Lead Building Performance Standards (BEPS) 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: June 1st, 2026

Length of Fellowship: 15 months

Location Type: Hybrid

Are you ready to help ensure Seattle’s transition to a clean energy future is equitable and accessible while working directly with building owners to reduce emissions? As a Lead Building Performance Standards (BEPS) Fellow in the Climate Corps Fellowship program, you’ll have the opportunity to contribute to impactful sustainability initiatives with the City of Seattle. This is a hybrid position with the expectation of onsite work 3 days per week.

In this role, you’ll receive mentorship and training to conduct outreach, provide energy and emissions reduction services, and connect building owners with resources to help them comply with the Seattle BEPS, as well as the Washington State Clean Buildings Performance Standard (CBPS). In addition to hands-on experience, Fellows will receive training through the Building Operator Certification (BOC) program, gaining specialized skills in building systems maintenance and energy efficiency.

Seattle’s BEPS aims to improve energy efficiency, reduce costs, and lower climate pollution from fossil fuel use in existing buildings. Beginning in 2027 and through 2030, owners of larger commercial and multifamily buildings in Seattle must verify energy benchmarking data and report on their plans to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. These efforts will prepare owners to meet greenhouse gas intensity targets, beginning in 2031. This position will primarily provide additional support and guidance to building owners representing underserved communities, such as low-income housing and nonprofits, to meet the benchmarking and planning requirements. Fellows will be at the forefront of this effort, helping drive impactful change in the built environment.

About Our Partner: City of Seattle Office of Sustainability & Environment

The Office of Sustainability & Environment is dedicated to developing and implementing citywide environmental policies and programs that propel the City of Seattle toward a sustainable, equitable, and carbon-neutral future. Their mission is to ensure a clean and healthy environment for every resident of Seattle. They prioritize those currently and historically harmed by racial, economic, and environmental injustice and serve as cross-departmental and community partners, innovators, and drivers of cutting-edge city policy.

Partner-Provided Benefits (in addition to Climate Corps Benefits):

• Participation in the Building Operator Certification series.
• Green Building Practicum training.
• Weekly online classroom sessions and office hours to support Fellows with their work supporting individual buildings.
• Learn to use the ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager software to track, calculate, and verify building energy use, as well as additional energy software (ex, PSE Energy Cap).
• Develop knowledge of Energy Efficiency Measures (EEMs) and decarbonization strategies.

What You’ll Do

• Building out educational resources for building owners regarding BEPS compliance, timelines, and incentives.
• Contacting eligible building owners, operators, and managers, especially those representing affordable housing and nonprofits, to offer Fellow support.
• Supporting individual building owners and managers with understanding BEPS and CBPS requirements, alternative compliance pathways, and incentive opportunities.
• Acting as a liaison between building owners or managers and the City of Seattle.
• Providing assistance with benchmarking verification, including gathering building data (utility bills, square footage, occupancy, etc.) to identify the building’s energy use intensity (EUI) and greenhouse gas intensity (GHGI).
• Making periodic on-site visits as needed to verify individual building characteristics and energy use details.
• Determining the estimated future BEPS GHGI targets.
• Providing assistance with the BEPS Greenhouse Gas Report, including identifying major mechanical equipment, fossil fuel appliances, and recommended actions to meet GHGI targets.
• Gathering or creating the required documentation for the BEPS compliance.
• Assisting building owners with BEPS compliance reporting through an online compliance portal.
• Providing owners with details about how/when their building is covered by the WA CBPS, including if meeting the EUIt is required. Providing information about where and how to obtain CBPS support and templates for the Operations and Maintenance (O&M) plans and Energy Management plans (EMP).
• Providing mentorship and support to the Building Performance Standards Fellow.
• Local travel will be required with reimbursement.

What We’re Looking For

• Advanced coursework or professional experience specifically in building science, engineering, or energy efficiency, with a focus on decarbonization and/or regulatory standards.
• A broad educational background or training in supporting fields like environmental science, data analysis, urban planning, or public policy.
• Advanced proficiency in Excel (modeling, pivot tables) and industry tools like ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager.
• Experience mentoring junior staff or interns and providing technical guidance to a team.
• Experience in outreach and/or relationship management.
• Exceptional ability to translate complex technical data into clear recommendations for executives and building owners.
• Self-starter capable of working independently to resolve bottlenecks and meet high-level project goals.
• Consultative approach to guiding stakeholders through complicated regulatory requirements as a subject matter expert.
• Valid driver’s license.
• The ability to work onsite on a full-time or hybrid basis [3 days per week in the office]. This position requires the employee to be physically located within commuting distance of the site location at the time of hire. Only candidates currently residing within commuting distance of the site address 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.
• Must be 18 years or older to apply.

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 $5455.
• $2000 end-of-program financial award.​
• Health care coverage with 100% of health care insurance premiums covered by SEI.
• Fellows receive 10 personal days for a standard 10-month fellowship (prorated for longer terms), which may be used for vacation or sick time. Additionally, Fellows follow their partner site's holiday schedule to observe the same holidays as their team.
• 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.

Recruiting Timeline: Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis. We encourage early submissions, as we may stop accepting new applications once a sufficient pool of qualified candidates is identified.

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, 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.