Corporate social responsibility (CSR) has become an organization's strategic imperative, necessitating dedicated roles and competencies to navigate its complex landscape. This systematic literature review provides a comprehensive analysis of the emerging research on CSR professionals, mapping out four primary foci of investigation: the economic, political, and socio-cultural environment; the organizational focus; the occupational focus; and the individual focus. Through a qualitative content analysis of 96 articles, this review uncovers the multifaceted nature of CSR professionals' roles, competencies, and challenges. The findings highlight the dynamic interplay between contextual factors, organizational strategies, occupational profiles, and individual psychological dynamics in shaping CSR professionals' occupational landscape. By identifying underexplored cross-connections between research domains and proposing avenues for future inquiry, this review contributes to advancing the academic discourse on CSR. By pursuing these avenues for future research, scholars can contribute to a more holistic and nuanced understanding of CSR professionals' roles and impacts, bridging the gaps between different foci of investigation and research streams.
