Sustainability Intern (Temporary)

  • Westminster, Colorado
  • Westminster, Colorado
  • Apr 16, 2024
Temporary Internship Other
  • Salary: $82,899.00 - $103,613.00 Annually USD

Job Description

POSITION PURPOSE / IMPORTANT APPLICATION INFORMATION

The Sustainability Intern develops and implements strategies and actions to pursue the sustainability goals of the City of Westminster. The position assists the Chief Sustainability Officer with a variety of projects, programs and initiatives working with staff, businesses, community organizations, and the Westminster community to pursue innovative solutions. The successful candidate will gain significant skills that translate to both public and private sector sustainability positions.

This is a full-time, benefited position. The duration of intern appointments is generally a maximum of three (3) years. City Hall business hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. Schedule flexibility including a combination of remote and in-office working may be considered.

In order to be considered for this position, all candidates must attach a cover letter and resume (maximum of two pages for each document) to the online application at the time of submittal. The full salary range for this position is stated above. The starting range of pay is dependent on qualifications and experience of each individual candidate. The City of Westminster has a Multilingual Stipend Program to encourage and reward benefited employees who are conversationally fluent in languages other than English. Benefited employees have the opportunity to test their language proficiency skills and qualify for a bi-weekly stipend that will vary based on the employee’s level of proficiency and usage.

ORGANIZATIONAL COMPETENCIES AND CULTURAL VALUES/GENERAL COMPETENCIES

The City's work culture encourages passionate, positive and enthusiastic employees who, along with our City Council and City Manager, are strong supporters of our mission: Westminster’s purpose is to provide core services and foster economic resilience to give our community the opportunity to thrive. Westminster is a city of beautiful, safe, well-maintained neighborhoods and destinations with a vibrant, diverse economy, rich and resilient environment and a strong sense of community belonging. Our core values are embodied in our SPIRIT (Service - Pride - Integrity - Responsibility - Innovation - Teamwork).

This position supports the goals of the Community Services Department, which attracts, plans, buildings, preserves and retains an attractive and high-quality living and working environment by facilitating job creation, balanced housing, redevelopment, sustainability, appropriate land use and infrastructure decisions ensuring that the community is developed in a safe, aesthetically pleasing and maintainable manner.

Every employee is accountable to:
  • Demonstrate a high level of customer service; encourage others to focus on the customer; foster an environment where customer service is a priority
  • Communicate with customers to ensure that, where possible, they are satisfied, and that their needs are being addressed; solicit and evaluate customer feedback
  • Act as an ambassador by understanding and fostering the organization's mission and vision
  • Exhibit pride in self, the department, the city, and the community; conduct self in a professional manner
  • Demonstrate integrity and build trust through credibility, reliability, commitment, loyalty, and ethical behavior
  • Address difficult or contentious issues in a constructive manner
  • Support/promote change; demonstrate flexibility, and take calculated risks when appropriate
  • Participate in personal growth opportunities, and attend trainings designed to enhance capacity to bring new skills and ideas to the job and the organization
  • Work to continuously improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the service or product being delivered
  • Demonstrate support for team efforts by accepting new roles and responsibilities, and helping others achieve objectives
  • Value diversity; demonstrate an awareness of differences; demonstrate sensitivity, and adapt behaviors and communication to accommodate these differences


GENERAL COMPETENCIES

Citywide - Every employee in this position is accountable to:
  • Establish effective interpersonal relationships through honest, open communication and follow-through on commitments
  • Recognize personal strengths and weaknesses, and target areas for personal self-development
  • Demonstrate initiative in performing job tasks
  • Exhibit problem-solving skills leading to sound judgment and quality decisions
  • Achieve goals, and handle assigned workload and new assignments effectively; demonstrate an ability to work independently
  • Communicate effectively with individuals and groups using clear and concise verbal and written communications
  • Demonstrate accountability for work, and take ownership in job performance
  • Demonstrate concern for the accuracy and quality of work; take steps to correct mistakes and improve the overall product

Job Specific - Every employee in this position must be able to:
  • Understand pertinent federal, state, and local policies, laws, codes, and regulations
  • Demonstrate project management practices and tools
  • Apply methods and techniques of data collection, research, and report preparation
  • Apply methods of administrative, organizational, statistical, and procedural analysis
  • Stay current on trends, practices, technology, and information affecting the sustainability field
  • Coordinate the collection, evaluation, interpretation and reporting of information and data
  • Establish and maintain working relationships with Westminster businesses and the community
  • Analyze problems, identify alternative solutions, and recommend conclusions
  • Establish and maintain effective working relationships
  • Apply exceptional organizational and critical thinking skills
  • Demonstrate excellent oral and written communication skills
  • Demonstrate creativity in the development of programs.
  • Work independently and as a team member.
  • Demonstrate abilities as a self-starter who can work with varying amounts of supervision and mentoring
  • Focus on results and interact effectively with diverse groups and individuals


JOB SPECIFIC FUNCTIONS

Essential Job Functions, Duties, Responsibilities, and Tasks

1. Lead and develop the SAGE Sustainable Business Program
  • Recruit new businesses
  • Provide advice and technical assistance to business leaders
  • Recognize business leaders
  • Add new program offerings as needed
  • Coordinate any financial assistance to businesses
  • Be the voice of the program and promote the program
  • Coordinate with internal and external partners
  • Make corrections/modifications to the program operations as needed
  • Maintain the program website

2. Lead and develop sustainability projects that improve City operations, specifically:
  • Lead and facilitate the Sustainability Team
  • Improve City waste management practices, procurement, Fleet operations and environmental compliance

3. Assist in implementing the strategies and actions contained in the Westminster Sustainability Plan and other City Plans

4. Work with community groups, neighborhoods and HOAs to implement sustainability practices, including:
  • Energy conservation
  • Waste management
  • Water conservation (working in partnership with Public Works and Utilities)

5. Collect and report data and information related to sustainability activities for City operations and community practices

6. Communicate sustainability work through a variety of City channels, including COWNet, the Sustainability Webpage, and social media.

Other Duties and Responsibilities

Incumbent is accountable for all duties of this job, and other projects and responsibilities may be added at the City’s discretion.

POSITION REQUIREMENTS/WORKING CONDITIONS/PRE-EMPLOYMENT REQUIREMENTS

Education, Experience, Skills, Formal Training, Licenses, and Certifications

Required :
  • Bachelor's degree with major coursework in Sustainability, Environmental Planning, Environmental Science, Environmental Policy, Renewable Resources, Natural Resource Management or a related field
  • Two (2) years of full-time professional experience in development and administration of sustainability programs

Preferred :
  • Master’s degree in a related discipline

Any equivalent combination of education, training, and experience, which would provide the required knowledge and skills, may be considered.

Physical Requirements

Work is sedentary in nature and requires sufficient physical stamina and strength for:
  • Constant sitting to perform daily tasks; occasional walking through a multilevel facility to retrieve information; frequent standing, sometimes for extended periods
  • Frequent squatting, reaching above shoulder, and twisting to file documents and lift supplies and material; occasional bending, kneeling, climbing, balancing, and reaching below shoulder to store documents, material, and supplies
  • Constant light grasp, fine manipulation, and handling to perform daily duties; occasional firm grasp to safely use equipment
  • Frequent lifting, carrying, and pushing and/or pulling of up to ten (10) pounds to move material and supplies; occasional lifting and pushing and/or pulling of up to twenty-five (25) pounds with dollies and carts


WORKING CONDITIONS

Work is constantly performed indoors. This is primarily sedentary office work with numerous visits to businesses and other organizations. Must demonstrate the ability to meet the physical demands of the job, including the ability to retrieve information from various locations in the office when needed. Exposure to periods of high activity and stress under demanding conditions. The position requires a great deal of communication with City employees, the public, and outside agencies.

Required Materials and Equipment

General office equipment including personal computer (desktop and tablet), telephone, cellular phone, copy machine and calculator.

PRE-EMPLOYMENT REQUIREMENTS
  • Background checks will include employment references and criminal history, and when applicable, credit check, driver license record, and education verification
  • Drug screen
  • Must be legally entitled to work in the United States


The City of Westminster offers a comprehensive benefit package including:
  • Health and Dental
  • Flexible Spending
  • Pension/ Retirement Plans
  • Term Life Insurance
  • Long-term Disability
  • Survivor Benefits
  • Wellness Program
  • General leave that provides vacation, holidays, illness leave and administrative leave
  • Education and Training Reimbursement, and
  • Exempt Reimbursement Program


For a more detailed overview of our Exempt and Administrative Officer benefit package:
Benefit Package

The City of Westminster does not participate in the Social Security system.In lieu of social security contributions, the city contributes to a 401(a) defined contribution plan on your behalf.

401(a) Contribution Rates:
Employee Mandatory Contribution: 11% of your base pay. Contributions are pre-tax and fully vested.
Employer Contribution: 11.25%of your base pay.

Employer Contribution Vesting Schedule
  • Less than 3 years - 0%
  • 3 years- 60%
  • 4 years - 80%
  • 5+ years - 100%
The City of Westminster provides employees with innovative and practical ways to improve their commute through two key features, EcoPass and Commute Benefits powered by Commutrics. EcoPass provides unlimited trips on RTD's core transit services and Commute Rewards allows you to record your trips and get rewards based on your commute mode.

Closing Date/Time: 4/29/2024 8:30 AM Mountain

Job Address

Westminster, Colorado United States View Map