Outreach Specialist

SEI’s Climate Corps Fellowship program offers the chance to lead impactful climate and community resilience projects while gaining paid, hands-on experience. This full-time, bridge-to-career opportunity pairs fellows with host organizations, from local governments to nonprofits and businesses, to drive real-world change.

About the Opportunity 

Start Date: September 1st, 2026

Length of Fellowship: 10 months

Location Type: Hybrid

Are you passionate about tackling climate challenges and driving sustainability solutions? As an Outreach Specialist in the Climate Corps Fellowship program, you’ll have the opportunity to contribute to impactful sustainability initiatives with San Mateo County's Sustainability Department. This is a hybrid position with the expectation of onsite work 2-3 days per week based on project needs.

The Outreach Specialist will support the implementation of small business programs for the Bay Area Regional Energy Network (BayREN) and/or the San Mateo County Energy Watch (SMCEW). In this role, you will connect eligible businesses to energy assessments, incentives, technical support, and financing programs. The position centers on relationship-building and grassroots engagement, with frequent fieldwork visiting business corridors, attending community events, and meeting partners across the county. A core measure of success is the volume and quality of business referrals generated into partner programs.

Coordinating with the Climate Resilience team, you will develop a database of community-based organizations (CBOs) and nonprofit facilities and the upgrades they would need to transition to all-electric equipment and serve as a community resilience center. Upgrades may include solar PV, battery storage, heat pump HVAC, EV charging, etc. The database will include an estimate of costs as well as potential programs that could provide funding. This position offers a unique opportunity to develop your professional skills, grow your network, and contribute to the San Mateo County Sustainability Department's goals.

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, CA 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.

At the San Mateo County Sustainability Department, the team.....

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

What You’ll Do

• Build and manage a referral pipeline through CBOs and other partners, including co-marketing and referral agreements.
• Conduct drop-in site visits to business owners.
• Develop relationships with, and present to, chambers of commerce and other business associations.
• Plan, promote, and host in-person and virtual outreach events, workshops, and informational sessions for the business community. Staff a table and present at business and community events.
• Identify and pursue new referral channels (e.g., business license renewals, permitting counters, business newsletters, and ethnic chambers of commerce and culturally specific business networks).
• With support from the Department’s Communications Team, develop outreach materials, flyers, presentations, and digital/social content that promote program benefits to business audiences.
• Respond to inquiries from business owners, community members, and partners and connect them to appropriate program resources.
• Track outreach activity, referrals, and outcomes, and report on engagement metrics to demonstrate program impact.

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 interpersonal and relationship-building skills, with comfort initiating conversations with new people.
• Project management skills, including the ability to juggle multiple time-sensitive projects simultaneously.
• Clear communication across platforms (email, phone, in person) to diverse audiences.
• Familiarity with virtual meeting platforms (Zoom, Teams) for hosting and coordinating online events, and spreadsheet software for tracking outreach and referral data.
• Interest in using communication and design tools for social media platforms and outreach materials.
• Demonstrated ability to work collaboratively with communities and businesses of varied cultural and linguistic backgrounds.
• A valid CA Driver's License and ability to travel to sites across San Mateo County using a county-owned vehicle. 
• The ability to work onsite on a hybrid basis. 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

• Conversational fluency in Spanish.
• Basic understanding of energy efficiency and decarbonization in buildings.

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.

Climate Corps, a program of SEI, is an award-winning fellowship designed to prepare the next generation of leaders in sustainability and climate action. Our fellows work on cutting-edge sustainability and resiliency projects with local governments, nonprofits, and businesses, building essential skills and creating real-world impact. Since 2010, Climate Corps has empowered over 800 Fellows to work with 500+ partners on 1,350 transformative projects. With nearly 99% of Fellows continuing careers in sustainability, you could be the next environmental leader shaping a better future!

SEI is proud to be an equal-opportunity employer and is committed to uplifting the experiences, voices, viewpoints, and values of all individuals. We believe that a wide array of perspectives contributes to creative climate solutions where all communities can thrive. We strive for a workforce that reflects the communities we partner with and serve, especially those most impacted by climate change and environmental, social, and economic injustice. We welcome candidates who share SEI’s commitment to cultivating a people-centered work environment. Individuals from all backgrounds are encouraged to apply. 

By applying to the Climate Corps Fellowship, you'll automatically be considered for all relevant positions. Apply only once to the position in your geographic region that best matches your background.