Manager of Climate Adaptation – Climate Action, Sustainability and Resiliency

City and County of Denver • Denver, CO

4d • Hybrid

About The Position

With competitive pay, great benefits, and endless opportunities, working for the City and County of Denver means seeing yourself working with purpose — for you, and those who benefit from your passion, skills and expertise. Join our diverse, inclusive and talented workforce of more than 11,000 team members who are at the heart of what makes Denver, Denver. What We Offer The City and County of Denver offers a competitive salary commensurate with education and experience. The salary range for this position is $101,050.00 - $133,892.00. We also offer generous benefits for full-time employees which include but are not limited to: A guaranteed life-long monthly pension, once vested after 5 years of service 457B Retirement Plan 140 hours of PTO earned within first year + 11 paid holidays, 1 personal holiday, 1 Wellness Day, and 1 volunteer day per year Competitive medical, dental and vision plans effective within 1 month of start date City and County of Denver has announced furlough days, or unpaid days off, for most employees to meet a budget shortfall in 2025. There are two fixed furlough days for all limited (temporary positions with an end date) and unlimited (permanent) employees on August 29th, the Friday before Labor Day, and November 28th, the day after Thanksgiving. If you receive an offer for this position, your annual pay will determine whether you are required to take additional furlough days. Details will be discussed during the offer process for selected candidate(s). Location The City and County of Denver supports a hybrid workplace model. Employees work where needed, at a job site 3 days per week and off-site as needed. The Office of Climate Action, Sustainability and Resiliency requires 3 days in office at the Wellington Webb Municipal Building. Employees must work within the state of Colorado on their off-site days. What You’ll Do The Office of Climate Action, Sustainability and Resiliency’s (CASR) vision is to build a carbon pollution free, sustainable, and resilient Denver for all. Guided by science and shaped by community input, CASR delivers bold solutions through policies, programs, and capital projects that reduce emissions, advance environmental justice, and strengthen climate resilience. Our portfolio includes beneficial electrification, energy efficiency, renewable energy, energy storage, climate adaptation, community resilience, nature-based solutions, natural resource conservation, embodied carbon, waste reduction and diversion, communications, community engagement, and workforce development—all with a strong focus on equity. This work is driving measurable progress toward a healthier, more sustainable Denver for generations to come. As the Manager of Climate Adaptation, you will lead the Climate Adaptation team in designing and implementing strategies that help Denver’s natural and built environments adapt to a changing climate. This role partners with the Strategy & Policy and Community & Economic Resiliency teams to advance an integrated, citywide approach that reduces climate risk, strengthens resilience to hazards such as extreme heat, flooding, drought, wildfire, and poor air quality, and supports healthy ecosystems. The Manager oversees cross-departmental initiatives, centers equity in program design, manages complex projects and funding, and collaborates with community partners to protect vulnerable populations, critical infrastructure, and essential services.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s Degree in any field or a combination of education and work experience meeting the minimum qualifications below.
• Four (4) years of experience at the type and level of functional or operational management, which must have included management of individual professional contributors.
• Demonstrated leadership in building and developing functional teams, managing productivity, engagement, retention, employee development, and performance.
• Experience managing complex projects, extracting and organizing data from various sources, preparing analysis and recommendations, and making oral/written presentations.
• An understanding of the concepts of institutional and structural racism and bias and their impact on under-resourced communities, along with the desire to incorporate perspectives of multiple communities.
• Requires a valid Driver's License at the time of application. Licenses and certifications must be kept current as a condition of employment.

Nice To Haves

• Experience in municipal government, community engagement, and budget management preferred.
• Strong organizational, prioritization, analytical, critical thinking, communication, and self-motivation skills

Responsibilities

• Support the development, implementation, and updates of climate adaptation plans while tracking Climate Protection Fund investments to ensure compliance and impact.
• Integrate climate adaptation considerations and standards into land use, capital planning, infrastructure, public health, and emergency preparedness efforts.
• Utilize climate data, vulnerability assessments, and risk analyses into actionable policies and programs.
• Ensure alignment of adaptation efforts with local, regional, state, and federal climate goals and regulations.
• Design and manage multi-year adaptation programs and initiatives, including scope, timelines, budgets, and performance metrics.
• Oversee consultant contracts, interdepartmental work plans, and deliverables related to climate adaptation projects.
• Track program outcomes, budgets and prepare reports, dashboards, and briefings for leadership, elected officials, and the public.
• Center racial equity and environmental justice in all adaptation strategies and investments.
• Participate in inclusive community engagement processes, including public meetings, workshops, and advisory groups to co-design adaptation solutions.
• Serve as a lead coordinator across City departments (e.g., Transportation, Parks, Public Health, Community Planning, etc.).
• Build and maintain partnerships with regional agencies, utilities, nonprofits, academic institutions, and community-based organizations.
• Provide exceptional leadership of people including coaching, mentoring, and supporting staff in pursuit of continuous improvement and growth opportunities.
• Formally evaluate work of employees, document performance, and provide performance feedback while fostering an atmosphere of innovation that embraces meaningful impact.
• Other duties as assigned.

Benefits

• A guaranteed life-long monthly pension, once vested after 5 years of service
• 457B Retirement Plan
• 140 hours of PTO earned within first year + 11 paid holidays, 1 personal holiday, 1 Wellness Day, and 1 volunteer day per year
• Competitive medical, dental and vision plans effective within 1 month of start date

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Manager