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Energy, Utilities & Sustainability Associate

1 Grand Ave building 70, San Luis Obispo, CA 93405 (Onsite)

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

Do you want to help lead campus sustainability efforts and inspire the next generation of climate leaders? As an Energy, Utilities & Sustainability Associate in the Climate Corps Fellowship program, you’ll have the opportunity to contribute to impactful climate resiliency & sustainability initiatives with Cal Poly. This is an on-site position with the expectation of on-site work up to 5 days per week.

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

This role would be responsible for overseeing Cal Poly Green Campus, a group of 10-12 student interns who support campus sustainability initiatives. The role includes onboarding student interns, holding weekly meetings with team leads, occasional one-on-one meetings, and contributing to the success of Green Campus initiatives and students through excellent project management and leadership skills. This position is responsible for facilitating and overseeing sustainability-focused projects and programs, including marketing efforts for community-based events and initiatives such as:

  • Career panels.
  • Litter clean-ups.
  • Campus tours.
  • Tree planting.
  • Earth Week event coordination.
  • Sustainability month event coordination.
  • Waste audits and zero waste initiatives.

This position offers a unique opportunity to gain leadership and project management experience while developing your professional skills, growing your network, and contributing to Cal Poly’s sustainability goals.

About Our Partner: Cal Poly

The Facilities Energy, Utilities, and Sustainability team is dedicated to the responsible management of the natural resources needed to assure the continued efficient operations of the Cal Poly campus. Electricity, natural gas, water, and various other resources are critical to operating a successful university; Cal Poly is an award-winning leader in sustainability because we manage those resources using sustainability as a driving force in campus planning and operations. Read more about Cal Poly's commitment to sustainability on our guiding principles webpage.

What You’ll Do

  • Team Coordination: Maintain team organization and communicate issues in a timely manner. Plan and lead quarterly group meetings, weekly team lead meetings, and volunteer appreciation events. Assist in conflict resolution among the Green Campus Team. Attend all Green Campus meetings and events.
  • Project Management: Assist College Corps teams with the planning, execution, and monitoring of sustainability projects related to Water/Energy Conservation, Sustainability Visibility, Reuse/Zero Waste, and Tree Planting.
  • Marketing: Support the development of the monthly sustainability newsletter and assist in the creation of recruitment marketing materials. Update and create website content for sustainability.calpoly.edu.
  • Outreach: Recruit volunteers and assist with College Corps programs through frequent tabling. Occasionally will be expected to give presentations related to general sustainability to incoming students, student groups, or staff and faculty. Maintain excellent relationships with campus stakeholders, including faculty, staff, and students.
  • Volunteer Recruitment: Recruit, train, and supervise volunteers for sustainability programs.
  • Set an excellent example for the Green Campus Team, including: reliability, positive attitude, team player, accountability, communication, and conflict resolution.

What We’re Looking For

  • Passionate and motivated to work independently and on a team.
  • Strong communication and interpersonal skills.
  • Effective leadership and conflict resolution skills.
  • Project management experience.
  • Accountability and reliability.
  • Openness to constructive feedback and the desire to improve.
  • Strong organizational skills.
  • Public speaking experience.
  • Problem solving and adaptability.
  • The ability to work onsite on a full-time basis (occasional weekend work).
  • 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.

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 $3150.
  • $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. 

How to Apply

By applying to the Climate Corps Fellowship, you'll automatically be considered for all relevant positions. Apply only once to the position in your geographic region that best matches your background.

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