ABOUT THE OFFICE OF SUSTAINABILITY:

The Office of Sustainability’s (OOS) climate team primarily coordinates the City’s efforts to achieve net zero greenhouse gas emissions and to make Cambridge a climate resilient community for all. The team oversees implementation of Cambridge’s Net Zero Action Plan, which lays out a path to reach net zero emissions from buildings by 2050 or earlier, and the Resilient Cambridge Plan, which identifies key strategies for adapting and preparing for climate change impacts on infrastructural, environmental and social resilience.

ABOUT THE ROLE:

The Cambridge Climate Action Leaders Program trains local residents to lead conversations on climate change in their communities. The program will recruit participants, train them, provide presentation resources, and support activities in the community that increase awareness about climate change and engage residents and others in taking action. The Climate Action Leaders Intern will be responsible for coordinating with the Office of Sustainability’s climate team, other departments, and consultants to support the Cambridge Climate Action Leaders Program to expand community involvement in climate action. 

ESSENTIAL DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Recruit and work with previous Climate Action Leaders who are interested in taking on a mentoring role with this year’s cohorts.
• Assist with training Cambridge Climate Action Leaders and support the project team with recruiting climate leaders and coordinating with the program consultant.
• In alignment with OOS’s communication team, may create and adjust program materials, collateral, and other resources.
• Support Cambridge Climate Action Leaders as they schedule and organize outreach and other types of events in the community by assisting with scheduling and delivery of resources (e.g., printed materials, AV equipment) and overcoming obstacles (e.g., venue scheduling, advertising, etc.)
• Organize and run opportunities for the climate leader cohorts to engage with each other throughout the program.
• Maintain the program webpage.
• Assist the program consultant with evaluation, including coordinating with the program consultant.
• Assist with recruitment of future participant cohorts.
• Organize and run the Climate Action Leaders celebration.

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS

Education & Experience:

• Some experience with community engagement and outreach 
• Experience in website maintenance; OOS will provide training on necessary background knowledge to perform duties and to use City tools (e.g., website software)

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• It is not necessary to have in-depth knowledge of climate change issues although some familiarity would be helpful. 
• A passion for issues and ideas in the fields of climate change, environmental justice, clean energy, environment, and/or community engagement
• Willing to be nimble and creative in responding to the needs of local Climate Action Leaders
• Comfortable with public engagement
• Ability to be self-directed with guidance from City staff
• Ability to remain flexible and thrive in a fast-paced and dynamic environment
• The City of Cambridge's workforce, like the community it serves, is diverse. Applicants must have the ability to work and interact effectively with individuals and groups with a variety of identities, cultures, backgrounds, and ideologies.

WORK ENVIRONMENT: Standard office environment. Fluorescent lighting, heating and air conditioning. Moderate noise level. Some outdoor events. Will have to engage with partners via Zoom or Teams.  This position may be eligible for hybrid work under the City’s Telework Policy, depending on operational needs.

Start Date and Duration: January start date with minimum commitment through June 2024, but a 12-month or longer commitment is preferred.

DOCUMENTS REQUIRED:

Please upload the below documents to complete your application:

• Resume
• Cover Letter