NRDC is seeking a Climate Advisor to work with the City of St. Petersburg as part of the American Cities Climate Challenge (ACCC). The ACCC is an unprecedented opportunity for 25 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 utilize analytical and technical energy management and/or mechanical engineering skills to work with city officials to assist with the execution of initiatives designed to advance carbon reductions through policies and programs focused primarily on buildings and energy with some work on transit, electric options for transportation and infrastructure, and federal and other transit and transportation financing strategies. 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, the real estate sector, utility companies, industry, 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 buildings policies and programs with expertise in energy and performance management.
- Facilities Energy Management: Support facility assessment work, data collection, and technical analyses, prioritizing facility energy efficiency programs, and developing structures for tracking energy savings in collaboration with programs like Energy Star. Experience in energy efficiency, renewable energy, and standard and innovative solutions for existing buildings from lighting upgrades, metering and controls to newer air curtain, thermal storage, and other technologies as well as operating and maintenance requirements.
- 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 financing for energy efficiency and renewable energy projects and building energy efficiency challenge programs. 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 clean energy policies and programs, specifically municipal energy efficiency and renewable energy projects, solar project development and clean energy financing mechanisms. . Work with city leaders to develop an engagement strategy to better represent St. Petersburg 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 including city and private facility managers 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 and clean energy policy. Additional experience with transportation 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.
- 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.