Climate Adaptation and Finance Strategist

County of Marin; San Rafael (CA); On-site; USD 131,000 - 158,000; Full time

Job summary

County of Marin, Office of the County Executive in San Rafael, California, seeks a Climate Adaptation and Finance Strategist to lead funding strategies for sea level rise adaptation. The role involves coordinating with multiple departments, jurisdictions, and grant opportunities to accelerate countywide climate resilience projects.

The position reports to the Chief Climate Officer and works on-site with potential one remote day per week, offering a strong compensation package and avenues for

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree plus three years of professional level experience in analysis or related field.
• One year of journey level professional experience in the area of assignment.
• Graduate level courses may substitute for up to one year of experience.

Responsibilities

• Advance countywide funding and financing strategy for sea level rise adaptation.
• Identify, structure, and help secure funding and financing for projects.
• Draft grant applications, narratives, and supporting materials.
• Coordinate regional shoreline adaptation planning and governance structures.

Skills

Public-sector planning

Funding strategy

Climate adaptation

Grant funding

Public engagement

Education

Bachelor’s degree

Job description

Climate Adaptation and Finance Strategist

County of Marin

Office of the County Executive

San Rafael, California

$130,936.00 - $158,225.60 Annually

ABOUT US

The Office of the County Executive is responsible for implementing the policy direction of the Marin County Board of Supervisors and supporting the effective delivery of public services across 22 departments. The office provides leadership on countywide initiatives, coordinates interdepartmental and cross-jurisdictional programs.

Our work includes advancing the Board’s strategic priorities, overseeing the County’s $865 million budget, and leading cross-cutting efforts in housing, climate, equity, emergency preparedness, homelessness, and more. The County of Marin’s Climate and Sustainability Office is a new function within the Office of the County Executive – and part of the broader reorganization approved by the Board of Supervisors in 2025.

ABOUT THE POSITION

With more than 70 miles of coast and 40 miles of bay shore, Marin County is one of the communities most affected by sea level rise in the Bay Area. Much of our land is low lying and can easily flood. Rising sea levels will affect many parts of life in Marin, including the safety of and access to our schools, businesses, roads, and wastewater treatment plants. Estimates place the cost of sea-level rise adaptation at $17B, while the cost of inaction is estimated at $34B. The Climate Adaptation Analyst will play a key role in the countywide effort to accelerate climate adaptation by identifying, structuring, and helping secure the funding and financing that will make Marin's sea level rise adaptation possible.

Reporting to the Chief Climate Officer, the Climate Adaptation and Finance Strategist will help advance countywide funding and financing strategy for sea level rise adaptation, using both conventional and innovative financing tools, such as municipal bonds, special assessment districts, utility and special-district financing pathways, and blended public-philanthropic-private structures. They will work with County Departments including the Community Development Agency, Department of Public Works, Marin County Parks and local jurisdictions to identify, understand, and prioritize adaptation projects. They will also partner with the County’s Legislative Affairs team to match projects to relevant federal and state funding opportunities as they arise and help shape grant strategy.

Additionally, the Climate Adaptation and Finance Strategist will:

• Compile and maintain a countywide project list that organizes candidate adaptation projects by design and construction readiness.
• Assist the Chief Climate Officer and planning staff to draft grant applications, narratives, and supporting materials for state and federal funding opportunities.
• Assist in coordinating regional shoreline adaptation planning for Marin’s bayside communities and sea-level rise planning for the Outer Coast.
• Help design governance structures that enable Marin’s cities, towns, and special districts to coordinate effectively on sea-level rise adaptation.
• Draft Board of Supervisors staff reports, memos, and public-facing materials synthesizing technical studies, funding strategy, and governance recommendations.
• Support the development and refinement of strategy documents, including annual workplans and staffing and capacity plans.

For additional information about this opportunity, view the Climate Adaptation and Finance Strategist brochure (Download PDF reader).

This position works full time on-site in the historic Frank Lloyd Wright–designed Marin County Civic Center, with flexibility for remote work one day per week.

The Highly Qualified Candidate:

• Has four or more years of professional experience in public-sector planning, infrastructure, public finance, capital planning, grants or funding strategy, climate adaptation, economic development, or a related field.
• Has experience developing, evaluating, or implementing funding strategies for complex projects or programs. Experience with infrastructure or climate adaptation funding and financing is highly desirable.
• Is an effective project manager who can move complex, multidisciplinary projects from concept through implementation while managing schedules, resources, consultants, and competing priorities.
• Has experience developing recommendations and communicating complex information to decision-makers, boards and commissions, community groups, or other public audiences.
• Has experience identifying and pursuing grants, partnerships, budget commitments, or other resources to support public projects and programs.
• Is a strategic and critical thinker with strong analytical, writing, presentation, collaboration, and public engagement skills.
• Has the ability to build trust, navigate differing perspectives, and move shared initiatives forward.
• Can work across departmental, jurisdictional, and institutional boundaries to build productive relationships and advance shared objectives.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

Any combination of education and experience that would provide the knowledge and skills listed. Typically, graduation from a four year college or university with major coursework in business or public administration, public policy or a field related to the work and three years of professional level experience performing administrative, budgetary, operational, management or organizational analysis work. At least one year of the required professional experience must have included journey level experience in the area of assignment. Additional professional level work experience performing administrative, budgetary, operational, management or organisational analysis may be substituted for the required education on a year-for-year basis.

Note: Additional graduate level courses in planning, environmental quality planning or closely related field may substitute for up to one year of the experience requirement at the rate of three semester units for one month of experience.

Filing Deadline: Monday, September 21, 2026, 11:59 P.M. EOE