~ Cascadia inspires and empowers communities everywhere to protect and restore our world. ~

We work with governments, corporations, nonprofit organizations, and Tribes across the United States and internationally to create forward-thinking strategies for resource conservation, climate resilience, low impact development, and waste reduction.

Cascadia brings its expertise and creativity to all aspects of sustainability programs, from research and strategic planning to analysis, program implementation, outreach, and evaluation.

Position Overview

Cascadia seeks a Climate and Sustainability Associate to help deliver climate and sustainability services to our local government clients. Specifically, the Associate will:

• Analyze greenhouse gas emissions and climate change impacts, such as through greenhouse gas inventories and “wedge” analyses, climate vulnerability assessments, and sustainability metrics tracking and dashboards.
• Research policies, trends, and best practices related to climate change mitigation and adaptation, energy, transportation, materials management, natural resource management, and other sustainability topics.
• Support equitable and inclusive stakeholder and public engagement around climate and sustainability issues (e.g., online workshops and public events, social media, online open houses).
• Support or lead facilitation (e.g., draft presentation slides, prepare meeting materials, guide discussions, and take notes) of large multi-stakeholder meetings, workshops, task forces, and committees dedicated to a range of environmental topics.
• Synthesize and translate complex information into clear, informative, and compelling materials (e.g., summaries, fact sheets, presentations, online dashboards, reports) for diverse audiences.
• Support business development opportunities, including contributing to bidding processes, potential client meetings, and proposal writing.
• Ensure that projects are delivered on time, within budget, and in accordance with Cascadia’s reputation and standards for producing high-quality work products and outcomes.
• Effectively write and verbally communicate using a diversity of styles and perspectives.
• Actively reflect and improve upon efforts to incorporate diversity, equity, and inclusion concepts into client work.
• Manage tasks and projects (e.g., monitor budgets, support partners, manage subcontractors and invoicing, and lead client communications).

Note: Occasional travel, when permissible, including field outreach, meetings, overnight stays, or other activities outside standard work hours may be required.

Required Qualifications 

• Understanding of, and commitment to, Cascadia’s mission to “inspire and empower communities everywhere to protect and restore our world” in an equitable and inclusive way.
• Demonstrated understanding and/or ability to quickly learn about climate change issues, including greenhouse gas inventories and strategies for reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
• Working knowledge of climate science, climate adaptation and mitigation strategies, and land carbon sequestration processes.
• A commitment to racial equity and the ability to apply racial equity principles to project work.
• Demonstrated experience creating strategic plans, climate action plans, or other similar environmental or sustainability plans.
• Effective written and verbal communication skills in English with the ability to adapt to a diversity of styles and perspectives.
• Excellent organizational skills, data management and analysis abilities, and attention to detail.
• Ability to manage multiple concurrent projects and deadlines.
• Ability to work with clients, partners, and colleagues in an innovative and culturally responsible way while exhibiting emotional intelligence.
• Intermediate to advanced experience with producing deliverables with Microsoft Office 365 programs including SharePoint, Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.