The City of Bloomington is seeking an individual to plan, coordinate, and track sustainability efforts to meet the City's climate and conservation goals.
CITY VALUES & EXPECTATIONS
- Develops, supports, and models a positive and productive workplace culture based on respect, dignity, honesty, and integrity. Allows staff to grow and succeed by providing opportunities for increased responsibility and creating a positive work culture
- Supports and advances organizational development efforts such as developing a high-performing organization, employee engagement, workforce development, inclusion and equity, and performance measurement efforts
- Works cooperatively with others; develops and maintains respectful and effective working relationships with diverse coworkers and community members; consistently brings a high level of self-awareness and empathy to all personal interactions
- Proactively resolves conflicts and misunderstandings in order to ensure a respectful and inclusive workplace
- Seeks to understand the legacy of structural racism, and its impact on employees and the residents we serve; identifies any implications and adverse equity impacts when developing or reviewing policies, projects, activities, and interactions with stakeholders
- Embraces the City's shared values and contributes towards accomplishing the City's vision and goals by being creative, innovative, continuously learning, and communicating clearly
- Assists in managing change to ensure conservation and sustainability are emphasized as part of Bloomington’s culture and standard operating procedures
- Coordinates the development and implementation of climate mitigation and/or resiliency plans, ordinances, policies, and/or programs involving the facilitation and collaboration of elected and appointed officials, utilities, businesses, nonprofits, government institutions, educational institutions, and residents
- Identifies the need for, requests, analyzes, and interprets data related to energy, transportation, climate, and other sustainability-related topics
- Uses data to educate, plan, set goals, evaluate strategies, make recommendations, and show the connection between sustainability, racial equity, and health
- Partner with teams across the organization to execute sustainability initiatives that are led by others, like natural environment, water, waste diversion, and provide assistance and direction as necessary
- Assists in maintaining Bloomington’s community-wide greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions inventory. Researches, updates, and improves methodologies for GHG emissions accounting, where possible, to make emissions estimates more accurate and useful for incentivizing emissions reductions
- Develops critical relationships, collaborates, and builds trust and credibility with both internal and external partners to advance the City’s sustainability goals and objectives. Partners include City staff from all departments, City Council, boards & commissions community leaders, contractors, Bloomington’s Chamber of Commerce, business owners, the media, nonprofits, energy utilities, residents, public officials, and government agencies.
- Serves as a sustainability expert to the public, staff, and elected and appointed officials; proactively educates and responds to requests for guidance.
- Researches, plans, and collaborates with City staff to advance the City of Bloomington’s sustainability goals and the Sustainability Commission’s work plan.
- Prepares written documents, council reports, studies, resolutions, proposals, letters, memos, e-subscribes, articles, flyers, etc., to convey sustainability information and make recommendations to City leadership, City Council, boards and commissions, community partners, and the general public
- Presents climate change information, sustainability proposals, and environmental program updates to City staff, contractors, the media, City Council, boards & commissions, community leaders, nonprofits, energy utilities, Bloomington’s Chamber of Commerce, businesses, residents, public officials, government agencies, and students
- Engages community stakeholders to drive action around the City’s sustainability goals
- Develops, manages, and administers community-wide social engagement and outreach programs that influence residents’ behavior and practices to reach the City’s sustainability goals; advances programs that engage City employees in sustainability initiatives
- Initiates and develops opportunities to create internal awareness with other departments on issues related to sustainability and climate change.
- Understands, plans for, and prioritizes the effective use of City resources
- Researches, applies for, and monitors grants and funding sources related to sustainability and the environment
- Represents the City on local, regional, and national sustainability-related boards, councils, committees, and task forces
- Serve as Sustainability Commission secretary and fill in as staff liaison as necessary
- Interviews, retains, and manages consultants, as necessary, and oversees contracts to conduct projects, studies, and independent reviews related to the implementation of the City’s sustainability goals
KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, & ABILITIES REQUIRED
- Ability to serve as a climate mitigation and resiliency expert and support the City’s strategic planning and implementation efforts to address climate change
- Ability to lead the development and implementation of plans, ordinances, policies, and/or programs related to reducing greenhouse gas emissions in the energy and/or transportation sector
- Experience working with organizations, including but not limited to: energy utilities, energy program and service providers, the Department of Commerce, the PUC, MnDOT, Met Council, DOE, research organizations, nonprofits, etc.
- Ability to identify the need for, request, analyze, interpret, and manage the communication of energy, transportation, climate, and other sustainability-related data
- Ability to use data to educate, plan, set goals, evaluate strategies, and make recommendations
- Ability to coordinate multiple projects across the organization at the same time, and the ability to prioritize, plan, and organize work to ensure completion of multiple work components within a specific, structured, and/or limited timeframe involving overlapping and complex deadlines
- Ability to maintain effective working relationships with City staff from all departments, City Council, boards & commissions, community leaders, contractors, Bloomington’s Chamber of Commerce, business owners, the media, nonprofits, energy utilities, residents, public officials, and government agencies
- Ability to effectively facilitate discussions involving multiple stakeholders, complex problems, systems change, sensitive topics, and significant political and budget implications
- Ability to demonstrate highly polished written and oral communication and interpersonal skills with people of diverse cultural, economic, and/or ethnic backgrounds
- Ability to write grants, resolutions, council reports, studies, proposals, budget documents, letters, memos, e-subscribes, articles, flyers, scripts, etc.
- Ability to develop and implement communication, community-based social marketing, and/or engagement plans
- Ability to plan and deliver community events
- Ability to present simple and complex information in a public setting, and provide technical knowledge of the subject matter
- Ability to represent the City on local, regional, and national sustainability-related boards, councils, committees, and task forces
- Ability to initiate research and stay up-to-date on energy and transportation technology, infrastructure, and project opportunities to help Bloomington achieve climate and sustainability goals
- Ability to ensure sustainability programs and goals meet the goals and objectives of the City’s strategic priorities
- Ability to adhere to and comply with confidentiality and data practices
- Ability to plan, organize, and lead teams
- Ability to work a flexible schedule including evenings and weekends
- Ability to supervise seasonal interns
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS
- Bachelor's degree in Environmental Science/Studies, Environmental Education, Planning, Sustainability, or closely related fields; OR an equivalent combination of education and relevant experiences (ex. AA Degree in closely related field and 3 years of experience in sustainability work, High School Diploma and 5 years of sustainability work experience)
- 2 years of experience successfully managing the development and implementation of climate or sustainability plans, ordinances, policies, and/or programs involving the facilitation and collaboration of elected and appointed officials, energy utilities, businesses, nonprofits, government institutions, educational institutions, and residents
- Experience writing and editing for a wide array of audiences, making scientific or environmental information understandable and relatable to the general audience
- Experience in processing, analyzing, and interpreting energy, transportation, climate-related data and/or other sustainable data
- Experience presenting simple and complex energy, transportation, climate-related data and/or other sustainable data in a public setting
- Experience developing and implementing communication, community-based social marketing, and/or engagement plans
- Experience successfully working with diverse populations effectively
- Proficiency in Microsoft Office, specifically Outlook, Word, PowerPoint, Excel
- Valid driver’s license
DESIRABLE QUALIFICATIONS
- A Master's Degree in Environmental Science/Studies, Planning, Public Policy, Sustainability, or related field
- Knowledge of sustainable design principles
- Experience in providing leadership and direction in meeting program goals and interdepartmental cooperation
- Two years of experience of supervising staff
- Experience serving as a technical expert in a greenhouse gas reduction strategy related to the transportation and/or energy sectors
- Ability to speak a second language, in addition to English that has a recognized presence in the community. (Spanish, Somali, Vietnamese, Chinese Mandarin, Cambodian, etc.)
SUPERVISION OF OTHERS
This position does supervise others.
Anticipated Hiring Range: $94,428 – $102,133 Annually
2026 Full Salary Range: $94,428 – $129,231 Annually
Full-Time; Exempt; Non-Union; Benefits Eligible
The City of Bloomington is an Equal Opportunity Employer and is committed to creating a diverse workforce that reflects the community we serve. Applicants who are black, indigenous or persons of color are encouraged to apply. We also encourage women, veterans, members of the LGBTQIA community, and individuals with disabilities to apply.
The position description does not constitute an employment agreement between the employer and employee and is subject to change by the employer as the needs of the employer and requirements of the job change
