NRDC is seeking a Climate Advisor to work with the City of Portland 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 primarily on transportation with potential to work on buildings and energy. The Climate Advisor will be part of a network of similar positions located in cities across the country to support these transportation and energy initiatives and will therefore be engaged alongside city staff on local, regional, and national initiatives to advance the city’s goals. The position will interface with key influencers and decision-makers within city government, transportation sector, utility companies, industry, and other organizations in the community.
- Project Management: Develop and execute a detailed work plan, in close coordination with city staff, to implement the city’s plans for climate mitigation through transportation and energy policies and programs with a focus on performance management. The candidate should have expertise in implementing transportation policy, testing and implementation, data sourcing and analytics, narrative development, and change management to facilitate organizational alignment and investment.
- Stakeholder Outreach and Management: Develop, in close coordination with city staff, outreach strategies 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, in close coordination with city staff, public outreach and engagement strategies for transportation priorities including commuter incentives, transportation prioritization and pricing, and high efficiency infrastructure. Additional outreach around community based renewable energy infrastructure and expertise in energy services performance contracting for municipal facilities. 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: In coordination with city staff and consultants, develop and implement a communications program to build support from city stakeholders and the local community for actions to reduce climate pollution while improving results for historically marginalized communities. Successfully support sustainability measures in the face of competing city priorities. Provide policy and strategy research and analysis, with a focus on transportation policies and programs. Develop, in coordination with city staff, an engagement strategy to better represent Portland residents and stakeholders on climate issues, focusing on frontline communities that are often underrepresented in civic forums.
- Data Performance Management and Analysis: Develop, in close coordination with city staff robust transportation data sourcing, analysis, and utilization to facilitate program and policy development and implementation of high efficiency infrastructure, commuter incentives, and transportation prioritization and pricing.
- Network Development: Develop strong relationships with the city government, key stakeholders, and partners in the community. In close coordination with city staff, maintain appropriate communication and information flow with community partners.
- Challenge Participation: Along with city project managers, 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 and transportation policy. Additional experience with buildings or clean energy policy preferred.
- Experience working at the city level preferred
- Exceptional strategic thinking, analytical, and interpersonal skills
- Experience managing 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
- Experience developing and implementing performance management, data analytics, and communications programs
- 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