Program Specialist​/Climate Action & Sustainability

The City of Sacramento seeks a Program Specialist for Climate Action & Sustainability, responsible for implementing sustainability programs and policies, managing projects, and supervising staff. Candidates should have a strong understanding of sustainability issues, experience in local government, and excellent communication skills. While intermittent remote work is possible, candidates must reside within the Sacramento region and be able to report to a physical worksite as needed.
Position: Program Specialist (Climate Action & Sustainability)

THE POSITION

With supervisor approval, incumbents may be eligible for intermittent remote work;however, they must physically reside within the Sacramento region or have the ability to regularly report to a City of Sacramento physical worksite with little notice.

The Public Works Department is seeking a Program Specialist to be part of the Office of Climate Action and Sustainability section. The section's work includes implementing the City’s ambitious Climate Implementation Work Plan, advancing the City’s goal of achieving carbon neutrality by 2045, and establishing centralized climate leadership across the City organization. Under direction of the Climate Action Lead, the Program Specialist performs responsible administrative and professional sustainability program work;

provides supervision to assigned staff; plans, directs, and supervises major activities and projects within the Climate Implementation Work Plan; supports diverse teams to overcome complex challenges and institutionalize sustainability; develops and implements climate action and sustainability policies; and engages City departments, community members, partner agencies, and a wide array of private and public organizations and businesses.
IDEAL CANDIDATE STATEMENT

The ideal candidate will have a strong technical understanding of sustainability issues, sustainability policy, climate change, and resilience, particularly within local government settings. They should have experience managing and leading diverse teams, implementing sustainability programs, and navigating complex situations to achieve an ambitious work plan. Strong communication and presentation skills are essential, along with experience working with grants and various funding sources.

The candidate should be adaptable, solutions-oriented, and collaborative, with the ability to manage competing priorities and maintain a positive attitude and constructive relationships in challenging situations.
Under general direction the Program Specialist plans, directs, and supervises all of the activities of a major department or Citywide program or project with moderate visibility and impact; conducts studies and makes recommendations; monitors program compliance;

represents the department in contacts with media, internal and external agencies, and organizations.

DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTICS

This advanced journey level class in the professional series is populated with multiple incumbents. The Program Specialist is distinguished from the next lower class of Program Analyst in that the Program Specialist manages multiple programs or moderately visible programs with greater department or Citywide impact. This class is distinguished from the next higher classification of Program Manager in that the Manager is responsible for administration and management of programs and projects with high visibility and substantial Citywide impact.

This class is distinguished from the class of Administrative Officer in that the latter is responsible for all internal administrative functions for a department.

SUPERVISION RECEIVED AND EXERCISED

General direction is provided by a department or division head. Some assignments require responsibility for direct or indirect supervision of lower level professional, technical, and clerical personnel. Some positions function as internal consultants and require coordination among multiple divisions in a department.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
• Plans, coordinates, and administers, a project or program with department or Citywide impact; supervises, trains and evaluates the work of professional, technical and clerical staff.
• Confers with department heads, division managers, members of professional staff, and other officials concerning the administrative needs and requirements related to the program or project; represents the program in contacts with news media, business and civic organizations, other City departments, and various outside public and private agencies.
• Interprets new policies, procedures, and regulations, and develops new or amended programs or projects as need dictates, monitors program objectives to assure compliance with State and…