Sustainability Fellow: Campus Decarbonization & Climate Action

Community Economic Development Association of Michigan (CEDAM); Marquette (MI); On-site; USD 32,000 - 52,000; Full time

Job summary

Northern Michigan University seeks a Climate Action Fellow to identify and implement campus climate projects under the AVP for Sustainability, focusing on education, emissions, energy, and waste reduction.

You will help design and launch Climate Corps and Campus as a Climate Lab programs, engage in NMU’s carbon neutrality efforts, and participate in meetings and outreach with community partners to advance resilience and sustainability goals.

Responsibilities

• Work with the University's Assistant Vice President (AVP) for Sustainability to identify and implement climate action projects for NMU’s campus focused in four areas: climate education, emissions, energy use, and waste reduction.
• Work with the AVP for Sustainability to design and launch two new climate action programs for students: (1) 'Climate Corps' – a program introducing first-year students to campus sustainability work and climate action pathways, and (2) 'Campus as a Climate Lab' program connecting upper-division students from any major to hands-on campus decarbonization and waste-reduction projects.
• Conduct research and help implement NMU's carbon neutrality plan and Compass Strategy 1.4 action plan to address reductions in emissions, energy, and waste.
• Emissions: Assist with the annual GHG emissions inventory and reporting; identify opportunities for GHG reduction and improved efficiencies.
• Energy: Assist with renewable energy project planning, including research toward transitioning the Ripley heating plant from natural gas to a renewable fuel source and exploring other opportunities for renewable energy installations on campus and with partners.
• Waste: Help organize and coordinate climate resilience programming focused on waste reduction and diversion efforts, working toward Compass Strategy 1.4 targets. Identify best practices to increase recycling and post-consumer compost collection and reduce landfill-bound waste. Align campus targets with the state's goal of tripling Michigan's recycling rate to 45% and cutting food loss and waste in half by 2030.
• Attend Marquette County's Climate Adaptation Task Force meetings and the Northern Climate Network's Climate@Noon seminar series.
• Empower the campus and local community to access federal and state climate resources by planning meetings, educational programs, and other outreach activities to consistently share information related to reducing emissions, energy use and waste.
• Participate in MHC Fellows member development, shared learning, and collaboration activities, including three in-person convenings and monthly virtual trainings.

Job description

Northern Michigan University seeks a Climate Action Fellow to identify and implement campus climate projects under the AVP for Sustainability, focusing on education, emissions, energy, and waste reduction.

You will help design and launch Climate Corps and Campus as a Climate Lab programs, engage in NMU’s carbon neutrality efforts, and participate in meetings and outreach with community partners to advance resilience and sustainability goals.