Sustainability Program Administrator I/II

Ventura County • Ventura, CA

4d • Hybrid

About The Position

The County Executive Office’s Sustainability Division staff work on local and regional initiatives. The general focus of the division is on climate and greenhouse gas emissions reductions, including implementation of 3C-REN (Tri-County Regional Energy Network) programs, and coordination across the County agencies involved in implementation of the County of Ventura’s Climate Action Plan, as well as various grants in support of the Division’s mission. The Sustainability Division is the Program Administrator of 3C-REN, which is a partnership between the Counties of San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara and Ventura established to deliver programs that reduce energy use, strengthen local job markets for energy efficiency, and support efforts to achieve climate goals equitably. Current services include incentives for energy upgrades, workforce education and training, and technical assistance services like energy code support and energy audits. 3C-REN is funded by the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) via utility ratepayer dollars. Additionally, the Sustainability Division administers the Ventura County Regional Energy Alliance (VCREA), a Joint Powers Authority composed of public agencies working in collaboration to address good energy stewardship and sustainability practices in the region. VCREA coordinates and assists public agencies, including local jurisdictions, schools, and special districts, as well as businesses and residents of Ventura County to best utilize the many resources available to achieve the goal of creating a more sustainable future for the entire region. VCREA aims to serve as a one-stop-shop for residential, commercial, and municipal energy efficiency resources. Under general direction, the Sustainability Program Administrator I/II provides support to 3C-REN’s Building Performance Training (BPT) program and a variety of sustainability and energy programs. 3C-REN’s workforce development program, BPT, is targeted to current and prospective building professionals in design, construction, engineering, real estate and the public sector. The program’s vision is to support a thriving local workforce that possesses the knowledge and skills to market, design, build, and retrofit buildings with high performance upgrades, providing clear career pathways to enable people of all backgrounds to join the industry. The program helps professionals and students keep up with industry trends, gain new skills, earn continuing education units and certifications, and add value for their customers. Program curriculum is focused on energy efficiency, high performance building and electrification, with an emphasis on heat pump technology and Passive House design principles. Education is delivered by contracted industry experts who teach online via webinars and in-person through hands-on training and building tours.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in sustainability, administration, environmental studies, public policy, engineering, architecture, construction management/technology, or a related field
• Sustainability Program Administrator I: One year of full-time experience within sustainability programs with an emphasis on the building trades and/or energy related fields (e.g., HVAC, electrical, construction, building performance) in program planning, development and/or administration including establishing priorities and meeting competing deadlines and objectives.
• Sustainability Program Administrator II: Two years of full-time experience within sustainability programs with an emphasis on the building trades and/or energy related fields (e.g., HVAC, electrical, construction, building performance) in program planning, development and/or administration including establishing priorities and meeting competing deadlines and objectives.
• Possession and maintenance of a California driver license
• Proficiency with: MS Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Teams, and Project Management Tools
• Project management
• Maintaining a variety of documentation related to program activities
• Virtual communication technologies such as Zoom and Teams meetings
• Establishing and maintaining effective working relationships with a variety of stakeholders representing diverse cultures and backgrounds
• Developing and implementing sustainability programs demonstrating knowledge of California sustainability, climate, energy efficiency, building decarbonization or other energy issues.
• Regional Energy Networks (RENs), Investor-Owned Utilities (IOUs), Community Choice Aggregators (CCAs), and the California energy efficiency program landscape
• Developing and implementing workforce development programs
• Excellent written communication skills must be demonstrated in the completion of the employment application and supplemental questionnaire.

Nice To Haves

• Bachelor's and/or master’s degree in administration, sustainability, engineering, architecture, or construction management/technology or a closely related field
• Some proficiency with WordPress, Salesforce, Constant Contact, Canva, and Asana
• Fluency in Spanish to communicate conversationally with stakeholders such as Spanish-speaking contractors or community members

Responsibilities

• Facilitates training webinars and in-person training events by coordinating with Workforce Development instructors on schedules and materials preparation.
• Conducts outreach to educational institutions, workforce groups, and industry organizations throughout the tri-county region targeting audiences to promote upcoming workshops and meetings.
• Plans, develops, and coordinates sustainability programs in conjunction with other Sustainability staff, County staff, partner agencies, consultants, and community stakeholders to identify program improvements, process updates, and team initiatives.
• Tracks, documents and reports Sustainability program activities and emerging trends in energy efficiency and electrification.
• Prepares meeting materials, presentations, and program communications including content ideas for newsletters, website updates, and outreach materials.
• Develops annual training calendars and identifies relevant topics for the workforce development 3C-REN’s Building Performance Training (BPT) program.
• Attends meetings with 3C-REN partners and regional stakeholders.
• Reviews contracts and grants to ensure compliance requirements.
• Coordinates smaller projects, serves as a lead on specific program components, and manages more complex tasks, timelines and deliverables using project management tools.

Benefits

• General salary increase: A general salary increase of 3.5% effective on December 20, 2026, and 3.5% effective December 19, 2027.
• Educational Incentive: Completion of an associate degree (2.5%), bachelor's degree (5%), OR graduate degree (7.5%) not required for the position.
• Annual Leave/Accruals Redemption: A candidate selected for this position will earn 208 hours per year, increasing to 288 hours after 5 years of service and has the ability to "cash in" or redeem up to 100 hours of Annual Leave per year after taking 80 hours in the preceding 12 months.
• Deferred Compensation: 401(k) Shared Savings Plan and/or Section 457 Plan, with up to a 3% match on your 401(k) contributions.
• Health Plans: You are afforded an annual flexible credit allowance of up to $26,626 for purchasing medical, dental, and/or vision insurance from a group of authorized plans.
• Flexible Spending Accounts: Pre-tax benefit towards eligible medical, dental and vision care expenses.
• Pension Plan: Both the County and you contribute to the County's Retirement Plan and to Social Security. If you are eligible, you may establish reciprocity with other public retirement systems such as CalPERS.
• Bilingual Incentive: Proficiency levels by exam are $.69 per hour (Level I), $1.00 per hour (Level II), or $1.32 per hour (Level III).
• Holidays - 12 paid days per year, which includes a scheduled floating holiday.

What This Job Offers

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