Sustainability Associate - Communications & Engagement

About the Opportunity 

Start Date: September 1st, 2026

Length of Fellowship: 10 months

Location Type: Hybrid (2-3 days/week in person)

Are you passionate about tackling climate challenges and driving sustainability solutions? As a Sustainability Associate - Communications & Engagement in the Climate Corps Fellowship program, you’ll have the opportunity to contribute to impactful sustainability initiatives with the San Mateo County Sustainability Department. This is a hybrid position with the expectation of onsite work 2-3 days per week.

The Communications & Engagement Fellowship is an exciting opportunity to help advance the San Mateo County Sustainability Department’s mission, vision, and program goals through the coordination and implementation of the Department’s communications and community engagement efforts.

The Fellow will help create materials and content to promote and support the Sustainability Department programs. This includes designing and creating materials such as flyers, presentations, social media posts, newsletters, videos, and more. The Fellow will also support outreach and engagement strategies with internal and external stakeholders and represent the Department at community events across San Mateo County.

In support of the Communications team, the Fellow will bring creative thinking to develop content that resonates with a variety of audiences and support public outreach and engagement efforts. The ideal candidate will have excellent communication skills and experience working with communities with varied backgrounds. The ideal candidate will also have excellent writing skills and a good understanding of visual design to assist in crafting a variety of communications materials and implementing branding standards.

About Our Partner: San Mateo County Sustainability Department

The San Mateo County Sustainability Department strives to improve the sustainability of the County’s operations and the greater community through work in areas of renewable energy and energy efficiency, resource conservation, active transportation, climate resiliency, affordable housing, and greenhouse gas emission reductions. San Mateo County is centrally located between San Francisco, San Jose, and the East Bay. With over 750,000 residents, San Mateo is one of the largest counties in California.

In the San Mateo County Sustainability Department, you will find people who...

• Are passionate about protecting and saving the environment while serving the community.
• Are compassionate and empathetic to the needs of colleagues, community members, and stakeholders.
• Actively work to ensure inclusion in programs.
• Value varied life experiences and strive to create a workplace that is welcoming to all.

They partner with local nonprofits and community-based organizations to support designing and implementing programs and outreach that are inclusive, impactful, and responsive to community needs.

What You’ll Do

• Write and edit content for the department’s website, newsletters, and social media channels, focusing on topics related to waste reduction, greenhouse gas reduction, and other sustainability topics.
• Support coordination and implementation of the Department’s community engagement programs and communications, including coordinating materials needed for outreach events and development of new materials as needed.
• Create engaging presentations and materials to support internal communications and program initiatives.
• Attend outreach events and engage with community members to promote sustainability initiatives.
• Brainstorm, organize, and evaluate community engagement activities with stakeholders such as partners and community-based organizations to advance the department’s programs in waste reduction, climate resilience, greenhouse gas reduction, and water quality.
• Track and organize task orders with vendors and community-based organizations.
• Track and report program metrics to monitor progress.

What We Provide

• A fixed, monthly stipend of $3570.
• $1000 end-of-program financial award.​
• 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.
• The University of California Climate Stewards Certification equips you to lead community and ecosystem resilience initiatives.

What We’re Looking For

• Strong writing skills and understanding of visual design.
• Experience using communication and design tools such as social media platforms, email marketing software, Canva, Adobe Suite, and content management systems.
• Experience working with communities with varied backgrounds.
• Bilingual language skills – Spanish or Mandarin preferred.
• A valid CA Driver's License.
• Excellent organizational skills and attention to detail.
• Understanding of sustainability and climate change.
• Knowledge of principles and practices of project management, implementation, and evaluation.
• The ability to work onsite on a full-time or hybrid basis (2-3 days per week). 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.

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.