Outreach Specialist

About this role

<div class="content-intro"><h3><strong>Launch your Sustainability Career with the Climate Corps Fellowship program!</strong></h3> <p>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.</p></div><p><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><strong>About the Opportunity </strong></span></p> <p><strong>Start Date:</strong> September 1st, 2026</p> <p><strong>Length of Fellowship:</strong> 10 months</p> <p><strong>Location Type:</strong> Hybrid</p> <p>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.</p> <p data-pm-slice="1 1 []">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.</p> <p>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.</p> <p><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><strong>About Our Partner: </strong><strong>San Mateo County Sustainability Department</strong></span></p> <p data-pm-slice="1 1 []">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.</p> <p data-pm-slice="1 1 []">At the San Mateo County Sustainability Department, the team.....</p> <ul> <li>Are passionate about protecting and saving the environment, while serving our community.</li> <li>Are compassionate and empathetic to the needs of our colleagues, community members, and stakeholders.</li> <li>Actively work to ensure inclusion in our programs.</li> <li>Value varied life experiences and strive to create a workplace that is welcoming to all.</li> </ul> <p><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><strong>What You’ll Do</strong></span></p> <ul> <li>Build and manage a referral pipeline through CBOs and other partners, including co-marketing and referral agreements.</li> <li>Conduct drop-in site visits to business owners.</li> <li>Develop relationships with, and present to, chambers of commerce and other business associations.</li> <li>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.</li> <li>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).</li> <li>With support from the Department’s Communications Team, develop outreach materials, flyers, presentations, and digital/social content that promote program benefits to business audiences.</li> <li>Respond to inquiries from business owners, community members, and partners and connect them to appropriate program resources.</li> <li>Track outreach activity, referrals, and outcomes, and report on engagement metrics to demonstrate program impact.</li> </ul> <p><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><strong>What We Provide</strong></span></p> <ul> <li>A fixed, monthly stipend of $3570.</li> <li>$1000 end-of-program financial award.​</li> <li>Health care coverage with 100% of health care insurance premiums covered by SEI.</li> <li>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.</li> <li>Comprehensive career-readiness training, including interview prep, salary negotiation, and resume…