Project Manager, Climate Action Plan

~ HARC, a 501(c)(3) organization incorporated as Houston Advanced Research Center, is a research hub providing independent analysis on energy, air, and water issues to people seeking scientific answers. We are focused on building a sustainable future that helps people thrive and nature flourish. ~

HARC’s research is conducted by a team of dedicated research professionals with diverse backgrounds in energy, air and water disciplines. HARC researchers have broad experience in basic and applied science, technology development and adoption, policy analysis, stakeholder communication, geospatial technologies, and public outreach. This diversity allows the organization to respond to the needs of varied sponsors, stakeholders and organizations.

Our researchers’ regional, national, and international credibility enables them to work collaboratively with other investigators from numerous scientific disciplines and organizations across Texas, the U.S. and from other parts of the world.

HARC’s research activities are supported by an experienced team of administrative professionals with strengths in financial management, fiscal accountability, information technology, geospatial information systems, and grant and contract management. Coupled with its research strength, HARC’s administrative expertise makes it one of the few not-for-profit research organizations in Texas able to manage large, multi-institutional, multi-disciplinary research programs.

Position Overview

The Project Manager, Climate Action Plan will lead the project management for HARC’s urban climate action planning projects. Major functions of this position are data gathering and analysis for climate action planning, developing various climate mitigation scenarios based on data and community input, conducting cost-benefit analysis of various climate action scenarios, engaging key decision makers and manage climate planning taskforce. Community wide outreach and education in developing support for climate action plan will be an important portion of this position. The end goal of this project will be to draft a climate action plan for both decision makers and citizens alike.

Responsibilities

Major Duties:

• Conduct moderately complex analyses necessary to assist interested organizations and communities in determining the technical and economic feasibility of climate change mitigation and adaptation scenarios.
• Prepare materials for print and other media, related to program activities, findings, and communications.
• Develop, coordinate and conduct webinars, workshops and presentations to inform audiences about HARC research, and the issues of importance pertaining thereto.
• Communicate with partners in industry and academia, project stakeholders, and the public in support of project work and development of funding proposals.
• Manage relationships with various public agencies, research organizations, funding organizations, and environmental advisors.
• Identify issues and trends of importance for climate action and adaptation planning that may inform current research progression and formulate concepts for new or expanded areas of research.
• Assist HARC Program Directors with aspects of project management, which may include project budgets, tracking and timely completion of project deliverables, and coordination with HARC administrative departments.
• Assist with HARC external communications, including development of content for newsletters, web pages, and social media. Represent HARC at conferences, speaking opportunities, and networking events.
• Complete routine work with little or no instruction; general instructions on new assignments.

Project Management:

• Manage project teams, budgets, and timely completion of project deliverables.
• Prepare progress and final reports to sponsor entities.

Internal Focus:

• Collaborate with other HARC researchers on multidisciplinary projects.
• Initiate and promote teamwork, shared learning and integrated approaches to sustainability.
• Serve as an in-house mentor.
• Advise executive management.
• Use professional knowledge and skills to contribute to the achievement of HARC’s mission.
• Serve on HARC committees or working groups as assigned.

External Focus:

• Make contributions to discipline through the creation of technical reports, public outreach documents, web content, and external presentations.
• Communicate results at professional conferences, workshops and symposia.
• Initiate and promote external collaboration and integrated approaches to sustainability.

Continuing Education:

• Maintain broad knowledge of state-of-the-art principles, theories and practices in discipline.

Qualifications

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Education/Experience:

• Bachelor degree in urban planning, architecture, civil engineering, public policy or public administration.
• Minimum of 8 years’ experience in climate mitigation and adaptation.
• Minimum of 5 years working within city sustainability departments or equivalent.
• Experience drafting climate action plans.
• Familiarity with Deadline 2020, C40 CURB and other planning tools.
• Experience organizing large, community-wide outreach/education efforts.

Language Ability:

• Ability to read, analyze, and interpret common scientific and technical journals, financial reports, and legal documents.
• Ability to respond to common inquiries or complaints from customers, regulatory agencies, or members of the business community.
• Ability to write speeches and articles for publication that conform to prescribed style and format.

Reasoning Ability:

• Ability to define problems, collect data, establish facts, and draw valid conclusions.
• Ability to interpret an extensive variety of technical instructions in mathematical or diagram form and deal with several abstract and concrete variables.

Computer Skills:

• To perform this job successfully, an individual must be computer literate in word processing, spreadsheet, internet and email software as well as project specific software.

Work Environment:

• The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job.
• Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
• While performing the duties of this job, the employee is occasionally exposed to wet or humid conditions (non-weather); outdoor weather conditions and risk of electrical shock.
• The noise level in the work environment is usually quiet.

Physical Demands:

• The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job.
• Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
• The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 10 pounds.
• Specific vision abilities required by this job include Close vision.
• While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently required to sit and talk or hear.
• The employee is occasionally required to stand; walk; use hands to finger, handle, or feel and reach with hands and arms.

Compensation: $80,000.00 – $85,000.00 Salary/year