Climate Change Program Manager

The City of Somerville is one of the leading cities on climate change in Massachusetts and the country, pioneering new approaches to climate action planning, clean energy and resilience programs, and community engagement. Reporting to the Director of the Office of Sustainability and Environment (OSE), the Climate Change Program Manager is responsible for designing and executing programs and projects that continually work toward the City’s goal of an equitable, resilient, and carbon-neutral City. The Climate Change Program Manager will serve as critical thought partner on climate change policy for the Director. The employee manages climate change programs related activities for the Office of Sustainability and Environment (OSE), acts as an advisor and technical resource for departments across the City, and oversees outreach to community members and stakeholders.

Essential Functions:

The essential functions or duties listed below are intended only as illustrations of the various type of work that may be performed. The omission of specific statements of duties does not exclude them from the position if the work is similar, related, or a logical assignment to the position

• Leads long-range climate change planning and serves as internal and external spokesperson for City’s climate priorities. Serves as technical expert on greenhouse gas reductions and resilience.
• Serves as project manager for implementation of several projects that have resulted from Somerville Climate Forward.
• Responsible for reporting on climate indicators (e.g., progress on Somerville Climate Forward, biannual greenhouse gas inventories, )
• Designs and executes multimedia climate change and sustainability awareness engagement campaign.
• Maintains relationships and collaborates on climate change programs and projects with key entities outside of the administration (e.g., Somerville Schools, state agencies, counterparts in neighboring cities)
• Responsible for review and approval of sustainability components development proposals in conjunction with the Office of Strategic Planning and Community Development.  
• Identifies new opportunities for and manages projects that increase climate goals. Identifies and seeks outside and internal funding for new initiatives. 
• Responsible for communications and community engagement on climate change and sustainability.  
• Directly manages the new staff position of Engagement Specialist, who will be focused on community outreach and customer service. Supervises work of and provides mentorship for Engagement Specialist.
• Provides technical analysis and contributes to development of City plans and policies on sustainability and climate change.
• Manages contractors and consultants, including quality management and budget.
• Advises the administration on climate change and sustainability issues.  
• Addresses ad-hoc residential, business and departmental needs related to environmental issues such, energy efficiency, renewable energy, climate change risks, and greenhouse gas emission reductions.

Recommended Minimum Qualifications

Education and Experience: Bachelor’s degree and over five (5) years’ experience; or any equivalent combination of education, training and experience which provides the required knowledge, skills and abilities to perform the essential functions of the job. Staff supervision experience preferred. Advanced Degree (at least Masters) is highly preferred. Relevant fields of study include but are not limited to: urban and regional planning, environmental science, public policy, environmental engineering, and sustainable design. Relevant professional certification preferred but not required, including AICP, LEED, PE/EIT

Knowledge, Abilities and Skill

Knowledge: Knowledge of climate change mitigation and adaptation, sustainable design/engineering, environmental planning, resilience, sustainability, urban infrastructure design

Abilities: Ability to multi-task and obtain interdepartmental cooperation and communication; ability to meet and deal with the public effectively and appropriately; ability to handle problems and emergencies effectively; ability to communicate clearly, both orally and in writing; ability to operate a computer; ability to maintain confidential information; ability to maintain, manage, and organize records; ability to deal appropriately with city employees, city officials and the general public.

Skill: Excellent computer skills for word processing, spreadsheets and databases; excellent analytical skills; familiarity with social media and community engagement platforms; excellent organizational skills

Work Environment The work environment involves everyday discomforts typical of offices, with occasional exposure to outside elements. Noise or physical surroundings may be distracting, but conditions are generally not unpleasant. Employee may be required to work beyond normal business hours to attend evening meetings or complete work assignments.

Physical and Mental Requirements

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 position’s essential functions.

Physical Skills

Few physical demands are required to perform the work. Work effort principally involves sitting to perform work tasks, with intermittent periods of stooping, walking, and standing. May also be some occasional lifting of objects such as office equipment and computer paper (up to 30 lbs.)

Motor Skills

Duties are largely mental rather than physical, but the job may occasionally require minimal motor skills for activities such as moving objects, operating a telephone, personal computer and/or most other office equipment including word processing, filing and sorting of papers.

Visual Skills

Visual demands require constantly reading documents for general understanding and analytical purposes.

Send your resume and cover letter by July 23, 2021 to:

City Hall Personnel Office
93 Highland Avenue
Somerville MA 02143
Fax: 617-666-4426
TTY: 1-866-808-4851
Email: employment_opportunities@somervillema.gov

City of Somerville residents are especially encouraged to apply.

The City of Somerville is an affirmative action/equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, sex, religion, age, national origin, disability or any other protected category. Women, minorities, veterans, and persons with disabilities are encouraged to apply. Auxiliary aids and services, written materials in alternative formats, and reasonable modifications in policies and procedures will be provided to qualified individuals with disabilities free of charge, upon request.

Individuals with disabilities who need auxiliary aids and services for effective communication, written materials in alternative formats, or reasonable modifications in policies and procedures, in order to access the programs and activities of the City of Somerville or to attend meetings, should contact the City’s ADA Coordinator, Nency Bacci, at 617-625-6600 x2250 or nbacci@somervillema.gov