Climate Programs Associate

ABOUT THE POSITION

The Community Environmental Council (CEC) is seeking a highly motivated and dedicated Climate Programs Associate to join our team and lead efforts to advance equitable climate mitigation and community resilience on the Central Coast. 

The Climate Programs Associate will play a crucial role in CEC's mission to promote just and sustainable solutions for the environment, economy and community by working on key tasks for a variety of CEC projects that aim to achieve rapid and equitable greenhouse gas emission reductions and carbon zero communities. CEC views the Associate role as an opportunity to develop and grow project management, community engagement, and policy advocacy skills to advance goals and objectives that personally impact our community’s most pressing climate justice concerns.

The Climate Programs Associate will contribute to implementing a portfolio of projects that focus on electric vehicle infrastructure (EVI), clean mobility equity, and building decarbonization. These projects promote and deliver the direct benefits of renewable energy and transportation solutions to climate impacted communities throughout Ventura, Santa Barbara, and San Luis Obispo Counties. These projects have a strong focus on culturally and linguistically accessible outreach, engagement, and communications activities to ensure that resources are deployed in a just and equitable way in collaboration with communities.

PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES

• Implement work plans and timelines with the support of CEC’s management team to deliver projects on schedule. Escalate concerns about timelines and delivery quickly and efficiently when identified.
• Drive assignments to completion with accuracy and in the assigned time frame.
• Collect, document, and organize information for projects; assess and bring potential recommendations for actions based on input from partners and project stakeholders.
• Partner with other CEC programs to align and coordinate work efforts, occasionally working with other departments and teams to facilitate collaboration and impact across programs.
• Provide information as needed for CEC’s Board of Directors, including contributing to staff reports and periodically preparing and presenting program-specific discussions at Board meetings.
• Inform, support and bring your lived experience and perspective to the organization’s goal setting processes for Climate programs and projects.
• In collaboration with your manager and team members, identify specific actions CEC can take to deliver CEC projects/programs with our region’s underserved communities in our region.
• Track funding opportunities and support the development of grant applications to secure funding awards.
• Complete administrative tasks that support grant agreements, reporting, and budget management.
• Track and maintain data on progress towards CEC's 2026 - 2029 Strategic Plan and internal Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Justice goals.
• Support organization-wide culture-building efforts related to diversity, equity, inclusion, and justice (DEIJ). Carry out responsibilities in ways that reflect awareness of DEIJ principles, and participate in organization-wide learning and culture-building efforts. Support tracking and reporting related to progress toward CEC’s Strategic Plan and internal DEIJ goals as relevant. 

ADDITIONAL RESPONSIBILITIES

• Gather data to measure and evaluate outcomes for Climate Program projects. Develop draft reports to communicate project results. 
• Provide content, data, and outcomes to the CEC’s Communications Team for use in developing programmatic materials, i.e. websites, blogs, e-blasts, articles, videos, annual impact report and other items as requested.
• Provides support on related tasks as needed to ensure overall team and organizational success.
• Share CEC’s work with the community, in English and Spanish, and engage with external partners and community members to improve CEC collaborations with the communities we serve.  
• Attend meetings and public events, representing CEC in a positive, professional manner and collecting the data and insights gained so they can be acted on to better serve communities.
• Represent CEC in regional, state or national networks as necessary. May include participation in local government or stakeholder committees, including providing coordination support as needed.
• Attend meetings with consultants, Board or Board Committees and President's Council  as requested

SKILLS AND QUALIFICATIONS

• Two or more years of professional work experience, preferably in a field focused on climate change, energy, transportation/mobility, climate policy, community resilience, and/or environmental justice.
• Fluency in Spanish and English is strongly preferred for this role
• A Bachelor's degree in a relevant field is preferred, but a degree is not required. We will gladly consider demonstrated experience that directly relates to the position in lieu of a degree.
• Demonstrated experience in a role that required effective written and oral communication skills, including interpersonal networking skills, public speaking, and relationship building.
• Aptitude with Microsoft Office Suite and the ability to learn and use file sharing systems such as Google Drive and Microsoft OneDrive.
• Commitment to CEC’s mission and programs, including community-centered climate action that reduces carbon emissions and advances equity.
• Openness to adopting new perspectives and beliefs on how our organization addresses and solves difficult challenges in fast-changing global and local contexts.

WORK ENVIRONMENT AND PHYSICAL DEMAND

• Residence in Ventura, Santa Barbara or San Luis Obispo counties is required.
• This position works a 60/40 in-office/hybrid schedule with 3 days per week based in CEC’s downtown Santa Barbara HUB and 2 days working remotely from home
• Office is a business casual environment

JOB STATUS

• 40 hours/week
• Hourly, Non-Exempt position eligible for overtime pay

DIVERSITY, EQUITY & INCLUSION: CEC is committed to fostering a workplace culture grounded in diversity, equity, inclusion, and justice, including a commitment to anti-racism. All staff are expected to contribute to an environment that supports belonging, respect, open sharing of ideas, and equitable outcomes for colleagues and the communities we serve. 

EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY: CEC does not discriminate based on race, ethnicity, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, genetics, disability, age, or veteran status. We strongly encourage all qualified candidates to apply.