Senior Sustainability Fellow

Green Umbrella; Cincinnati (OH); On-site; USD 63,000 - 77,000; Full time

Job summary

Green Umbrella seeks a Senior Sustainability Fellow to manage and execute sustainability priorities for Hamilton County, engaging stakeholders, designing programs, and disseminating deliverables. The role advances the sustainability plan, ThriveTogether playbook, and Green Umbrella membership activities through collaborative, equitable engagement.

You will supervise an Early Career Sustainability Fellow, support grants, measure impact, and report outcomes.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree related to policy, environmental studies, public affairs, planning, or other related fields.
• Five (5) years of experience in the public sector, or nonprofit supporting governments, at least 1 of which was focused on sustainability.
• Possess exemplary interpersonal, oral, and writing skills.
• Strong ability to develop and maintain effective relationships with all stakeholders.

Responsibilities

• Deliver relevant, quality programs, events, and resources that help advance progress towards Hamilton County goals on sustainability.
• Engage local government and community leadership to envision transformative solutions to improve climate policy, planning, programs, and projects in Hamilton County.
• Develop, cultivate and maintain strong, supportive relationships with staff, partners, and community members to ensure ongoing, active participation.
• Celebrate the impact of the sustainability work through newsletters, reports, press releases, media interviews, etc (in collaboration with the communications staff).
• Measure and evaluate impact of programming and county activities to support metrics and storytelling.
• Research leading edge policy and action strategies that support the sustainability objectives of Hamilton County.
• Support grant concept development, programmatic grant reporting, and regranting to partner organizations as relevant.

Skills

Influencing skills

Results Orientation

Leading Others

Stakeholder engagement

Verbal/Written communication

Cultural Sensitivity

Education

Bachelor's degree

Job description

Summary/Objective

The Senior Sustainability Fellow is responsible for managing and executing sustainability priorities for Hamilton County. This includes engaging internal and external stakeholders, designing and administering programming, and disseminating deliverables and achievements. Sustainability related programming at Hamilton County includes the sustainability plan, ThriveTogether – Regional Sustainability Playbook, and Green Umbrella membership activities. The county-wide collaboration, shared resources, equitable engagement, and innovative solutions made possible through this work will lead to more resilient and thriving communities in Hamilton County.

Essential Functions

• Deliver relevant, quality programs, events, and resources that help advance progress towards Hamilton County goals on sustainability.
• Engage local government and community leadership to envision transformative solutions to improve climate policy, planning, programs, and projects in Hamilton County.
• Develop, cultivate and maintain strong, supportive relationships with staff, partners, and community members to ensure ongoing, active participation.
• Celebrate the impact of the sustainability work through newsletters, reports, press releases, media interviews, etc (in collaboration with the communications staff).
• Measure and evaluate impact of programming and county activities to support metrics and storytelling.
• Research leading edge policy and action strategies that support the sustainability objectives of Hamilton County.
• Support grant concept development, programmatic grant reporting, and regranting to partner organizations as relevant.

Competencies

• Influencing skills
• Results Orientation
• Leading Others
• Convening collaborative cross-sector teams
• Navigating local governance and policy
• Verbal/Written Communication
• Cultural Sensitivity
• Supervisory Responsibility: This position will serve as the supervisor for an Early Career Sustainability Fellow, and may have supervisory responsibilities for periodic interns and occasional contractors.

Work Environment

This job operates in a professional office environment. This role routinely uses standard office equipment such as computers, phones, multi-functional printer, and filing cabinets.

Physical Demands

While performing the duties of this job, the employee uses hands to finger, push, pulling, handling or feeling; and reaching with hands and arms. Must be able to lift up to 30 lbs.

Compensation, Position Type and Expected Hours of Work

Some flexibility in hours is allowed, but the employee must be available during the “core” work hours of 8:30am to 2:30pm. Occasional evening and weekend work will be required as job duties demand. For this position, there is a total compensation package worth $70,000. The FLSA status of this position is exempt for a one-year fellowship.

Weekly schedules will be available:

• Five 8-hour days
• Four 9-hour days + one 4-hour day
• Four 10-hour days

Travel

This position has regular travel expectations (primarily within Greater Cincinnati) for events, meetings and site visits, and also includes an average of two out of town trips per year for conference attendance and presentations.

Required Education and Experience

• Bachelor’s degree related to policy, environmental studies, public affairs, planning, or other related fields.
• Five (5) years of experience in the public sector, or nonprofit supporting governments, at least 1 of which was focused on sustainability.
• Possess exemplary interpersonal, oral, and writing skills.
• Strong ability to develop and maintain effective relationships with all stakeholders.

Preferred Education and Experience

• Well-networked in the Greater Cincinnati community and regional/national partners.
• Dynamic public speaking presence.
• Proven experience in planning, policy, and community engagement.
• Comfort working with government staff, community leadership, elected officials, and community organizations.
• Supervising interns, fellows or staff

Application Deadline

August 31, 2026