Sustainability Associate – Building Decarbonization

About the Opportunity 

Start Date: September 2nd, 2025

Length of Fellowship: 10 months

Want to help local governments and communities cut emissions and transition to cleaner energy? As a Sustainability Associate – Building Decarbonization in the Climate Corps Fellowship program, you’ll have the opportunity to contribute to impactful climate resiliency & sustainability initiatives with San Mateo County. This is a hybrid position with the expectation of onsite work 2-3 days per week, and remote work 2-3 days.

This position requires the employee to be physically located in Redwood City, CA, at the time of hire. Only candidates currently residing within commuting distance of the location will be considered.

The Building Decarbonization Fellowship offers an exciting opportunity to advance the Sustainability Department's mission by working on the San Mateo County Energy Watch and Bay Area Regional Energy Network programs. The Fellow will help municipalities plan for decarbonizing their facilities by assisting them with energy benchmarking and cataloging methane gas equipment. The Fellow will also develop coordinated communications and community engagement initiatives to help residents take advantage of incentives and programs for energy upgrades. You’ll collaborate with the Sustainability Department while gaining hands-on experience and making a tangible difference in the sustainability & climate sector.

Projects you will be working on include:

Municipal Decarbonization Planning  

• Methane Gas Cataloging.  
• Energy Benchmarking. 
• Developing Case Studies. 

Community Outreach for Residential Energy Programs 

• Assisting with the development of marketing materials. 
• Creating promotional strategies in collaboration with community organizations. 
• Working with the social media team to develop content. 
• Supporting event management.

This is an exciting opportunity for someone who enjoys communicating with facilities staff and other community members and wants hands-on experience of municipal building operations and decarbonization planning. This position offers a unique opportunity to develop your professional skills, grow your network, and contribute to San Mateo County’s sustainability goals. 

About Our Partner: San Mateo County

The San Mateo County Sustainability Department strives to improve the sustainability of the County’s operations and the greater community through work in areas of renewable energy and energy efficiency, resource conservation, climate resiliency, and greenhouse gas emission reductions. San Mateo County, CA, is centrally located between San Francisco, San Jose, and the East Bay. With over 750,000 residents, San Mateo is one of the largest cities in California.

Here, at the Sustainability Department, we:

• Are passionate about protecting and saving the environment while serving our community.
• Are compassionate and empathetic to the needs of our colleagues, community members, and stakeholders.
• Actively work to ensure inclusion in our programs.
• Value varied life experiences and strive to create a workplace that is welcoming to all. 

What You’ll Do

• The role will mainly focus on helping with decarbonization planning by assisting with building benchmarking, methane gas cataloging, and case study development that showcases successful implementation strategies. These efforts provide essential data and models to accelerate sustainability initiatives in San Mateo County jurisdictions. This position requires frequent fieldwork and site visits as part of the data collection and implementation process.  
• As a key member of the Climate Protection team, you'll support community outreach initiatives to help community members take advantage of BayREN programs. You'll apply creative thinking to develop content that resonates with diverse audiences and craft targeted communication materials that effectively convey complex sustainability concepts across multiple platforms.

What We’re Looking For

• Attention to detail and proficiency in data organization and basic analysis using spreadsheets.
• Project management skills, including the ability to juggle multiple time-sensitive projects at once.
• Basic understanding of energy efficiency and decarbonization in buildings.
• Organizational skills to track multiple project deadlines and deliverables.
• Clear communication via email, phone, and in person to diverse audiences.
• Interest in using communication and design tools for social media platforms and outreach materials.
• Interest in working with communities with varied backgrounds.
• Interest in being out in the field and learning technical aspects of building design and decarbonization.
• A valid CA Driver’s License; you will have access to a County vehicle for site visits.
• A college degree is preferred but not required.
• The ability to work onsite on a hybrid basis (onsite work 2-3 days per week, and remote work 2-3 days).
• Coursework or related experience in environmental fields (e.g., internships, volunteer work) is preferred.
• Commitment to a fair workplace that honors the experiences, voices, viewpoints, and values of all individuals.
• Authorization to work in the United States for the duration of the fellowship (SEI is unable to sponsor visas).
• May require occasional moving about to accomplish tasks, moving from one worksite to another, or adjusting or moving objects under 25-50 pounds in all directions.

We encourage everyone interested in this position to apply, even if you don’t meet every qualification. We value all perspectives and believe that a unique background can bring significant strengths to this role, even if some qualifications are not fully met.

What We Provide and Why This is a Game-Changer for Your Career

• A fixed, monthly stipend of $3570.
• $1000 end-of-program financial award.​
• Health care coverage with 100% of health care insurance premiums covered by the employer.
• Comprehensive career-readiness training, including interview prep, salary negotiation, and resume building.
• Panels, workshops, and networking with climate resilience industry professionals.
• Professional networking and learning opportunities.
• University of California Climate Stewards Certification equips you to lead community and ecosystem resilience initiatives.