Description

The City of Palo Alto

invites applications for the positions of

Sustainability Programs Administrator / Associate Sustainability Programs Administrator

The Department

The City of Palo Alto has provided a full range of utility services (electric, gas, water, and sewer) for over 100 years, and the Utilities Department is one of the only publicly owned gas utilities in the State of California. City of Palo Alto Utilities (CPAU) serves a highly engaged community and has been on the forefront of sustainability, with 100% carbon neutral electric and gas portfolios. CPAU is working to provide safe and reliable services at reasonable rates while also helping the city meet its environmental sustainability goals.

The Position

The City is seeking to hire one or more Sustainability Programs Administrators to work within its Utilities Program Services (UPS) group. The UPS group is part of the Resource Management Division of the City’s Utilities Department. Resource Management is responsible for both the procurement of supply and the delivery of customer programs to promote efficiency and GHG emission reductions in alignment with the City’s Sustainability and Climate Action Plan (S/CAP).

The mission of the UPS group is to help customers use energy and water more efficiently, lower utility bills, and reduce their carbon footprint, while also meeting utility legislative mandates. Strategies range from promoting electric vehicle infrastructure to advancing building electrification for cleaner, safer and more comfortable built environments. UPS team members develop and oversee highly effective programs for residential and commercial customers, while also leading a wide range of education and outreach campaigns throughout the community.

The Sustainability Programs Administrator position is especially important at this time when Palo Alto City Council has identified addressing climate change as a priority. As cities across the nation and across the globe strive to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, Palo Alto is committed to lead by example through its Sustainability and Climate Action Plan. The Sustainability Programs Administrator plays a key role in this effort by implementing programs that help residents and businesses switch to clean fuels and adopt practices that minimize emissions and conserve energy and water resources.

The successful candidate will lead programs targeting one of two key areas: (1) Building electrification and e-mobility infrastructure for multi-family residential and small to medium commercial properties; or, (2) Electrification and power efficient design for single-family homes. Both sectors present unique challenges that require an experienced and knowledgeable program administrator.

The UPS group is well-resourced, with three UPS Managers, five Sustainability Programs Administrator staff, two Associate Sustainability Programs Administrators, two commercial key account representatives, a business analyst, and support staff. Funding for programs includes $3.7 million per year from a Public Benefits surcharge, approximately $1.2 million per year from Low Carbon Fuel Standard funds, approximately $1 million per year in Local Decarbonization funds for building electrification, plus occasional grant funding.

Ideal Candidates

CPAU is seeking candidates with experience in complex energy and electrification program marketing, education, outreach, and implementation efforts. Experience delivering programs focused on building and transportation electrification for single-family homes, multifamily properties, and/or commercial properties under 50,000 square feet is highly desirable. Familiarity with clean energy technologies such as heat pumps, electric vehicle infrastructure, load management solutions, solar, and battery energy storage is also preferred.

We are looking for candidates who work well with both internal team members and external stakeholders, are experienced in formulating customer-focused approach to ensure programs meet community needs and are adept at workload management and prioritization. Ability to analyze program and customer data using spreadsheet applications and/or databases to monitor program performance and develop new program recommendations is important. Candidates should have excellent writing and presentation skills.

Depending on the applicant’s qualifications, the position will be filled at the appropriate level/salary of either: Sustainability Programs Administrator ($121,097.60 - $148,116.80 Annually) or Associate Sustainability Programs Administrator ($109,512.00 - $133,899.60 Annually).

The Associate Sustainability Programs Administrator class differs from the higher classification of Sustainability Program Administrator in that the incumbents of the latter class are responsible for assignments of a more complex nature.

Join us at CPAU and play a vital part in preserving the unique benefits of locally-owned utilities for the Palo Alto community, while making a lasting impact on regional sustainability and climate resilience!

Compensation (SEIU): Comprehensive compensation plan. To learn more, click here.

Benefits: The City offers a fantastic benefits package including:

Schedule: Option of a 9/80 work schedule with every other Friday off
Hybrid work: Ability to work remotely and onsite (current policy allows for 2 days/week remote and 3 days/week on-site)
Professional development: Tuition reimbursement, leadership training, and career growth opportunities
Education benefits: Potential enrollment for dependents in the Palo Alto Unified School District (pilot program, subject to change)
Childcare support: $10,000 in childcare subsidies (pilot program, subject to change)
Commute benefits: Incentives for walking, biking and taking transit to work. The City of Palo Alto participates in the Clipper Bay Pass program (Employee Cost: $5 per month).
Defined-Benefit Retirement Plan: with competitive pension benefits

To learn more about benefits, clickhere.

This position is part of the Service Employees' International Union (SEIU)

Essential Duties

Essential and other important responsibilities and duties may include, but are not limited to, the following:

Program Administration
Leads the design and launch of electrification programs by developing RFPs, evaluating vendor proposals, and negotiating contracts. Monitors emerging technologies and market trends to inform program strategy development. Identifies and pursues funding opportunities through grants and sponsorships, and ensures programs effectively meet customer needs. Manages program budgets and expenditures, ensuring fiscal accountability and alignment with program goals. Assesses program effectiveness and incorporate industry best practices to enhance CPAU’s program offerings.

Program Management
Oversees the daily operations of sustainability programs to ensure they stay on schedule, within budget, and meet performance goals. Coordinates teams, tracks progress, and implements improvements to internal systems and processes. Conducts rebate application reviews and performs site inspections to verify project eligibility and compliance. Collaborates across City departments to support program delivery, addresses customer inquiries and escalations, and provides training and guidance to other team members to ensure consistent program implementation.

Program Marketing & Outreach

Partners with communications teams and vendors to design, implement, and evaluate marketing, education, and outreach campaigns, including planning, promoting, and delivering workshops, presentations, and other community-facing events. Collaborates with industry organizations and advocacy groups to expand and enhance program reach and impact. Represents CPAU in local and statewide forums to advocate for sustainability initiatives and engage with key stakeholders.

To see full job description of Sustainability Programs Administrator, click here.

To see full job description of Associate Sustainability Programs Administrator, click here.

Minimum Qualifications

Sufficient education, training and/or work experience to demonstrate possession of the following knowledge, skills and abilities, which would typically be acquired through:

Sustainability Programs Administrator

Bachelor’s degree in physical or environmental sciences, engineering, business, marketing, economics or related field; and,
Four years of professional experience in a utility or energy service company, municipal planning, architectural, construction or related field, with preference for energy efficiency program implementation, energy/water end-use analysis or related work.

NOTE: Master’s degree in Business Administration, Engineering, or other related field may be considered in lieu of one year of experience.

Special Requirements: Possession of a valid California Driver’s License.

Associate Sustainability Programs Administrator

Bachelor’s degree in physical or environmental sciences, engineering, business, marketing, economics or related field; and,
One year of professional experience in a utility or energy service company, municipal planning, architectural, construction or related field, with preference for program implementation, sales, marketing or customer contact experience related to energy efficiency, renewable energy, or sustainability.
Energy/water end-use analysis or related work.

NOTE: Master’s degree in Business Administration, Engineering, or other related field may be considered in lieu of one year of experience.

Special Requirements: Possession of a valid California Driver’s License.

Supplemental Information

The Selection Process:

Applicants must upload a professional resume and a cover letter highlighting their experience and interest in the position as attachments to their application.
More than one position may be filled as a result of this recruitment process.
The eligibility list developed from this recruitment process may be used to fill future vacancies at either the Associate Sustainability Programs Administrator or Sustainability Programs Administrator levels.
Applicants will receive recruitment status notifications via email. Governmentjobs.com account also has notification status updates.
Applicants will be screened throughout the posting process and highly qualified candidates may be invited to interview at any time.
The screening process for this position typically may include a virtual recorded interview and/or panel interviews preceding final interviews with the hiring manager or their designee.

Our online application system is provided by NeoGov. If you have problems while applying online, please contact NeoGov's Live Applicant Support at (855) 524-5627 between 6:00 AM and 5:00 PM Pacific Time, Monday - Friday.

The City of Palo Alto is an Equal Opportunity Employer. In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, the City will provide reasonable accommodation to qualified individuals with disabilities and encourages both prospective and current employees to discuss potential accommodations with the employer.

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