Sustainability and Community Engagement Fellow

Launch your Sustainability Career with the Climate Corps Fellowship program!

SEI’s Climate Corps Fellowship program offers the chance to lead impactful climate and community resilience projects while gaining paid, hands-on experience. This full-time, bridge-to-career opportunity pairs fellows with host organizations, from local governments to nonprofits and businesses, to drive real-world change.

About the Opportunity 

Start Date: September 2nd, 2025

Length of Fellowship: 10 months

Ready to lead local climate action and engage your community in sustainability? As a Sustainability and Community Engagement Fellow in the Climate Corps Fellowship program, you’ll have the opportunity to contribute to impactful climate resiliency & sustainability initiatives with the City of Milpitas. This is an on-site position with the expectation of onsite work 5 days per week.

This position requires the employee to be physically located in Milpitas, CA, at the time of hire. Only candidates currently residing within commuting distance of the location will be considered.

This position will be dedicated to supporting the implementation of Milpitas’ recently adopted Climate Action Plan Update. The Sustainability and Community Engagement Fellow will focus on community engagement and education to accelerate the adoption of carbon-free homes and all-electric home appliances and transformations. This position will develop community engagement campaigns and activities, staff community events, recruit, train, and coordinate community volunteers, and track and report on participation. This position will also work with regional partners and neighboring communities on climate initiatives. This position will also coordinate and track the progress of citywide climate initiatives. This position offers a unique opportunity to develop your professional skills, grow your network, and contribute to the City of Milpitas’s sustainability goals.

About Our Partner: City of Milpitas

Located at the southern end of San Francisco Bay, Milpitas is a progressive community that is an integral part of Silicon Valley. A full-service city with water utility, sewer utility, police, and fire services, Milpitas is a flourishing community with a very diverse and inclusive resident population of over 80,000. Often referred to as the Crossroads of Silicon Valley, the City is situated between major thoroughfares in the Bay Area and considered a highly desirable location for world-class technology companies seeking to build a central base of operations. With the addition of the new Milpitas Transit Center offering BART, light rail, and bus service, and multiple new mixed-use development projects, along with a host of new City Plans and Programs in support of an inspiring and sustainable future, the City is at the forefront of building the next generation economy.

What You’ll Do

• Develop outreach and education materials related to the benefits of all-electric home appliances and carbon-free lifestyle choices.
• Develop and staff activities at local community events designed to pique interest in and raise awareness of electrification and decarbonization.
• Prepare reports and presentations.
• Track climate action plan implementation, metrics, and GHG inventories.
• Participate in regional forums and meetings to coordinate programmatic efforts and collaboration opportunities.
• Work with other city staff and departments to promote sustainability, increase awareness of climate issues and programs, and develop creative approaches to community engagement.
• Recruit, train, and organize community volunteers to support and staff events and activities.

What We’re Looking For

• Experience and education in renewable energy, energy efficiency, climate change, climate action, and environmental policy 
• Strong communication skills, both verbal and written.
• Experience with social media, including engaging content creation. Basic to intermediate graphic design skills are a plus.
• Creative problem solver.
• Quick learner.
• A college degree is preferred but not required.
• The ability to work onsite on a full-time basis.
• Coursework or related experience in environmental fields (e.g., internships, volunteer work) is preferred.
• Commitment to a fair workplace that honors the experiences, voices, viewpoints, and values of all individuals.
• Authorization to work in the United States for the duration of the fellowship (SEI is unable to sponsor visas).
• May require occasional moving about to accomplish tasks, moving from one worksite to another, or adjusting or moving objects under 25-50 pounds in all directions.

Nice-to-haves

• Multilingual is desired but not required.

We encourage everyone interested in this position to apply, even if you don’t meet every qualification. We value all perspectives and believe that a unique background can bring significant strengths to this role, even if some qualifications are not fully met.

What We Provide and Why This is a Game-Changer for Your Career

• A fixed, monthly stipend of $3500.
• $1000 end-of-program financial award.​
• Health care coverage with 100% of health care insurance premiums covered by the employer.
• Comprehensive career-readiness training, including interview prep, salary negotiation, and resume building.
• Panels, workshops, and networking with climate resilience industry professionals.
• Professional networking and learning opportunities.
• University of California Climate Stewards Certification equips you to lead community and ecosystem resilience initiatives.

Join the Climate Corps Movement

Climate Corps, a program of SEI, is an award-winning fellowship designed to prepare the next generation of leaders in sustainability and climate action. Our fellows work on cutting-edge sustainability and resiliency projects with local governments, nonprofits, and businesses, building essential skills and creating real-world impact. Since 2010, Climate Corps has empowered over 800 Fellows to work with 500+ partners on 1,350 transformative projects. With nearly 99% of Fellows continuing careers in sustainability—many hired by their host organizations—you could be the next environmental leader shaping a better future!

Our Hiring Values

SEI is proud to be an equal-opportunity employer and is committed to uplifting the experiences, voices, viewpoints, and values of all individuals. We believe that a wide array of perspectives contributes to creative climate solutions where all communities can thrive. We strive for a workforce that reflects the communities we partner with and serve, especially those most impacted by climate change and environmental, social, and economic injustice. We welcome candidates who share SEI’s commitment to cultivating a people-centered work environment. Individuals from all backgrounds are encouraged to apply.