Position Description

Work, Serve, Thrive. With the City of Durham
Advance in your career while making a real difference in the community you serve.

Hiring Range: $ 72,731.00 to $ 112,742.00

Hours/Shift: Monday-Friday 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM, occasional evening hours required

The Senior Sustainability and Energy Analyst position is, at its core, a role for an experienced data analyst with excellent research, writing, and strategic-thinking capabilities. This role will focus on collecting, organizing, and analyzing datasets and published research that are essential for the Sustainability and Resiliency Division (SRD) to understand and incorporate into its mission, goals, and programs. This employee must be able to perform quantitative data analysis in a way that informs SRD priorities and expenditure recommendations, especially those recommendations related to scoping, sequencing, and funding (i) sustainable and ecologically friendly new building development, (ii) existing building sustainability retrofits, electrification of buildings and fleet transportation, (iii) renewable energy options and deployment methods, (iv) innovative stormwater management approaches, and (v) climate resilience programs and projects. This role will provide senior-level program support for carbon neutrality and renewable energy programs, and it will support the strategic development and oversight of new renewable energy, microgrid, battery-energy storage, electric vehicle charging, and carbon sequestration projects.

This position will also require experience with designing, structuring, budgeting and implementing programs and projects that further sustainability and resiliency objectives like those of the SRD. SRD goals, objectives, and programs are guided by the City-County Comprehensive Plan, City of Durham’s Strategic Action Plan, and the City’s Carbon Neutrality and Renewable Energy Action Plan.

The ideal candidate is a strategic thinker who can quickly ascertain key data needed to advance SRD objectives and who will proactively find ways to collect and analyze that data to support evidence-based decision-making and priority-setting by SRD. This person must be detail-oriented and capable of thinking through what different datasets mean, separating what is relevant from what is not, and explaining how relevant pieces of data fit together (or identifying missing or inconsistent information), and then translating that data into actionable solutions. This person will have experience creating, interpreting, and translating both quantitative and qualitative datasets and a demonstrated ability to clearly articulate findings in both narrative and graphic reports, including developing online visualizations appropriate for non-technical audiences. The candidate should be capable of identifying data gaps and designing solutions that can succeed within program constraints.

Duties/Responsibilities

Data & Analytics

Collect, clean, validate, and analyze datasets relevant to energy, greenhouse gas emissions, climate risks, and climate resilience.
Develop analyses that identify trends and inform City investments.
Translate complex findings into concise insights, data stories, and visualizations.

Project Development & Management

Design, budget, and implement sustainability and energy projects aligned with City plans.
Design, develop, inform, and assist in implementing renewable energy, microgrid, battery storage, and electrification projects.

Process Improvement & Governance

Strengthen data systems and workflows across SRD to support continuous improvement.
Identify and understand governance structures, identify areas for process improvement, and ensure data accuracy through established procedures.

Research & Reporting

Conduct benchmarking and performance studies and policy research to guide strategy.
Prepare operational, financial, grant, procurement, and compliance reports.
Maintain websites, databases, and related communication materials.

Community & Interdepartmental Coordination

Support interdepartmental and City-County coordination efforts as well as stakeholder engagement initiatives.
Serve as staff liaison to the City-County Environmental Affairs Board and contribute to its annual report.

Minimum Qualifications & Experience

Bachelor’s degree in sustainability, engineering, or directly related field
Three years of full-time professional and/or analytical experience in area of assignment.

Additional Preferred Skills

Required Competencies

Strategic systems thinking
Strong writing ability
Ability to communicate technical data to non-technical audiences
Comfort working across multiple projects and deadlines
High attention to detail and data accuracy

Preferred Skills, Experience, Credentials and Qualifications

Master’s degree (sustainability, engineering, information systems, public administration, or related field).
7+ years of full-time work experience
Sustainability professional credential, such as LEED AP or WELL AP
Experience with nature-based solutions for stormwater management, carbon sequestration, and climate adaptation
Experience with government budgeting, procurement, and contract processes in North Carolina
Preferred technical skills and areas of expertise: GIS, EV charging infrastructure strategy and deployment, carbon/GHG accounting
Experience with real estate operations and maintenance
Skills in community engagement, outreach, and public education.
Spanish language proficiency.

ADA and Other Requirements

Positions in this class typically require: reaching, standing, walking, fingering, grasping, feeling, talking, hearing, seeing and repetitive motions.
Exerting up to 10 pounds of force occasionally and/or a negligible amount of force frequently or constantly to lift, carry, push, pull or otherwise move objects, including the human body. Sedentary work involves sitting most of the time. Walking and standing are required only occasionally.
Work is performed in an indoor, office and/or outdoor environment.
Incumbents may be expected to travel to external organizations and locations.

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