Project and Sustainability Associate

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: March 2nd, 2026

Length of Fellowship: 10 months

Location Type: Remote 

Are you ready to help advance sustainability across California’s community college system? As a Project and Sustainability Associate in the Climate Corps Fellowship program, you’ll have the opportunity to contribute to impactful climate resiliency & energy efficiency initiatives with Facilities Planning & Program Services (FPPS), Inc. This is a remote position, with a requirement to reside in California.

In this role, the Fellow will support energy efficiency and climate resilience initiatives across California's community college system by working directly with facilities managers, administrators, and FPPS team members. This role focuses on establishing sustainability baselines, tracking progress on climate action, and developing strategic plans and recommendations for community colleges to meet the Chancellor's Office Climate Action and Sustainability Goals. This role focuses on coordinating data collection across multiple districts, building relationships with facilities managers and administrators, and inputting information into industry-leading platforms, including AASHE STARS and ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager. The Fellow will work directly with campus partners to gather data on energy, water, waste, transportation, and other sustainability metrics, then organize and analyze this information to create clear baseline reports that identify current performance levels. For colleges that complete baseline assessments, there may be opportunities to develop follow-up sustainability action plans, policy recommendations, and strategic roadmaps. This position offers exposure to the intersection of higher education, energy management, and climate policy through partnership with the California Community College system. The Fellow will also support outreach and communication efforts through the California College Energy Resource and Sustainability Partnership website and newsletters. This unique position offers hands-on experience with sustainability assessment methodologies while building a foundation for strategic planning skills.

The role provides exceptional networking opportunities within California's higher education sustainability community and the chance to establish critical benchmarks that will guide climate action across institutions serving over 2 million students.

About Our Partner: Facilities Planning & Program Services, Inc.

Facilities Planning & Program Services, Inc. (FPPS), founded in 2006, has served Community Colleges across the state of California in a variety of positions that include facilities and master planning, project administration and management, facilities programming, staff augmentation services, and energy benchmarking and consulting services. FPPS has developed a high level of competence, which has allowed them to assist the Community College Districts in successfully achieving many of their program goals. FPPS is committed to advancing sustainability and facilities excellence across California's community college system. FPPS serves as the liaison between the California Community College Chancellor's Office, 116 community colleges, and the Energy Resource & Sustainability Partnership (ERSP), which includes California's major utilities (PG&E, SCE, SCG, SDG&E), California State University’s Chancellor’s Office, Community College League of California, Foundation for California Community Colleges, CLEAResult HEEP Program, CEDA Program, and the California Energy Commission. FPPS' mission is to empower community colleges to achieve their sustainability and climate action goals through strategic planning, energy management, and connecting districts with critical funding and resources. FPPS maintains the California Colleges Energy Resource and Sustainability Partnership website (ccersp.com), providing comprehensive resources to support energy efficiency, renewable energy, and sustainability initiatives. FPPS's small team brings decades of experience in facilities planning, project management, and energy consulting, allowing them to make a significant statewide impact. FPPS works at the center of California's higher education climate action movement, directly supporting institutions that educate millions of students while advancing equity and environmental justice through improved campus sustainability.

What You’ll Do

• Coordinate sustainability data collection and benchmarking for State Center Community College District and Los Angeles Community College District, and potentially additional contracted Districts, inputting information into AASHE STARS.
• Develop baseline sustainability metrics and tracking systems aligned with individual district needs and the California Community Colleges Chancellor's Office Climate Action and Sustainability Goals.
• Create comprehensive sustainability reports that identify progress, gaps, and actionable recommendations for community college districts.
• Organize and maintain sustainability data across multiple college partners using systematic file management and documentation practices.
• Research and present implementation strategies for energy efficiency, renewable energy, water conservation, and other climate resilience projects.
• Analyze baseline data to identify trends, strengths, gaps, and potential areas for improvement across participating colleges.
• Create clear, accessible summary reports that communicate baseline findings to college stakeholders.
• Support potential follow-up activities for colleges that complete baselines, which may include developing sustainability action plans, policy recommendations, strategic roadmaps, and stakeholder presentations.
• Conducting annual state-mandated benchmarking for various districts through ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager.
• Develop and deliver educational content, including website resources and newsletter publications focused on energy conservation and sustainability best practices.
• Design and implement targeted outreach campaigns to increase awareness and utilization of energy efficiency programs, funding opportunities, and technical resources available to community colleges.

What We’re Looking For

• Knowledge of sustainability concepts, metrics, and frameworks (energy, water, waste, transportation, procurement, GHG accounting, climate adaptation).
• Strong organizational and project management skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities, deadlines, and stakeholder relationships simultaneously.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to translate technical information for diverse audiences.
• Demonstrated ability to collect, organize, analyze, and present data in meaningful and accessible formats.
• Self-directed work style with the ability to work independently while maintaining regular communication with remote team members and partners.
• Problem-solving skills and the ability to develop creative solutions both independently and as part of a team.
• Collaborative mindset and experience working effectively with diverse stakeholder groups.
• Strong attention to detail and commitment to accuracy in data collection, entry, and documentation.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, OneDrive) and comfort learning new digital platforms.
• Passion for advancing sustainability and climate resilience in community-oriented, mission-driven institutions.
• Strong written communication skills for creating reports, emails, and other professional correspondence.
• This position requires the employee to be physically located in California. Only candidates currently residing in California will be considered.
• 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

• Familiarity with the AASHE STARS sustainability tracking and reporting system.
• Experience with ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager or similar energy benchmarking platforms.
• Background in data collection, research coordination, or project management.
• Understanding of higher education operations and/or facilities management.
• Knowledge of California energy policies, utility programs, or the community college system.
• Experience with Wix website builder or similar content management systems.
• Experience with Mailchimp or other email marketing platforms.
• Experience with data visualization tools (Tableau, Power BI, etc.) or design platforms (PowerPoint, Canva).
• Background in environmental science, sustainability studies, public policy, urban planning, corporate sustainability, architecture, engineering, or a related field.
• Experience developing educational materials, workshops, or webinars.
• Understanding of energy efficiency technologies and renewable energy systems.
• Knowledge of equity and environmental justice principles as they relate to climate action.

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

• A fixed, monthly stipend of $4000.
• $1000 end-of-program financial award.​
• Health care coverage with 100% of health care insurance premiums covered by SEI.
• Climate Corps Fellows receive 20 personal days for a standard 10-month fellowship (equivalent to about 2 days per month), which may be used for vacation, holidays, or sick time. Fellowships longer than 10 months include additional days, prorated accordingly.
• 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.
• The University of California Climate Stewards Certification equips you to lead community and ecosystem resilience initiatives.

Climate Corps Fellowships are classified under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) as temporary, educational internships that emphasize training and career development, and thus no employment relationship exists, nor compensation is required. However, while not considered traditional employment, Fellows receive a living stipend and professional development support throughout the program.

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.