Environmental Specialist

Campus Compact is hiring a full-time Environmental Specialist in Concord, NH, as part of the Campus Climate Action Corps. The role involves designing and implementing a Climate Action Plan, developing community partnerships, conducting energy assessments, and promoting sustainability initiatives. The position requires 1,700 hours of service from September 2024 to July 2025 at Colby-Sawyer College, with benefits including a living stipend and education award.
About the position

Campus Climate Action Corps (CCAC) builds the capacity of campuses and their community partners to create change that leads to increased energy efficiency and improvements for at-risk ecosystems by implementing local solutions for underserved households and communities. CCAC is a nationwide AmeriCorps program through Campus Compact, a coalition of colleges and universities dedicated to advancing the public purposes of higher education. A projected 100+ AmeriCorps members will be leveraged by higher education institutions and their community partners to support the CCAC program areas of Energy Efficiency, Ecosystem Health, and Education & Public Awareness. Colby-Sawyer College has joined forces with Campus Climate Action Corps and AmeriCorps for the 2024-2025 service year. The College is a dynamic and innovative liberal arts and sciences college located in the scenic Lake Sunapee Region of central New Hampshire. We are currently seeking 1 Full-Time (1,700-hour) AmeriCorps member to join our CCAC team as Climate Action Leader. The Climate Action Leader will work closely with CCAC staff, their host site supervisor, other AmeriCorps members, community partners, volunteers, and campus staff and students to design and implement a Climate Action Plan. The Climate Action Leader will serve as the team lead at their campus host site, which may include providing guidance to part-time CCAC AmeriCorps members. The Climate Action Plan will support CCAC's community-focused program activities and may also support campus-based projects. The Climate Action Leader will be responsible for developing new and existing campus and community partnerships and coordinating program activities that aim to increase energy efficiency and improve at-risk ecosystems for underserved households and communities. The term of service for the Full-Time AmeriCorps member is to complete at least 1,700 hours during the service term, which will run from September 23, 2024 through July 31, 2025. The service location is Colby-Sawyer College, and the position offers various benefits including a living stipend and Segal Education Award.

Responsibilities
• Collaborate effectively with the host site supervisor, other AmeriCorps members, community partners, volunteers, and campus staff and students to design and implement a Climate Action Plan.
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• Develop community partnerships and leverage volunteers to support CCAC program activities.
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• Conduct basic home energy assessments with low-income households in the local community.
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• Provide households with energy conservation strategies and resources to reduce carbon emissions and increase cost savings.
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• Implement low-tech interventions to reduce energy use and increase cost savings for underserved households (e.g. weatherization, LED light bulbs, window-insulation inserts).
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• Serve as a home energy navigator, educating low-income households on government programs and assisting households to apply for rebate and subsidy programs.
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• Collaborate with residential education to create and implement educational programming.
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• Communicate with campus facilities team regarding various ongoing sustainability initiatives (waste-reduction, solar, electric vehicle charging stations, and wind turbine).
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• Plan and execute a community-driven project that improves a local at-risk ecosystem (e.g. removal of invasive species, tree planting, installation of rain gardens).
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• Coordinate and facilitate education events in underserved communities to increase awareness about climate change, environmental/financial impacts of energy usage, and strategies for reducing personal energy use.
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• Support CCAC's national public awareness campaign on the local level on campus and in the community.
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• Assist the on-campus dining hall with ongoing local food sourcing and composting initiatives; build programs and marketing to educate campus community about these initiatives.
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• Conduct annual greenhouse gas inventory.
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• Complete and submit accurate and timely biweekly timesheets and monthly data reports.
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• Develop a Sustainability Guide that ensures the long-term viability of projects.

Requirements
• Must be at least 17 years old.
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• Must be a U.S. Citizen, National, or Lawful Permanent Resident.
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• Must pass a National Service Criminal History Check.
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• High school diploma or equivalent is required.
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• Must be located in or willing to relocate to a host site area.
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• Valid driver's license and car, and/or dependable transportation.
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• Personal commitment to climate action and environmental stewardship.
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• Motivated team leader with exceptional organizational skills.
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• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, and comfortable with public speaking.

Nice-to-haves
• Experience engaging community partners and/or college students.
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• Experience with outreach, volunteer recruitment & management, or event planning.
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• Experience in environmental education, environmental stewardship, sustainability, or home energy efficiency.

Benefits
• A living allowance of $18,700 total for the service term, distributed evenly in bi-monthly installments via direct deposit.
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• A $7,395.50 Segal Education Award, contingent upon successful completion of the program, good for 7 years, usable for college or technical school or to pay back qualified public student loans.
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• Childcare assistance for qualifying members.
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• Student loan forbearance and interest payments for qualifying members.
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• Professional development and an enhanced professional network.
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• On-campus housing ($550/mo).
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• Discounted meal plan.