Sustainability Specialist

General Services Agency is seeking to fill the position of Sustainability Specialist.  The Sustainability Specialist assists with the development, implementation, and administration of County-Wide sustainability programs and projects. 

In addition to the established minimum qualifications, the Ideal Candidate for Sustainability Specialist will have the additional critical attributes:

• Outstanding organizational skills with demonstrated ability to prioritize and manage multiple ongoing tasks.
• Demonstrated expertise in the design, implementation and management of ongoing projects.
• Proficient in the administration of grants with a keen understanding of the various stages of the grant life cycle. 
• Commitment to facilitating the implementation and acceptance of change within the workplace.
• Exceptional talent in identifying opportunities to build strategic relationships to help achieve business goals.
• Proven experience in delivering formal presentations that are effective and suited to the characteristics and needs of the audience.
• Exceptional communication skills, both oral and written, and the ability to communicate effectively with members of varying professions.

To view the recruitment brochureclick here

Under direction, assists the program staff with the development, implementation and administration of county-wide sustainability programs and/or projects in distinct areas of specialty such as, but not limited to: environmentally preferable procurement; resource conservation and recycling; waste reduction; climate change; green building; sustainable transportation; weatherization; clean energy; renewable energy, and energy efficiency; and perform other duties as required .This position works with County departments and external entities in the course of promoting and advancing sustainability programs for county agencies and the community.

DISTINGUISHING FEATURES

Sustainability Specialists are assigned to the General Services Agency or the Community Development Agency and are supervised by and receive direction from a Program Manager, Assistant Deputy Director, or Deputy Director. The incumbent is responsible for assisting with the development, implementation and administration of county-wide sustainability programs and/or projects. The Sustainability Specialist class is distinguished from the Sustainability Project Manager, in that the Specialist is responsible for assisting with the development and implementation of programs and/or projects whereas the Project Manager performs duties of a more difficult and complex nature, with responsibility focused on planning and implementing day-to-day sustainability program activities and related projects.

This position is eligible for consideration for promotion to Sustainability Project Manager but this is not automatic and is dependent on the incumbent meeting the minimum qualifications of the Sustainability Project Manager and demonstrating performance of duties of a more difficult and complex nature, with responsibility focused on planning and implementing day-to-day sustainability program activities and related projects.

Education:

Possession of a Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university in environmental science or engineering, planning, social sciences, public or business administration and/or a related field.

AND
Experience:

The equivalent of one year of full-time experience in the field of environmentally preferable procurement, sustainability, resources conservation, waste reduction, recycling, climate change, green building or other related area including experience with responsibility for planning, administering, organizing and coordinating programs. Possession of a masters degree from an accredited college or university in environmental science, planning, social sciences public or business administration or a related field may be substituted for one year of the required experience.

LICENSE:
All candidates must possess a valid California Class "C" Driver's license and be willing and able to drive.

NOTE: The Civil Service Commission may modify the above Minimum Qualifications in the announcement of an examination.

NOTE: The level and scope of the following knowledge and abilities are related to duties listed under the "Examples of Duties" section of this specification.

Knowledge of:

• Laws and ordinances affecting one or more of the following areas: environmentally preferable procurement, sustainability, recycling, waste reduction, climate change, green building, or other related area.
• Research methods and practices.
• Basic principles of finance and project management.
• Laws and regulations pertaining to grant funding development
• Program evaluation and methodologies.
• Modern office procedures, methods and equipment including computers and various office software.

Ability to:

• Assist in the development, implementation, and evaluation of programs and/or projects.
• Prepare clear and concise reports, proposals, and written materials of a technical nature.
• Interpret, explain, and apply policies, laws and regulations.
• Assist in the development and management of budgets and expenditures.
• Perform basic financial analyses.
• Develop and implement program performance measures.
• Identify grant opportunities and prepare grant applications.
• Conduct outreach to county departments, professional peers, and the public.
• Collect, analyze, and compile technical and statistical information.
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with staff, other agencies, and business community.
• Communicate and negotiate in a persuasive and productive manner with groups and individuals.
• Develop and maintain various data collection, record keeping, and databases.
• Attend night and weekend meetings/events.

THE EXAMINATION:  THIS IS A NEW ASSEMBLED EXAMINATION.  The eligible list resulting from this examination will cancel any existing list and may last approximately one year, but can be extended.

The examination will consist of the following steps:

1. A review of candidates' application to verify possession of minimum requirements.  Those candidates who possess the minimum requirements for the class will move on to the next step in the examination process.
2. A review of the supplemental questionnaire to determine the best qualified.
3. An oral interview which will be weighted as 100% of the candidates' final examination score.  The oral interview may contain situational exercises.

Candidates must attain a qualifying rating on each portion of this recruitment.  WE RESERVE THE RIGHT TO MAKE CHANGES TO THE ANNOUNCED EXAMINATION STEPS.

The Tentative Selection Plan

The Tentative Selection plan is as follows:
• Recruitment closes: October 31, 2011 at 5:00 p.m.
• Application screening to be completed by November 14, 2011
• Supplemental questionnaire review to be completed by November 21, 2011
• Oral Examination invitations to go out on November 23, 2011
• Oral Examinations will be scheduled for December 5, 2011

All notices related to County recruitments for which you have applied will be sent/delivered via email.  Please add @acgov.org and alamedacountyHR@acgov.org as accepted addresses to any email blocking or spam filtering program you may use.  If you do not do this, your email blocking or spam filtering program may block receipt of the notices regarding your application for recruitments. You are also strongly advised to regularly log into your County of Alameda online application account to check for notices that may have been sent to you.  All email notices that will be sent to you will also be kept in your personal online application account.  You  will be able to view all of your notices in your online application account by clicking on the “My applications” button on the Current Job Openings page.

 

Please take the steps recommended above to insure you do not miss any notices about a recruitment for which you have applied.  The County of Alameda is not responsible for notices that are not read, received or accessed by any applicant for a County recruitment.  

 

NOTE: All notices are generated through an automated email notification system.  Replies to the email box alamedacountyHR@acgov.org are routed to an unmonitored mailbox.  If you have questions please go to our website at www.acgov.org/hrs.  You may also contact the Human Resources Analyst listed on the bulletin for the recruitment for which you have applied.

Cheri M. Harraway, Human Resources Analyst II
Human Resource Services Division, County of Alameda
510-208-9593
Cheri.harraway@acgov.org
www.acgov.org/hrs