NRDC is seeking a Climate Advisor to work with the City of San José 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 develop and execute a robust public engagement strategy to advance transportation and buildings policy and programs, with a focus on building and zoning codes and electric and shared vehicles. The Climate Advisor will be part of a network of similar positions located in cities across the country to support these transportation, buildings, and energy 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, the real estate and/or transportation sector, utility companies, industry, and other organizations in the community. Outreach to communities of color and other stakeholders often underrepresented in civic forums will also be a special focus of this position.
- 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: drafting internal and public-facing documents; navigating internal city processes in coordination with our partners; develop public outreach and engagement strategies for transportation and buildings priorities including expanding low-carbon mobility options, electric vehicles, parking policies, safer streets improvements, building code updates, and building performance standards. 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 policy and program research and analysis with a focus on transportation, specifically new mobility options, walking and bicycling networks, electric vehicle education and incentives, and parking management. Strategy and education on eliminating natural gas in residential housing, energy reduction policies and programs in commercial buildings, and updated buildings codes. Develop an engagement strategy to better represent San Jose residents and stakeholders on climate issues, focusing on frontline communities that are often underrepresented in civic forums.
- 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, clean energy, and/or transportation policy
- 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, particularly communities of color, and working in diverse teams to achieve goals;
- Excellent writing skills, strong verbal communication, and confident public speaker with an ability to translate technical information for non-technical audiences and present to diverse audiences, specifically racially, ethnically, and socioeconomically diverse communities.