Sustainability Coordinator

~ Cupertino is a city in Santa Clara County, California in the United States, directly west of San Jose on the western edge of the Santa Clara Valley with portions extending into the foothills of the Santa Cruz Mountains. ~ 

Position Overview 

The City of Cupertino is currently recruiting for a Sustainability Coordinator (Management Analyst). Under the direction of the Assistant to the City Manager/Sustainability Manager, this position will plan, organize and coordinate the implementation and reporting of measures and policies defined within the City's Climate Action Plan and General Plan Sustainability Element.

To achieve the goals of these plans, this position will conduct annual greenhouse gas emissions inventories, prepare progress reports, formulate policies, coordinate interdepartmental activities, and team with business leaders and community members to design and implement efficiency and resilience programs.

This position requires an energetic self-starter with excellent communication and diplomacy skills, the creativity to design compelling campaigns, the interpersonal skills to drive behavior change, the foresight and fortitude to achieve tangible results, and the determination to accelerate the City's leadership in the sustainability field.

This position performs a wide variety of complex, specialized, and advanced research, administrative, and analytical duties in support of municipal and community-wide climate mitigation, adaptation and resilience.

Reporting to the Assistant to the City Manager/Sustainability Manager this position will also directly support the Public Works Environmental Programs Division in attaining its materials management and storm water objectives and the Community Development Department in its CAP-driven greenhouse gas emissions CEQA streamlining efforts for development projects. 

Responsibilities  

Duties may include, but are not limited to:

Implement Climate Action Plan (CAP) and General Plan (GP) Sustainability Element 

• Review 2015 CAP and GP Sustainability Element in partnership with staff and community to ensure alignment with and address gaps within current Sustainability Division programs.
• Identify opportunities to expand existing programs and develop proposed strategies, timelines and resource needs to realize these goals (include in implementation plan, below).
• Implement plan across municipal operations and within the residential (Growing Greener Blocks), commercial (GreenBiz), academic (green@school) sectors (under existing or adjusted programs) in partnership with relevant Divisions.
• Research and pursue funding opportunities, partnerships, donations and grants to expand these efforts.
• Oversee grants, agreements and contracts as they relate to CAP and GP implementation.
• Build the City's next generation climate adaptation and resilience agenda, as defined within the CAP and through the City's current regional partnerships.
• Review and/or coordinate consultant review of greenhouse gas emissions CEQA streamlining checklists prepared by project developers in partnership with the Community Development Department and enabled by the CAP. 

Monitor and Track Climate Action Plan 

• Develop an implementation plan for the near, mid and long-term municipal and community-wide measures as defined in the City's CAP.
• Utilize the tracking tool (Appendix C of 2015 CAP) to assess data collection needs and develop associated departmental reporting templates.
• Work with City's Utility Analyst to evaluate software applications currently available in-house and those available externally to support ongoing tracking and reporting needs and foster greater departmental/community engagement in future CAP efforts.
• Monitor climate change and greenhouse gas emissions-related federal, state and local requirements and legislation and analyze effects on and required adjustments to the City's CAP.
• Report on progress toward achieving CAP measures based upon timeline determined collectively by staff and relevant Commissions.
• Conduct annual greenhouse gas emissions inventories to monitor progress. 

Lead Climate Action Plan-tied Outreach 

• Staff Sustainability Commission and lead related Council and Commission engagement efforts connected with CAP implementation.
• Staff internal Communications Working Group to access campaign, branding, and technology tools envisioned through this team.
• Create email newsletters, flyers, brochures, web pages, presentations, press releases that connect all sectors and internal staff with opportunities to engage in broad and customized CAP efforts.
• Evaluate opportunities and develop a plan to integrate Community Based Social Marketing strategies to drive CAP-connected behavior change efforts across all relevant sectors.
• Plan, coordinate, and lead aligned community events including workshops, trainings, presentations, meetings, block parties, festivals etc.
• Research and pursue awards opportunities to gain recognition for and expand participation in the City's CAP-tied programs. 

General Assignments 

• Assist the Sustainability Manager and other department staff as directed.
• Collect, analyze and report a broad range of utility (energy, water), environmental (waste, materials) and / or sustainability (Climate Action Plan-related) data, maintain records, provide public information upon request and data to other agencies as appropriate.
• Respond to a wide variety of internal/staff informational requests.
• Schedule training meetings, prepare presentations and create educational materials to raise City staff awareness, clarify regulatory requirements and advance behavior change opportunities.
• Ensure data accuracy and design and update spreadsheets and databases weekly or monthly to comply with mandatory record keeping and annual reporting of utility expenses, environmental plans (i.e. Climate Action Plan), programs (i.e. GreenBiz, Growing Greener Blocks) and policies (i.e. Single Use Bag, Organics and Polystyrene Ordinance).  

Qualifications

Knowledge of: 

• Greenhouse gas emissions inventories, climate change science and associated mitigation and adaptation strategies;
• Energy and water conservation techniques;
• Commute alternatives; and progressive materials management methods;
• Behavioral change, community-based social marketing and emerging approaches to foster participation and generate outcomes across environmental initiatives;
• Outreach and engagement practices and aligned civic media campaigns and tools;
• Operational characteristics, services, and activities of assigned programs; pertinent federal, state and local laws, codes, regulations and agreements;
• Principles and practices of record keeping and data management and familiarity with current database and greenhouse gas emissions inventory software;
• Methods and techniques of data collection, research, and report preparation and principles and practice of program development;
• Organization and operation of municipal government; operational characteristics, services and activities of a utilities program;
• Office procedures, methods, and equipment including computers and applicable software applications;
• Applicable civil, government and administrative codes; principles and practices of public sector contract administration;
• City contracting process and procurement language;
• Principles and practices used in grant development and administration;
• Principles and practices of customer service;
• Principles of business letter writing;
• English usage, spelling, grammar, and punctuation; and
• Pertinent federal, state and local laws, codes and regulations. 

Ability to: 

• Develop greenhouse gas emissions inventories and reports; design and implement community programs and connected outreach campaigns;
• Plan, organize, coordinate, administer, and evaluate assigned projects;
• Review documents and reports for completeness and accuracy; communicate clearly and concisely, both orally and in writing and in both a conversational and technical voice;
• Suggest procedures to improve assigned program services and activities;
• Conduct accurate and thorough research and prepare clear, complete, concise elements for annual reports;
• Understand and apply administrative and departmental policies, procedures and agreements as well as applicable federal, state, and local policies, laws, and regulations and initiatives;
• Input, manage, analyze and evaluate applicable programs' data to identify trends and / or inconsistencies;
• Work both independently and autonomously on projects as assigned and with internal and external teams and groups on various programs;
• Respond tactfully, clearly, concisely, and appropriately to inquiries from the public, City staff, or other agencies on sensitive issues in area of responsibility;
• Represent the City in a professional manner when working with other agencies, community groups, and the general public;
• Research and analyze complex problems and prepare recommendations on a variety of issues;
• Understand the organization and operation of the City and outside agencies as necessary to assume assigned responsibilities;
• Interpret and apply pertinent federal, state and local laws, codes and regulations as well as City policies and procedures;
• Research, analyze and evaluate programs, policies and procedures;
• Collect, evaluate and interpret complex information and data; conduct various organizational studies and analyses;
• Prepare, research, negotiate, and monitor contracts and agreements;
• Maintain accurate and complete records on programs and operations;
• Interpret technical information for a variety of audiences;
• Independently prepare correspondence and memoranda;
• Operate office equipment including computers and supporting applications;
• Adapt to changing technologies and learn functionality of new equipment and systems;
• Demonstrate an awareness and appreciation of the cultural diversity of the community; and
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with those contacted in the course of work. 

Experience and Education: 

• A Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university with major course work environmental or climate science, engineering, planning, economics or a related field. Master's Degree preferred.
• Two years of increasingly responsible climate change, sustainability, resource conservation, and/or environmental program coordination experience at a level comparable to a Management Analyst with the City.
• Plan and program implementation and reporting, outreach campaign strategy and materials design, data collection and analysis, and experience conducting municipal water or energy efficiency assessments and leading organizational change are highly desirable.
• Three to eight years related experience and training preferred. 
• Public sector climate action plan analysis or greenhouse gas emissions inventorying/accounting experience a plus. 

Compensation: Current Salary: $82,804.50- $100,649.51 annually. Salary Effective 7/1/15: $ 84,443.20 - $ 102,641.37 annually + CalPERS Retirement. 

To Apply 

• Please click below: "Apply Here!" then click on "Jobs" to complete an official City of Cupertino application and supplemental application and return it to Human Resources.
• Final Filing Date: Monday, June 29, 2015 at 5:00 p.m.
• Failure to complete the supplemental application will disqualify the applicant from the recruitment process.
• For more information, please visit our website.