The Office of Sustainability will sit within Cambridge’s Executive Department (also known as the Office of the City Manager). As Cambridge’s Chief Executive Officer, the City Manager supervises and manages all City Departments, recommends policies and programs to the City Council, and implements City Council legislation. The City Manager’s Office collaborates with the City Council and city departments on the shared mission to serve the Cambridge community and build a better city for all.
ABOUT THE ROLE:
The Chief Climate Officer is a new position that will report directly to the City Manager. This position will be responsible for leading the Cambridge Office of Sustainability and climate efforts across City departments. The office will be responsible for executing a comprehensive decarbonization and resilience strategy including overseeing the implementation and prioritization of the Climate Action Plan. The ideal candidate will be a strong people leader and strategic thinker, who collaboratively achieves tangible outcomes for the environment by engaging across City departments, boards and committees, and in the community. This role will be a member of the senior cabinet and a key advisor to the City Manager, providing substantive input and technical advice in the development, implementation, and assessment of programs and policies.
ESSENTIAL DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES:
Climate Strategy and Leadership
Responsible for developing short, medium and long-term strategy to achieve Cambridge’s climate goals.
Oversee the development, implementation, and evaluation of the City’s key climate programs across City Departments and external partners
Lead partnership with multiple stakeholders including City Council, City Departments, boards and committees, external partners, businesses and community members
Facilitate access to property owner incentives and other climate-related program funding opportunities
Deepen an ever-evolving knowledge base on latest energy technology, infrastructure, and project opportunities
Recommend and support sustainability and resiliency guidelines and policies with City leadership
Climate Operations
Oversee the implementation and prioritization of the Climate Action Plan to achieve the City’s climate objectives, working closely with the Climate Action Committee
Implement and report on the City Community Electricity Aggregation program, including coordination across departments, public education
Prepare and present presentations to City Council, Planning Board, and other committees and departments as needed
Oversee data collection efforts, including greenhouse gas baseline and inventory and commercial suppliers and manage energy use databases; set goals and track progress against key performance indicators
Manage the department budget, explores potential grants and other funding sources for future sustainability initiatives, and prepares funding request applications, as needed.
Perform related duties as required
Team Development and Management
Build and strengthen the climate team, identifying and filling key missing roles
Supervise staff, providing ongoing mentorship and career development support
Establish a high-performing culture for this new department
Interview, retain, and manage external consultants, as necessary, to conduct studies, projects and reviews
MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS:
Experience and Education:
10+ years of experience in climate/sustainability and 5+ of management level experience that demonstrates the ability to perform the essential functions of the role
Experience building, leading, and motivating high-performing teams in comprehensive assignments
Experience in project management, including the ability to identify, develop, and deploy resources across multiple initiatives and navigate complex relationships
Track record of driving effective solution execution to complex problems and mediating alignment across stakeholders
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:
Commitment to environmental justice to address systemic disparities in environmental burdens, including air pollution and associated adverse health effects
Ability to build and maintain strong, collaborative relationships
Excellent communication, presentation, and analytical skills with high attention to detail
Ability to think strategically and identify key emerging climate issues and related policy implications at local, state, federal, and global level
Demonstrated ability to provide innovative technical leadership by performing and coordinating with others to ensure the integrated planning, development, implementation, and financing of policies and projects.
Familiarity with federal, state, and local regulatory requirements applicable to climate
Understanding of building and zoning codes
Deep sense of humility, curiosity, and learning-orientation
High ethical standards and personal integrity
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
Preferred Qualifications:
Knowledge of Cambridge preferred
Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) accreditation
Advanced degree (MBA, PhD, or MS in environmental science)
Experience establishing a new department, division or team
SUMMARY OF BENEFITS:
REQUIRED DOCUMENTS:
Please upload the following documents to complete your application:
#P1
ABOUT THE CITY OF CAMBRIDGE
The City of Cambridge is a diverse and vibrant community that 120,000 residents of different ethnic, racial, religious, U.S. nationals and other backgrounds call home. We take pride in our City’s diversity and strive to create a workplace that is reflective of the community we serve -- one in which all employees can thrive. The City is also deeply committed to creating an environment in which all our employees are treated equitably and feel included. In joining our team, you would work in a workplace environment that advances and values antiracism, diversity, equity, and inclusion (ADEI), and that is committed to embedding ADEI best practices and tenets in all aspects of our work. City of Cambridge residents are especially encouraged to apply to job openings.
EQUAL OPPORTUNITY / AFFIRMATIVE ACTION
The City of Cambridge is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate based on race, color, sex, religion, age, national origin, disability, or any other protected category. Women, minorities, veterans, members of the LGBTQ+ Community, and persons with disabilities are encouraged to apply. The City is committed to advancing a workforce culture of antiracism, diversity, equity, and inclusion. Auxiliary aids and services, written materials in alternative formats, and reasonable modifications in policies and procedures will be provided to qualified individuals with disabilities free of charge, upon request by contacting Human Resources at humanresources@cambridgema.gov.