Senior Sustainability Specialist - Climate Action (Open and Promotional) (20686839)

The County of San Mateo's Sustainability Department seeks well-qualified applicants for the position of Senior Sustainability Specialist – Climate Action on the Climate Protection team.

The Climate Protection team works to:

• Catalyze regional climate solutions by forming impact networks and partnering with cities for resource and economic efficiency.
• Convert buildings and transportation from gas to electric to target largest emissions sources and improve community health 
• Achieve carbon neutrality by 2040 in unincorporated communities 

The Senior Sustainability Specialist – Climate Action will:

• Lead the RICAPS Climate Collaborative to support San Mateo County cities in developing climate action plans and implementing coordinated initiatives to reduce emissions. This includes hosting and facilitating monthly Collaborative and working group meetings, providing direction to technical assistance partners, and guiding strategic planning for the Collaborative to strengthen collective action on climate solutions. 
• Foster peer learning, idea sharing, and problem solving among Collaborative participants, and lead pilots and collaborative implementation strategies, including joint grant applications.
• Serve on the leadership committee of the Bay Area Regional Energy Network (BayREN) quarterly regional forum. 
• Provide guidance and coordination with staff leading the San Mateo County Energy Watch, BayREN, and Peninsula Clean Energy programs to encourage municipalities to promote them to their community members. 
• Mentor junior team members to optimize implementation and coordination between programs to meet emissions targets, better serve community needs, and make strategic improvements to program delivery, meetings, reports, budgets, and presentations.

This is a full-time, classified, and fully benefited position in the Sustainability Department. 

The ideal candidate will:

• Be an experienced project manager able to juggle multiple complex projects simultaneously, prioritizing efforts in alignment with established goals. 
• Build relationships and strategic partnerships with County-level staff, departments, agencies, and non-government organizations to help achieve local and regional climate action goals. Have a solid familiarity with a breadth of sustainability related topics, especially energy efficiency, decarbonization, and sustainable transportation, preferably in the local government context. 
• Possess professional facilitation skills to enable cross-jurisdictional, cross-topical, cross-departmental information sharing, knowledge development, and project implementation. 
• Possess a high degree of familiarity with climate mitigation science, policy, and technology, as well as familiarity with approaches to collaborative, regionwide project development and implementation. 
• Have experience mentoring and/or coaching other team members.
• Possess effective written communication skills and experience in preparing written materials such as narratives, project summaries or reports, technical charts, presentations, and public outreach materials. 
• Possess effective oral communication skills and experience delivering targeted presentations to a wide variety of audiences and stakeholders, including public outreach and education.
• Possess strong analytical skills and experience conducting research, audits, or analyzing data.
• Incorporate the perspectives of multiple stakeholders and community segments in the consideration of impacts and outcomes of a project or initiative.
• Navigate sensitive issues with integrity and political astuteness.
• Have excellent interpersonal skills and experience working with a diverse range of stakeholders and perspectives, to identify and achieve collective goals.
• Identify and address barriers that different community groups experience when interacting with County services and programs to enhance project design and delivery. 
• Work with minimal supervision, "hit the ground running," and have the flexibility to change course quickly and effectively.

Qualifications:

Education and Experience:

Any combination of education and experience that would likely provide the required knowledge, skills, and abilities is qualifying. 

• A typical way to qualify is five years of experience in the field of resource conservation which has included program implementation and coordination.

Knowledge of:

• Basic supervisory principles and practices.
• Principles and practices of project management, implementation, and evaluation.
• Principles and practices of contract management.
• Principles, practices, trends, and technical information in the areas of energy efficiency, decarbonization, and sustainable transportation.
• Pertinent federal, state, and local laws, codes, and regulations.

Skill/Ability to:

• Provide leadership and promote teamwork.
• Plan, assign, direct, and review the work of others.
• Train others in departmental and program specific policies and procedures.
• Think, plan, and execute across topical, departmental, and jurisdictional boundaries. 
• Plan, implement, coordinate, and evaluate multiple complex programs, projects, and activities.
• Serve as subject matter expert in energy efficiency, decarbonization, sustainable transportation, carbon sequestration, and other areas of resource conservation.
• Speak effectively and make public presentations, conduct outreach, and provide training and/or public education as necessary.
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with a variety of individuals at all levels including those from government, business, private and non-profit agencies, community groups, and the public.
• Serve as representative for various committees and community groups.
• Integrate equity into work duties and create conditions that allow all people in the county to reach their full potential.
• Supervise permanent, temporary, contract, and volunteer staff on a project basis.
• Identify problems and work to resolve them.
• Prepare comprehensive reports, letters, and other written materials.
• Provide information regarding planning, developing, and monitoring a project's scope, timeline, and budget.
• Translate technical topics for professionals and elected officials and communicate across multiple disciplines.
• Research and develop grant applications and other project funding solutions.
• Research and analyze information/data to formulate findings and recommendations.
• Interpret laws, regulations, and data.
• Track and monitor compliance with pertinent mandates, laws, codes, rules, regulations, and agreements.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

This eligible (hiring) list generated from this recruitment may also be used to fill future vacancies, so those interested in the Senior Sustainability Specialist position in one or any of the other working group(s) are encouraged to apply during this recruitment.

ABOUT THE SUSTAINABILITY DEPARTMENT

The Sustainability Department is committed to building innovative solutions that address today’s changing environment while solving for a sustainable future. Through our comprehensive programs we lead efforts to combat and adapt to climate change, ensure access to clean energy, water, and air, and conserve resources through effective waste reduction strategies.

We know work isn't only about what you do, it’s also about who you work for and with! The Sustainability Department has a fun and supportive work environment that supports a work-life balance, including:

• Flexible, hybrid work schedule opportunities.
• Wellness classes and resources.
• Generous benefits package.
• Subsidy of up to $150 per month to cover the costs of public transit, vanpooling, carpooling, and bike and scooter share, or up to $480 per year for walking, biking, or carpooling to work. 
• At least 20 hours of annual training.

Application/Examination:

Open & Promotional. Anyone may apply.  Current County of San Mateo and County of San Mateo Superior Court of California employees with at least six months (1040 hours) of continuous service in a classified regular, probationary, extra-help/limited term positions prior to the final filing date will receive five points added to their final passing score on this examination.

Responses to the supplemental questions must be submitted in addition to our regular employment application form. A resume will not be accepted as a substitute for the required employment application and supplemental questionnaire.  

The examination process will consist of an application screening (weight: pass/fail) based on the candidates' application and responses to the supplemental questions. Candidates who pass the application screening will be invited to a panel interview (weight: 100%) which may include a performance exam. Depending on the number of applicants, an application appraisal of education and experience may be used in place of other examinations or further evaluation of work experience may be conducted to group applicants by level of qualification. All applicants who meet the minimum qualifications are not guaranteed advancement through any subsequent phase of the examination. All examinations will be given in County of San Mateo, California and applicants must participate at their own expense.  
  
TENTATIVE RECRUITMENT SCHEDULE: 

Application Deadline: Monday, December 15, 2025, at 11:59 PM

Application Screening: December 16-19, 2025

Combined Panel and Departmental Interviews (virtual): January 7-8, 2025

Finalist Interviews (in person): January 14, 2025
   

About the County