR Managers’ employment within the best companies earning the high-end salaries available for this position.

Skills

A CSR Manager is expected to possess or acquire the following skills:

must have skills:
  • Previous experience in a comparable capacity.
  • Strong experience managing connections, networks, and teams comprised of a varied set of people from the public and private sectors, community-based organisations, nonprofit and civic leadership.
  • Knowledge of the norms and regulations regulating Charities, IPCs (Institutions of Public Character), and best CSR practices.
  • Success in leading complicated multi-stakeholder planning processes and cross-team initiatives to successful completion.
  • Excellent communication abilities and the capacity to reduce complex information into simple messages and audience-appropriate communication materials.

Work experience

A CSR Manager gathers vital information about growing social and environmental challenges by connecting with key stakeholders in government, business, civil society, and international organisations.

Furthermore, they assist businesses in their attempts to positively affect their neighbourhood and beyond. These modifications can result in greater branding, a better reputation, and higher consumer loyalty, as well as an increase in the likelihood of hiring top personnel.

As a Corporate Social Responsibility Manager, your work will typically include components of marketing and public relations.

Indeed, if you work in this field, you will serve as an internal and external advocate for your company’s CSR policies and programs. You’ll be in charge of promoting awareness of your company’s commitment to CSR and generating attention for your organisation’s efforts.

The type of company that you work for will largely determine your work experience. 

Knowing the business you want to work in and being able to articulate why it is crucial is very important. Corporate social responsibility is different in the media sector than it is in the financial services industry. While the essential skill set will remain the same, the company’s goals and tactics will change

Career prospects

As previously noted, a Corporate Social Responsibility Manager is frequently considered a senior level position due to the extensive managerial experience and educational background it requires, therefore even entry-level positions require experience in the field.

Most CSR professionals begin as an assistant or corporate social responsibility officer and work their way up to become Corporate Social Responsibility Managers. CSR teams are often small, so if you work hard and have a lot of energy, you may advance rapidly.

At entry-level, you will get the majority of your training on the job, under the supervision of a Senior Corporate Social Responsibility Manager. On occasion, you may also be offered the option to participate in in-house training programs.

Once you’ve established yourself as a Corporate Social Responsibility Manager, you’ll have nearly achieved the pinnacle of your profession. As a result, you may decide to go to a larger organisation in pursuit of new challenges and greater compensation.

Alternatively, you might become independent and provide CSR consulting services to a variety of businesses.

As a CSR Manager you will traditionally work in one of these areas:

  • Environmental- Environmental responsibility is the concept that organisations should act in the most environmentally sustainable manner possible. It is one of the most prevalent types of corporate social responsibility. Some businesses refer to such programs as “environmental stewardship.”
  • Philanthropic- Philanthropic responsibility refers to a company’s desire to actively improve the world and society.
  • Ethical- The goal of ethical responsibility is to ensure that an organisation operates in a fair and ethical manner. Organisations that value ethical responsibility strive to treat all stakeholders fairly, including leadership, investors, workers, suppliers, and consumers.
  • Economic Responsibility- Economic responsibility is the practice of a company underpinning all of its financial decisions with a commitment to do good in the above-mentioned areas. The ultimate objective is not merely to maximise profits, but to have a beneficial influence on the environment, people, and society.


In order to thrive in this position, as a future CSR Manager you need to keep in mind the following:

  • The decision on which aspect of CSR you’d want to work in is the pinnacle of your new career.
  • You must enjoy working in groups, interacting with others, and socializing.
  • You’ll require a master’s degree.
  • A practical, meaningful experience is a requirement, not a choice.
  • You must enjoy research, statistics, and other forms of analytics.
  • You must be enthusiastic about your work.


Current CSR regulations are a clear indication of the necessity for CSR Managers. Over 1,300 of the largest UK-registered companies will be forced to reveal climate-related financial information once the new regulations take effect on April 6, 2022.

When you think about your career path in CSR Management you should also start thinking about how corporate social responsibility will evolve in the future.

What are the trends that individuals are predicting for the future of the field?

People expect their new workers to be enthusiastic about their jobs and are always seeking ways to improve them.

Employers

Related Courses

This is a full-time program provided at the University of the West of Scotland’s London Campus, in the heart of the UK’s economic core. Students interested in a career in Public Policy Management will benefit from the one-year program, as it will prepare them for work in public and third-sector organisations.

This class combines social science and communication.

Other related courses

FAQ Summary

A Corporate Social Responsibility Manager (CSR Manager) oversees the creation and implementation of an organisation’s social responsibility objectives. They are in charge of designing and developing the strategies that support the companies’ CSR goals.

In the United Kingdom, the national average income for a Corporate Social Responsibility Manager is £41,977. Ranging from £29,000 to £61,000.

The role in Corporate Social Responsibility is often at the executive or senior level. Significant managerial expertise in a variety of sectors is desirable, and applicants for these roles should have a bachelor’s degree in areas like International Business, Communications, Environmental Science or Management.

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