Climate Engagement Fellow

About the Opportunity 

Start Date: September 1st, 2026

Length of Fellowship: 14 months

Location Type: Hybrid

Are you passionate about tackling climate challenges and driving sustainability solutions? As a Climate Engagement Fellow in the Climate Corps Fellowship program, you’ll have the opportunity to contribute to impactful sustainability initiatives with the City of Bellevue. This is a hybrid position with the expectation of onsite work on Tuesdays and Thursdays, as well as some evening and weekend events.

In this role, you’ll be supporting the City of Bellevue’s Sustainability Team with community outreach and engagement specific to climate change mitigation and resilience. Includes direct engagement with community organizations and residents, and internal capacity and support for city staff in implementing community-facing elements of the Sustainable Bellevue Plan and other related programs.

You will provide support and lead various climate programs, including Bellevue’s annual EarthFest Earth Day event in the spring, the summer Heat/Smoke kit distribution program, the annual Tree Giveaway, and provide support for the Bloomberg Youth Climate Action Fund grant. This position offers a unique opportunity to develop your professional skills, grow your network, and contribute to the City of Bellevue's sustainability goals.

About Our Partner: City of Bellevue

Bellevue is a dynamic city that is growing rapidly while also aiming to reduce greenhouse gas emissions 95% by 2050. As Seattle’s largest neighbor, they are a welcoming, multicultural community with many passionate residents and leading organizations committed to reducing their impact on the environment. 

What You’ll Do

• Support the implementation of Bellevue’s 5-year sustainability plan, and associated projects and programs.
• Lead the City's annual Tree Giveaway.
• Support ongoing engagement with residents, students, businesses, and community-based organizations.
• Supporting the implementation of the Bloomberg Youth Climate Action Grant Fund and the annual Heat/Smoke kit giveaway.

What We Provide

• A fixed, monthly stipend of $3500.
• $2000 end-of-program financial award.​
• Health care coverage with 100% of health care insurance premiums covered by SEI.
• 14 Personal Days, 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.
• Participation in the Building Operator Certification series.
• Green Building Practicum training.
• The University of California Climate Stewards Certification equips you to lead community and ecosystem resilience initiatives.

What We’re Looking For

• Excellent verbal and written communication skills; comfortable with public speaking and interacting with the public.
• Passion and knowledge of the natural environment and ecology, especially trees and urban forestry issues.
• Strong project management and organizational skills.
• Ability to work independently and with a team.
• Passion for engaging with people of diverse backgrounds on environmental issues.
• Valid WA State Driver's License.
• Familiarity with climate assessment tools such as GHG inventories, tree canopy assessments, and climate vulnerability assessments.
• The ability to work onsite on a hybrid basis (Tuesdays and Thursdays on-site). Only candidates currently residing within commuting distance of the site address will be considered.
• 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.

Nice-to-haves

• Experience with MS Excel, Word, Powerpoint, Teams, and Sharepoint.
• Experience with survey design, website management, and data analysis.

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.