Lead Climate Action Coordinator

Climate Corps; United States; Remote; USD 40,000 - 47,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Stipend

Health insurance

Personal days

Career training

Networking

Climate Steward Certification

Job summary

Climate Corps Fellowship offers a full‑time, bridge‑to‑career opportunity to lead climate and community resilience projects while gaining paid, hands‑on experience. Fellows are placed with host organizations across California, with remote work within the state and travel as needed.

The role supports Vision 2030, collaborates with the Chancellor’s Office Climate Action Team, and provides technical assistance, stakeholder engagement, and resources development to advance campus climate action.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in environmental science, sustainability, climate policy, engineering, public administration, higher education, or related field.
• Experience collecting, analyzing, and organizing data using spreadsheets or data-management tools.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills for diverse audiences.
• Strong project-management and organizational abilities to handle multiple priorities.

Responsibilities

• Provide program coordination support for statewide climate initiatives and partner colleges.
• Assist in implementing Vision 2030 climate action priorities across California Community Colleges.
• Support AASHE STARS implementation, data collection, reporting, and documentation.
• Develop resources, templates, and trainings to help campuses advance climate action.
• Coordinate communications, social media, and stakeholder engagement to raise awareness of climate initiatives.
• Support events, webinars, and conferences with logistics and content material.

Skills

Communication

Project management

Data analysis

Collaboration

Public speaking

Education

Bachelor’s degree in environmental science or related field

Tools

Spreadsheets

Job description

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: November 16th, 2026

Length of Fellowship: 8 months

Location Type: Remote (Within California)

Are you passionate about tackling climate challenges, communicating sustainability solutions,and supporting statewide climate action? As a Climate Action Program Coordinator in theClimate Corps Fellowship program, you’ll have the opportunity to contribute to impactfulsustainability initiatives with the California Community Colleges Chancellor’s Office.This is a remote position within California, with the expectation of regular travel to colleges anduniversities as needed.

In this role, you’ll support the advancement of Vision 2030 by working directly with the CaliforniaCommunity Colleges Chancellor’s Office Climate Action Team and partnering with collegesacross the system to implement and communicate climate action and sustainability initiatives.Working at the intersection of climate resilience, higher education, communications, andinstitutional transformation, the Fellow will support statewide climate programs through programcoordination, technical assistance, stakeholder engagement, communications, public relations,social media, administrative support, and development of resources that advance climate actionacross California’s community colleges.

The Fellow will also provide technical assistance to colleges completing the AASHE STARSsustainability assessment and reporting framework, helping campuses measure progress,identify opportunities for improvement, and communicate their sustainability accomplishments.This position offers a unique opportunity to contribute to one of the nation’s largest systems ofhigher education while gaining hands‑on experience in climate program implementation,sustainability reporting, communications, stakeholder engagement, project coordination, andstatewide climate action.

About Our Partner:** California Community College Chancellor’s Office

California Community College Chancellor’s Office is the administrative headquarters for the country’s largest higher education system. With 116 colleges and 2.2 million students, the California Community Colleges seek to educate students from all backgrounds and with all educational goals, from transfer to workforce development. Under Vision 2030, the 116 colleges have been asked to lead the way in climate action, including with curriculum integration, workforce development for climate-ready careers, sustainable facilities and operations, and community engagement with climate partners.

What You’ll Do

• Support Climate Action Team Programs and Initiatives:Provide programmatic and administrative support to the Chancellor’s Office Climate ActionTeam, helping coordinate statewide initiatives, projects, partnerships, meetings, timelines,deliverables, and follow-up activities.
• Advance Vision 2030 Climate Initiatives: Assist in implementing statewide climate action priorities that support Vision 2030, with a focus on climate resilience, sustainability, equity, workforce development, institutional transformation, andcommunity engagement across the California Community Colleges system.
• Support AASHE STARS Implementation: Provide technical assistance to assigned California Community Colleges completing the AASHESTARS assessment, including data collection, documentation, reporting, coordination, andidentification of opportunities for continuous improvement.
• Provide Campus Engagement and Technical Assistance:Build collaborative relationships with college administrators, faculty, staff, students, sustainabilityleaders, and other stakeholders to support climate planning, sustainability initiatives, reporting,and adoption of best practices.
• Support Communications, Public Relations, and Storytelling:Develop and support communications that increase awareness of Chancellor’s Office climateaction initiatives and highlight college achievements, programs, partnerships, and successstories. Assist with articles, announcements, newsletters, talking points, presentations, webcontent, press materials, and other communications for internal and external audiences.
• Coordinate Social Media and Digital Outreach:Support the development and coordination of social media content related to climate action,sustainability programs, events, student initiatives, college accomplishments, resources, andstatewide campaigns. Identify stories and visuals from colleges and partners that showcase theimpact of climate initiatives across the system.
• Provide Administrative and Project Coordination Support:Support Climate Action Team operations through meeting scheduling and coordination, agendadevelopment, meeting notes, action-item tracking, project trackers, file and resourceorganization, correspondence, partner follow-up, and monitoring of project timelines anddeliverables.
• Support Events, Conferences, and Stakeholder Engagement:Assist with planning and coordinating webinars, workshops, conferences, communities ofpractice, presentations, outreach events, and stakeholder meetings, including logistics,communications, participant coordination, presentation materials, and follow-up.
• Analyze and Communicate Sustainability Data:Collect, organize, analyze, and summarize sustainability metrics and institutional data to trackprogress toward systemwide climate and sustainability goals. Translate technical informationinto accessible reports, presentations, graphics, summaries, and communications.
• Develop Resources and Deliver Training:Create guidance documents, templates, toolkits, webinars, presentations, FAQs, andeducational resources that help colleges navigate sustainability reporting and advance campusclimate action.
• Support Statewide Climate Programs and Partnerships:Collaborate with the Chancellor’s Office Climate Action Team, colleges, state agencies,nonprofit organizations, industry partners, and other stakeholders to coordinate initiativesrelated to climate action, sustainable facilities, resilience, workforce development, andinstitutional sustainability.
• Identify and Share Best Practices: Research emerging trends, policies, funding opportunities, communication strategies, and innovative practices in higher education sustainability. Identify and share successful college programs and models that can be replicated or scaled across the California Community Colleges.
• Maintain Climate Action Resources and Information:Help maintain Climate Action Team resources, contact lists, communications calendars,program materials, presentations, outreach databases, project trackers, and other informationsupporting statewide implementation and engagement.
• Provide mentorship and leadership support to other Fellows in their work.

What We Provide

• A fixed, monthly stipend of $3900.
• Health care coverage with 100% of health care insurance premiums covered by SEI.
• 10 Personal Days (for a standard 10-month Fellowship), in addition to all holidays off that are observed as closure days by the partner placement site.
• 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, including multiple conferences.
• The University of California Climate Stewards Certification equips you to lead community and ecosystem resilience initiatives.

What We’re Looking For

• Bachelor’s degree in environmental science, sustainability, climate policy, engineering, public administration, higher education, or a closely related field (or equivalent combination of education and experience).
• Demonstrated knowledge of climate action, sustainability, greenhouse gas reduction, resilience planning, or environmental programs, preferably in higher education, government, or the public sector.
• Experience collecting, analyzing, and organizing quantitative and qualitative data using spreadsheets or other data management tools to support reporting, research, or program evaluation.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to present technical information clearly to a variety of audiences and willingness to contact individuals at institutions.
• Strong project management and organizational skills, including the ability to manage multiple priorities, meet deadlines, and work independently.
• Collaborative mindset with the ability to build effective working relationships and contribute positively to cross-functional teams and diverse stakeholder groups.
• Experience or familiarity with AASHE STARS is a plus.
• Access to regular and reliable transportation to travel to colleges and universities in your geographic region.
• 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.

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 is compensation 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.