Climate Champions Coordinator

Position: Climate Champions Coordinator (Planner IV – SR22)

Organization summary:

We are looking for a talented individual to join our dynamic team to build a resilient island community in the face of challenge and change. The City and County of Honolulu (“City”) Office of Climate Change, Sustainability and Resiliency (“CCSR”) was established by a City Charter amendment in 2016 with overwhelming approval by Oʻahu voters. Per City Charter and Ordinance 20-47, CCSR is tasked with seeking local information from scientists and tracking climate change science and potential impacts on City facilities, coordinating actions and policies of departments within the City to increase community preparedness, protecting economic activity, protecting the coastal areas and beaches, and developing resilient infrastructure in response to the effects from climate change. Additionally, CCSR is responsible for integrating sustainable and environmental values into City plans, programs, and policies. CCSR also administratively supports the City’s Climate Change Commission.

Position description:

The Climate Champions Program Coordinator is the primary coordinator for the Oʻahu Climate Champions project, which implements Action 2.1 of the City’s climate adaptation strategy, Climate Ready Oʻahu. The focus of the Coordinator role will be coordinating program participants, organizing events, facilitating partnerships between the City and community-based organizations (CBOs) to support community champions in executing climate adaptation projects, and identifying and cultivating opportunities for future program expansion. The Coordinator will also assist with roles and duties to administer the Environmental Justice Government-toGovernment (EJG2G) grant from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), which provides support for the both the program and this position through late 2026 or early 2027.

Duties and responsibilities:

• Under the supervision of the Adaptation Program Manager, manage the successful execution of the City’s EJG2G award to implement the Oʻahu Climate Champions program, including, but not limited to, supporting the planning of climate adaptation projects, conducting Climate Champion recruitment, serving as the primary point of contact for current and prospective program participants, grant reporting, and close out.

• Plans and coordinates activities to strengthen professional skills and increase inter-organizational communication and collaboration among Climate Champions and CBOs to implement climate adaptation projects across Oʻahu.

• Supports CCSR’s Climate Equity Program in building and maintaining trust between the City, communities, and CBOs across the island by implementing innovative strategies to build a climate adaptation community of practice on Oʻahu, and establishing a framework for collaboration between the City and CBOs. Identifies and cultivates opportunities for future program expansion through collaboration.

• Independently seeks, researches, and collaborates with other staff to write grant applications to secure program and project funding, and compiles and analyzes data to support program goals, grant applications, and grant reporting requirements. 

• Creates and delivers communications about the climate champions program to community members, media, partner agencies and/or through CCSR communication channels (website, social media, newsletter, etc.), and performs regular check-ins with champions and CBOs.

• Coordinates additional community outreach and climate education opportunities to expand knowledge of climate adaptation within the community as a tool for promoting the Climate Champions program for future participants.

• Engages and coordinates with City partners at the local, state, and national levels to advance climate adaptation and support equity and implementation of Climate Ready Oʻahu.

• Oversees relevant consultant contracts, interns, or fellows, as needed.

• Performs other related duties as may be assigned.

Qualifications:

• Education substantially equivalent to an associate’s degree in environmental and sustainability fields, planning, economic and community development, public or business administration, sustainable agriculture, environmental or natural sciences, or related field(s) from an accredited college or university.

• Minimum of 2 years’ experience managing projects in a team setting, ʻāina-based community work, community-based organizations, and community organizing. A Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field may be substituted for years of experience.

• Comfortable working independently and as part of a team in a fast-paced environment in an executive-level government office; strong interpersonal skills.

• Familiarity with climate change impacts and climate hazards facing Hawaiʻi, and strategies to mitigate those impacts.

• Strong written and verbal communication skills, as well as ability to produce reports, assign tasks, accept instructions, among other tasks.

• Ability to multi-task and organize projects in a professional and concise manner, often with short timelines.

• Deep commitment to equity and climate resilience on Oʻahu.

• Strong background with Microsoft Office Suite and Google Drive.

Compensation:

Salary ranging between $60,912-$63,384 annually and full City benefits. Union-negotiated contractual 3.59% salary increase effective July 1, 2024. This position is supported by a grant from the US Environmental Protection Agency Environmental Justice Government-to-Government Grant Program with support through late-2026 or early 2027.

To apply:

To apply, please send a 1-2 page cover letter, current resume, a relevant writing sample or work product, and list of three current references to resilientoahu@honolulu.gov. Please highlight aspects of your experience that are relevant for this position and explain why you are interested in working with the City and CCSR.

Questions?

Reach out to us at resilientoahu@honolulu.gov.

Did you know the City and County of Honolulu, for the third year in a row, has been named one of the best places to work in Hawaiʻi by Forbes Magazine? Benefits of City employment include 21 days of vacation, 21 days of sick leave and 13 paid holidays annually, Employees Retirement System, medical, dental and vision coverage, possibilities f