Broomfield Sustainability Outreach Campaign

Host: City and County of Broomfield
Openings: 1
Project Focus: Affordable Housing, Transportation / Mobility, Public Health, Climate Mitigation, Urban Planning, Energy Efficiency, Renewable Energy, Waste Management, Sustainability Communication
Skills Needed: Project Management, Marketing, Communication

Service Needs & Plans

The City and County of Broomfield (CCOB) recently developed its first-ever Greenhouse Gas Reduction Plan and Zero Waste Plan. The Fellow will be key to designing the communication framework that will be used in launching transportation, zero waste, and energy related programs. Sustainability programs are currently implemented by staff members across multiple departments, so the Fellow will collaborate with other departments to communicate with the public on sustainability program progress and opportunities to engage.

Communications strategies will need to be developed that clearly demonstrate the community benefits that can be achieved through Broomfield’s sustainability actions. Such community benefits include public health, affordable housing, workforce development, and energy equity. The communication framework will focus on diversity, equity, access, and inclusion, so all Broomfield residents have an opportunity to benefit from our programs.

The Fellow will fill a communication and outreach need and will be responsible for helping families, HOAs, nonprofits, schools, and other external organizations learn about how to participate in CCOB sustainability programs. Through events, marketing campaigns, education, and other outreach efforts, this person will amplify and accelerate Broomfield’s efforts towards reaching our GHG reduction goals. CCOB has an internal communications team, and this person will be embedded in the communications team, with ongoing collaboration with the sustainability team.

Project Description

The Fellow will be primarily serving with the sustainability and communications departments to develop messaging and tools that follow Broomfield’s communications protocols, leverage existing resources and dissemination channels, and articulate the community benefits of participating in sustainability programming. In addition to working with sustainability staff, this person will work with other departments (such as transportation, economic vitality, housing, senior services, public health, and others) in developing sustainability marketing campaigns and collateral.

This person will develop a comprehensive framework for all sustainability communications designed with a single goal – getting the public more engaged in sustainability actions. Long-term success would result in increased enrollment in energy efficiency, renewable energy, electric vehicle, public transit, and fuel switching programs.

As it relates to sustainability program communications, the framework will be used as a guide to assist staff in implementing sustainability programs. Tools and templates will need to be created, such as: blog posts, op-eds, articles, case study videos, brochures, newsletters, annual reports, presentation slide decks, and web page copy. Additional tools and templates could include: annual reports, presentation slide decks, a sustainability dashboard, and City Council updates.
The development of the tools and templates used in sustainability communications will be an iterative process and is expected to change as programs are launched. The Fellow will be the primary person updating documents and seeking ways to continuously improve how best communicate sustainability with the public and other departments.

A key aspect to the development of the communication framework will focus on how best to engage with marginalized communities. A critical component of the sustainability communication plan will emphasize diversity, equity, access, and inclusion in our sustainability plans. Other activities will include using available data to target underserved populations for optimal outreach opportunities, whether through in-person workshops, door-to-door canvassing, email blasts, community champions, or translation services. The Fellow will research best practices used in other communities to identify strategies best suited for Broomfield. They will also leverage existing partnerships and seek future partnerships that work with marginalized communities.

Desired Skills

The ideal Fellow need not be a sustainability communications subject matter expert, but should have a background or interest in marketing, communications, graphic design, community outreach, public speaking, sustainability, and/or environmental justice. They will gain skills on outreach strategies, best practices, community engagement, and tracking metrics. They must be able to adapt to change in a fast-moving environment, and have a passion for helping members of the public understand the benefits of integrating sustainability into their lives. Strong organizational skills and writing skills are a must.

Organization & Community Highlights

Broomfield, Colorado, is a suburban city located between Denver and Boulder. Easy access to these urban environments as well as the nearby mountains make Broomfield an attractive place to work and play. Like many US cities, Broomfield is largely a commuter city with little urban density, making it very challenging to reduce transportation greenhouse gas emissions. Broomfield has received technical assistance from ICLEI, the Rocky Mountain Institute, the University of Colorado at Boulder, and the Urban Sustainability Directors Network to identify best practices for carbon reduction strategies in a car-dependent community.

Broomfield and the rest of the Colorado Front-Range communities are on the front lines of climate change. Colorado continues to experience droughts, warming temperatures, and wildfires. In December 2021, a neighboring community experienced a historic urban fire caused by climate change that resulted in 1,000 homes lost. This event has left this area with a new perspective on the impacts of climate change and resilience, and a renewed focus on sustainable solutions. Broomfield continues to see rapid housing and population growth, and is expected to see full growth potential by 2030. The next few years will be critical to implement the policies that influence sustainable development for years to come.

The City and County of Broomfield fosters collaboration and communication within municipal organization and to the community, both of which are critical tools to ensure the success of key sustainability programs. The sustainability department is a small but growing team that relies on internal and external partners to leverage limited resource to meet council priorities. As a team, we are constantly thinking about other stakeholders that may benefit from the work we are doing, making this a great opportunity to collaborate with throughout the city and across the region.

As a sustainability team, we consistently center equity in the design of our programs. The sustainability team works closely with the Diversity, Equity, Access & Inclusion team and the Housing team, both of which are important partners in an upcoming series of community workshops that will help guide our equity-centered sustainability approach.

In the past few years, the CCOB has put a lot of focus and momentum into its path towards environmental sustainability, making this a great professional development experience for someone that wants to be part of a new team with lots of opportunities for new ideas.

Remote or On-Site Placement

Although some of the work can be performed remotely, it is imperative that the Fellow be able to interact with and visit the community. Currently, staff perform their duties in hybrid mode, with in-person meetings as often as schedules permit.

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