Community Engagement Lead for Climate Programs

Washington Builds; Washington (District of Columbia); Hybrid; USD 63,000 - 77,000; Full time

Job summary

Washington Builds is seeking a Community Engagement Coordinator to lead engagement with Washington's underserved communities, including LMI neighborhoods, tribal communities, and rural areas. You will facilitate listening sessions, gather feedback, and build a statewide network of trade allies to inform and improve clean energy financing products.

Reporting to the Director of Programs, this grant-funded, one-year position emphasizes collaboration, travel across Washington, and close ties with

Qualifications

• Ability to build trust and communicate effectively with residents, small business owners, contractors, tribal and community organizations, and public partners.
• Cultural humility and the ability to work respectfully and effectively across diverse LMI, tribal, and rural communities.
• Strong organizing and facilitation skills, including planning and running accessible community meetings and listening sessions.
• Clear written and verbal communication, including the ability to explain clean energy financing concepts in plain, accessible language.
• Ability to gather, organize, and summarize qualitative community feedback into useful, actionable insights.
• Interest in or foundational understanding of clean energy, energy efficiency, or community development finance.
• Self-motivated and adaptable, able to work independently and manage a schedule that includes frequent statewide travel.
• Commitment to serving overburdened communities.

Responsibilities

• Plan, organize, and facilitate community listening sessions in LMI, tribal, and rural communities, hosted in partnership with local organizations to ensure accessibility and cultural appropriateness.
• Gather and synthesize feedback on the real barriers contractors, residents, and small business owners face in accessing clean energy upgrades, and translate that feedback into practical input for the design of Washington Builds' lending products.
• Identify and engage local HVAC, solar, weatherization, and electrical contractors; educate them on emerging clean energy financing opportunities; and document what they need to effectively serve LMI, tribal, and rural customers.
• Build and maintain relationships with community-based organizations, including housing nonprofits, tribal organizations, community action agencies, and rural development groups, as long-term distribution partners and an ongoing feedback loop for program refinement.
• Represent Washington Builds respectfully and effectively in community settings, centering community voice in program development.
• Document and maintain organized records of engagement activities, contacts, and community insights, and provide clear summaries and recommendations to the Director of Programs and program team.
• Track service activities and hours, and contribute the data and narratives needed to meet Washington Climate Corps Network (WCCN) program reporting requirements, including quarterly and closeout reports.
• Take part in the training, professional development, and networking opportunities connected to the role.
• Support continuous improvement of program design based on what is learned in the field.

Skills

Community engagement

Cross-cultural communication

Facilitation

Plain-language communication

Qualitative synthesis

Energy/finance interest

Autonomy & travel

Serving overburdened communities

Job description

Washington Builds is seeking a Community Engagement Coordinator to lead engagement with Washington's underserved communities, including LMI neighborhoods, tribal communities, and rural areas. You will facilitate listening sessions, gather feedback, and build a statewide network of trade allies to inform and improve clean energy financing products.

Reporting to the Director of Programs, this grant-funded, one-year position emphasizes collaboration, travel across Washington, and close ties with