An Exploratory Study of Competencies and Conscientiousness Trait in Sustainability Roles

Abstract

Sustainability management requires a combination of technical expertise and interpersonal competencies, yet empirical evidence on the psychological characteristics and competency priorities of sustainability professionals remains limited. This mixed-method, cross-sectional study examined whether conscientiousness differentiates individuals working in sustainability roles from those in non-sustainability occupations, which competencies practitioners consider most important, and whether conscientiousness predicts perceived proficiency in sustainability-related competencies. Forty-three professionals completed an online survey assessing demographic information, conscientiousness (NEO-PI-R), and perceived proficiency and importance of 20 sustainability competencies derived from Dutch master’s programmes. Results showed that sustainability professionals scored descriptively higher on conscientiousness than participants outside the field. However, the difference was not statistically significant. Paired-samples analyses revealed that sustainability professionals rated soft competencies as significantly more important than hard competencies. Regression analyses showed that conscientiousness did not predict perceived proficiency in either soft or hard competencies. Exploratory rankings further demonstrated that interpersonal and reflective competencies were prioritised over technical competencies such as quantitative analysis and sustainability assessment methods. These findings suggest that competence development in sustainability practice may depend more on contextual, educational, and experiential factors than on dispositional conscientiousness. Implications for competence-based curriculum design, particularly for Novia University of Applied Sciences, and recommendations for future research are discussed.