NRDC is seeking a Climate Advisor to work with the City of Austin as part of the American Cities Climate Challenge (ACCC). The American Cities Climate Challenge is an unprecedented opportunity for 20 ambitious cities to significantly deepen and accelerate their efforts to tackle climate change and promote a sustainable future for their residents. The Climate Advisor will work with city officials to assist with the execution of initiatives designed to advance carbon reductions through policies and programs focused on transportation and building energy efficiency. The Climate Advisor will be part of a network of similar positions located in cities across the country to support these building, energy, and transportation initiatives and will therefore be engaged at the local, regional, and national levels to advance the city’s goals. The position will interface with key influencers and decision-makers within city government, including Austin Energy, Austin Transportation Department, Building Services Department, the business community, and other organizations in the community.
- Project Management: Develop and execute a detailed work plan to implement the city’s plans for climate mitigation through transportation and buildings policies and programs with expertise in performance management.
- Stakeholder Outreach and Management: Lead various work streams including but not limited to outreach to stakeholders, both internal to city government and the broader community of private sector, non-profit, philanthropic, and community partners; drafting internal and public-facing documents; navigating internal city processes in coordination with our partners; develop public outreach and engagement strategies for transportation priorities including transportation demand management, parking management, adoption of electric vehicles, and promotion of new low carbon mobility options. Work closely with staff to build on success of the Energy Conservation Audit and Disclosure Ordinance to drive energy efficiency in existing buildings. Experience incorporating the perspectives of multiple communities, including communities of color, in the consideration of impacts and outcomes of a decision-making process.
- Education and Policy Engagement: Educate city stakeholders and the local community on the importance of addressing climate change through transportation and buildings policies and programs. Successfully support sustainability measures in the face of competing city priorities. Provide legislative review and policy research and analysis, with a focus on transportation and buildings policies and programs, specifically parking management, transportation demand management, EV promotion, bicycle and pedestrian networks and energy efficiency in buildings. Develop an engagement strategy to better represent Austin residents and stakeholders on climate issues, focusing on frontline communities that are often underrepresented in civic forums.
- Financing Tools and Strategies: Assemble options and best practices, including examples from other cities, to finance the incremental costs of carbon reduction strategies and programs. Financial tools could include those available to municipal government as well as the private sector. Familiarity with innovative financing tools as well as fiscal justification including cost benefit analysis and life cycle cost models.
- Network Development: Develop and manage strong relationships with the city government, key stakeholders, and partners in the community. Maintain appropriate communication and information flow with community partners.
- Challenge Participation: Actively participate in the ACCC network of cities. This includes joining regularly scheduled calls, participating in online trainings, and attending in-person convenings.
- At least 3 years of advocacy experience on climate change, transportation and energy efficiency policy preferred.
- Experience working with or collaborating with municipal government preferred.
- Exceptional strategic thinking, analytical, and interpersonal skills.
- Experience managing cross-functional projects in a team setting, including developing project plans and managing timelines.
- Experience working at the intersection of equity and environment preferred.
- Experience collaborating with diverse stakeholders to achieve goals.
- Excellent writing skills, strong verbal communication, and confident public speaker with an ability to present to diverse audiences, specifically racially, ethnically, and socioeconomically diverse communities.