Sustainability Associate - Climate Education & Engagement

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 (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, as well as periodic weekend and evening work.

In this role, you will play a pivotal role in advancing climate resiliency by coordinating youth education programs and assisting with community engagement within San Mateo County. You will support the implementation of the Youth Climate Ambassadors and Youth Exploring Climate Science programs, which focus on leadership development and climate science education. Through mentoring and coordinating workshops, you will inspire and equip students with the skills necessary for climate action. Additionally, you will work closely with others on the Communications team, honing communication skills and engaging the community on sustainability topics. There will be other learning opportunities across the other department program areas, such as waste reduction and climate adaptation.

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

• Support program coordination and implementation of the Youth Climate Ambassadors (YCA) youth leadership program and the Youth Exploring Climate Science (YECS) field trip program.
• Provide mentorship to high school students and guidance on community impact projects and leadership skills.
• Assist in developing program materials and resources for students.
• Facilitate portions of workshops and assist in community-building activities in virtual and in-person meetings with students or community members.
• Coordinate YCA staff meeting logistics and communications with YCA student participants.
• Coordinate, schedule, and lead field trips in San Mateo County to County parks and other outdoor locations for 7th through 12th grade students about climate science and related topics such as sea level rise, wildfire science, and biodiversity.
• Accurately record and track data on program activities and outcomes.
• Assist with meeting facilitation, website updates, blog posts, social media, outreach events, and other duties as needed.

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

• Environmental science teaching experience or experience as an environmental educator, demonstrated success in informal or formal education for grades K-12.
• Strong understanding of climate change and sustainability issues.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills, able to easily connect and engage with youth, program partners, and the public, and distill complex concepts to a variety of audiences of varying ages.
• A valid CA Driver's License.
• Knowledge of principles and practices of project management, implementation, and evaluation.
• Experience working with communities from varied backgrounds.
• Time management and prioritization skills, able to effectively manage time between multiple projects.
• Bilingual language skills (Spanish or Mandarin preferred).
• 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.

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.