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Chief Climate Officer

Chief Climate Officer

City of CambridgeMassachusetts, 344 Broadway
30+ days ago
Job description

ABOUT THE EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT :

The Office of Sustainability will sit within Cambridge’s Executive Department (also known as the Office of the City Manager). As Cambridge’s Chief Executive Officer, the City Manager supervises and manages all City Departments, recommends policies and programs to the City Council, and implements City Council legislation. The City Manager’s Office collaborates with the City Council and city departments on the shared mission to serve the Cambridge community and build a better city for all.

ABOUT THE ROLE : The Chief Climate Officer is a new position that will report directly to the City Manager. This position will be responsible for leading the Cambridge Office of Sustainability and climate efforts across City departments. The office will be responsible for executing a comprehensive decarbonization and resilience strategyincluding overseeing the implementation and prioritization of the Climate Action Plan. The ideal candidate will be a strong people leader and strategic thinker, who collaboratively achieves tangible outcomes for the environment by engaging across City departments, boards and committees, and in the community. This role will be a member of the senior cabinet and a key advisor to the City Manager, providing substantive input and technical advice in the development, implementation, and assessment of programs and policies.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES :

Climate Strategy and Leadership

Responsible for developingshort, medium and long-term strategy to achieve Cambridge’s climategoals.

Oversee the development, implementation, and evaluation of the City’skey climate programsacross City Departments and external partners

Lead partnership with multiple stakeholders including City Council,City Departments, boards and committees, external partners, businesses and community members

Facilitate access to property owner incentives and other climate-related program funding opportunities

Deepen an ever-evolving knowledge base on latest energy technology, infrastructure, and project opportunities

Recommend and support sustainability and resiliency guidelines and policies with City leadership

Climate Operations

Oversee the implementation and prioritization of the Climate Action Plan to achieve the City’s climate objectives, working closely with the Climate Action Committee

Implement and report on the City Community Electricity Aggregation program, including coordination across departments, public education

Prepare and present presentations to City Council, Planning Board, and other committees and departments as needed

Oversee data collection efforts, including greenhouse gas baseline and inventory and commercial suppliers and manage energy use databases; set goals and track progress against key performance indicators

Manage the department budget, explores potential grants and other funding sources for future sustainability initiatives, and prepares funding request applications, as needed.

Perform related duties as required

Team Development and Management

Build and strengthen the climate team, identifyingand filling key missing roles

Supervise staff, providing ongoing mentorship and career development support

Establish a high-performing culture for this new department

Interview, retain, and manage external consultants, as necessary, to conduct studies, projects and reviews

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS :

Experience and Education :

10+ years of experience in climate / sustainability and 5+ of management level experience that demonstrates the ability to perform the essential functions of the role

Experience building, leading, and motivating high-performing teams in comprehensive assignments

Experience in project management, including the ability to identify, develop, and deploy resources across multiple initiatives and navigate complex relationships

Track record of driving effective solution execution to complex problems and mediating alignment across stakeholders

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities :

Commitment to environmental justice to address systemic disparities in environmental burdens, including air pollution and associated adverse health effects

Ability to build and maintain strong, collaborative relationships

Excellent communication, presentation, and analytical skills with high attention to detail

Ability to think strategically and identify key emerging climate issues and related policy implications at local, state, federal, and global level

Demonstrated ability to provide innovative technical leadership by performing and coordinating with others to ensure the integrated planning, development, implementation, and financing of policies and projects.

Familiarity with federal, state, and local regulatory requirements applicable to climate

Understanding of building and zoning codes

Deep sense of humility, curiosity, and learning-orientation

High ethical standards and personal integrity

The City of Cambridge's workforce, like the community it serves, is diverse. Applicants must have the ability to work and interact effectively with individuals and groups with a variety of identities, cultures, backgrounds, and ideologies

Preferred Qualifications :

Knowledge of Cambridge preferred

Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) accreditation

Advanced degree (MBA, PhD, or MS in environmental science)

Experience establishing a new department, division or team

SUMMARY OF BENEFITS :

  • Competitive health, dental, and vision insurance
  • Vacation and Sick leave eligible
  • Paid Parental Leave
  • Sick Incentive Pay Eligible
  • 3 Personal days
  • 14 Paid Holidays
  • Management Allowance, $2,700 / year
  • City employee commuter benefits (T-Pass reimbursement Bluebikes membership, EZRide Shuttle membership)

REQUIRED DOCUMENTS :

Please upload the following documents to complete your application :

  • Resume
  • Cover Letter