Host: Sierra Business Council
Region: Greater Sacramento
Openings: 1
Project Focus: Climate Adaptation, Climate Mitigation, Energy Efficiency, Renewable Energy
Skills Needed: Project Management, Data Analysis, Self-Motivated

Service Needs & Plans

Sierra Business Council (SBC) is a non-profit that serves the Sierra Nevada region. SBC catalyzes and demonstrates innovative approaches and solutions to increase community vitality, economic prosperity, environmental quality, and social fairness in our region. We act as stewards of the Sierra Nevada, taking responsibility for the care and responsible management of our place, guided by the triple bottom line that considers the economy, environment, and community simultaneously.

Sierra Nevada communities are already facing wildfire, flooding, declining snowpack, drought, tree mortality, and other climate-related impacts. The lack of funding and technical resources in many of the region’s rural local governments poses a challenge for these communities in preparing to face climate risks. We are seeking an enthusiastic and passionate individual to support SBC’s Climate & Energy programs, specifically the Sierra Nevada Energy Watch (SNEW) program, working with local governments and public agencies in the Sierra Nevada.The SNEW program expands energy efficiency in the Sierra, empowering local action, eliminating barriers to a clean energy future, establishing climate resiliency, and saving communities money. SNEW serves Alpine, Amador, Butte, Calaveras, El Dorado, Lassen, Mariposa, Nevada, Placer, Plumas, Sierra, Sutter, Tuolumne, and Yuba counties. This fellowship would help catalyze energy efficiency and greenhouse gas reduction activities within a couple of the listed jurisdictions, as well as more broadly throughout the 14-county region.

Through SBC’s climate action programs, SNEW, and the Sierra Climate Adaptation and Mitigation Partnership (Sierra CAMP), the Fellow will have the opportunity to engage in the following activities:

• Climate & Energy Project Management – supporting Sierra Nevada public agencies develop and implement energy management plans to achieve sustainability and climate change goals. The Fellow will work with jurisdictions to provide educational materials and trainings, energy consumption analysis, energy reduction strategies, energy project identification and facilitation, progress tracking, and other capacity-building activities
• Capacity Building – engaging with Sierra leaders in government, business, academia, and community groups to share best practices, identify critical needs, and conduct research, education, and outreach around regional-specific climate and energy action.

Learn more about SBC and our climate and energy programs at sierrabusiness.org.

Project Description

The state encourages the public sector to reduce their energy consumption, become more energy efficient, and cut greenhouse gas emissions. To comply with the state’s energy goals, jurisdictions are mandated to comply with building energy code regulations and encouraged to develop Energy and Climate Action Plans. These actions help the community be more self-sufficient and economically resilient in order to respond to future increases in energy prices and impacts due to climate change. Many local governments in the Sierra Nevada lack the capacity and budget to thoroughly analyze their energy use, climate impacts, and develop plans to increase their energy efficiency, renewable energy, and water efficiency. SBC’s Climate & Energy team works closely with local governments and community members to analyze their respective energy and climate action, and develop projects and plans that will make them more resilient, efficient, and vibrant. The Fellow will join the Climate & Energy team’s efforts to work with local government staff and community members to implement their respective plans and identify projects that will help them realize the most energy savings.

As part of the fellowship, the CivicSpark Fellow will support the Capacity Building Project: Energy Action Planning and Implementation with the anticipated outcome of supporting Sierra Nevada local governments and public agencies in the development and implementation of energy management projects and plans (including the identification of energy efficiency projects through the energy management services process).

Some of the anticipated deliverables are:

• Development and implementation of an energy management plan, including energy efficiency projects, through the Sierra Nevada Energy Watch energy management services process.
• Support jurisdiction staff in identifying climate and energy projects, using implementation resources, supporting research, developing analysis, and tracking progress.
• Coordination of climate and energy outreach and education events and development of outreach materials for the jurisdiction.
• Support partnerships and collaborative opportunities through Sierra CAMP activities.

Desired Skills

The ideal candidate will have a willingness and capability to engage with public agency staff, community members, and stakeholders on a variety of climate and energy issues faced by rural, mountain communities. This person will be a self-starter, prepared to dive in and take ownership over their work and balance multiple ongoing, multi-faceted projects. Comprehensive research and writing skills, both technical and narrative, are also important, as is a demonstrated ability to recognize the importance of the triple bottom line as the underpinning for the social, environmental, and economic vitality of Sierra Nevada communities. The candidate should display an ability to learn on the job and be flexible and adaptable. An excellent attention to detail, as well as an ability to prioritize workload effectively, are also skills SBC hopes for in a candidate. Desirable technical skills include an understanding of energy consumption analysis, energy efficiency strategies, and energy management plans, as well as California and national climate planning and policy.

Organization & Community Highlights

SBC is located in Truckee, which is a vibrant outdoor recreation hub in the Sierra Nevada, a 22-county forested mountain region, with close proximity to outdoor attractions like world-renowned ski destinations, Lake Tahoe, the Truckee River, and the Pacific Crest Trail. SBC’s workplace culture supports a lifestyle that is based on a passion for the environment, recreation, and the close-knit, small-town communities that characterize the region. Truckee is characterized by four seasons, and can experience 90 degree beach-worthy weather in the summer, crisp and colorful autumn tree foliage in the fall, and 20 degree, 3-foot deep snowy powder days in the winter. Staff are based in Truckee, but also South Lake Tahoe, Nevada City, Auburn, and other surrounding nearby towns.

The SBC office is an environment where staff are encouraged to take initiative, work across programs, and support each others’ projects. Fellows will be exposed to and offered opportunities to expand their professional development through SBC’s climate and energy programs, economic empowerment programs, policy and legislative advocacy programs, housing programs, and sustainable recreation programs. Part of SBC’s work involves relationship building with community stakeholders, such as meetings and coordination, presentations and educational activities, and development of informational content to support program work. All SBC programs are designed to address community, economic, and social issues together (the triple bottom line approach), and SBC prioritizes equity and access to opportunity for the region’s populations. SBC supervising staff are approachable and professional development-oriented and are available to help project staff with training and career goals. All SBC staff have opportunities to sit in on board meetings, strategic discussions, and SBC program events.

SBC’s workplace culture prioritizes opportunities for interaction and engagement beyond work, to build positive relationships and community with your co-workers. This has been somewhat impacted by pandemic remote work transitions, however, even remotely we still try to foster a supportive and friendly environment with good and open communication. Our supervision method is a balance of autonomy with clear guidance and goals. SBC also respects work-life balance and allows for flexibility in schedules.

Remote or On-Site Placement

SBC operates as a hybrid workplace, 1-2 days/week in-office, most days working remotely from home, depending on pandemic safety considerations. The position will require some travel (in-field based activities) to various Sierra Nevada jurisdictions and public agencies, assuming pandemic mandates and safety precautions allow in-person meetings.