AmeriCorps Climate Corps Opportunities Alameda County General Services Agency

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1 AmeriCorps Climate Corps Opportunities Alameda County General Services Agency Alameda County, located in the San Francisco Bay Area s East Bay, is home to more than 1.5 million people and includes cities such as Oakland, Berkeley, Fremont, and Livermore. Alameda County recognizes the need to take action to protect our climate in order to protect the quality of life of our communities. As an organization of approximately 9000 employees occupying over 120 facilities, the County government itself generates a significant carbon footprint. The County has already begun taking steps to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and has been recognized for climate leadership, including being the largest solar power producer of any local government in the United States and having one of the greenest fleets in the country. In May 2010, Alameda County took a major step by adopting a target of reducing GHG reductions 15% by 2020 and a Climate Action Plan for Government Services and Operations. (A community climate action plan will follow.) The Climate Corps Members placed in the General Services Agency s Sustainability and Transportation Services groups in Oakland, CA will build their resumes with on-the-ground experience as they play a key role in launching several of the major projects recommended in the Climate Action Plan for Government Services and Operations. The Sustainability Program and Transportation Services groups work closely together to create a dynamic and fun team. We look forward to working with you to find the best match between our climate action goals and your skills and interests. Please visit to learn more and view the Alameda County Climate Action Plan for Government Services and Operations. Apply for these opportunities at 1

2 1) Sustainable Transportation Outreach Coordinator Alameda County General Services Agency, Transportation Services, Oakland, CA Alameda County is the third largest employer in Alameda County, with over 9000 employees. About half of the total greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from the County government s operations are a direct result of our employees commutes to work. As a key part of the County s Climate Action Plan for Government Services and Operations, the General Services Agency Transportation Services Program has launched a Clean Commute Program to provide new options to employees and to reduce the number of employees who drive alone to work. The AmeriCorps Member serving as Sustainable Transportation Outreach Coordinator will assist the Sustainable Transportation Specialist in building and expanding the County s Clean Commute Program. The AmeriCorps Member s role will focus on employee behavior change campaigns to directly reduce GHG emissions from commutes, including expansion of the Clean Commute Club (a group that provides incentives and support for employees who take transit, carpool, bike, or walk to work). Major responsibilities will include: 1) Conducting outreach activities to expand employee participation in the Clean Commute Program to decrease drive alone commutes and increase the use of public transit, carpooling, biking, and walking to work; 2) Coordinating Clean Commute Club meetings and events and engaging Clean Commute Club members as volunteers to support fellow employees explorations of cleaner commute alternatives. Specific responsibilities will include: Assisting in the coordination of Clean Commute Club meetings and follow-up activities, and maintaining Club member information and channels of communication; Conducting outreach to gather employee transportation opinions and data through online surveys, focus groups, and in person interviews and consolidating this information to ensure that GHG reduction efforts are effective and efficient; Gathering, documenting, and disseminating survey data and employee feedback to aid in program design and greenhouse gas emissions reduction calculations; Reviewing employee input on the barriers and benefits to clean commutes and piloting strategies to increase participation in the Clean Commute Program; Assisting the Transportation Specialist in coordinating special event participation and employee focus groups; Creating County-wide communications including s, posters, and website updates to expand program participation and announce new initiatives; Meeting one-on-one with employees to provide information about commute alternatives; Presenting information and training materials on the County s Climate Action Plan and sustainable transportation programs to small groups of employees; Increasing employee participation in the annual Bay Area Bike to Work Day in May 2011; 2

3 Staffing the County sustainability booth at selected employee and public outreach events (may require flexibility to work outside of normal work hours); Conducting public outreach to secure Clean Commute Club meeting sites and discounts from local retailers; Developing print and web-based marketing materials for business and public audiences to promote the County s Clean Commute Program as a model. The ideal candidate would have: Excellent research, writing and communications skills; Experience drafting print and web-based outreach and marketing collateral; Experience working with (basic) social media tools as well as making in-person connections to implement outreach goals and initiatives; Ability to think as a team player while working independently; Ability to keep multiple projects moving forward in a fast-paced, goal-oriented environment; Passion for sustainability issues and making a difference in your community. 3

4 2) Waste Reduction and Climate Protection Associate Alameda County General Services Agency, Sustainability Program, Oakland, CA Alameda County consists of 20 agencies that buy millions of dollars of goods and services each year, some of which produce waste. In its role of facilitating implementation of the County s Climate Action Plan for Government Services and Operations, the General Services Agency Sustainability Program is organizing inter-agency coordination and expanding recycling programs by adding compost collection. (Waste reduction and materials reuse is extremely important to reduce GHG emissions because each stage of a product's life - from raw materials extraction to manufacturing, transportation, and waste disposal - consumes fossil fuels and results in greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Composting also reduces emissions by keeping organic waste out of landfills, where it produces methane, a potent greenhouse gas, as it decomposes.) The AmeriCorps Member serving as Waste Reduction and Climate Protection Associate will undertake two critical projects in close collaboration with the Sustainability Project Manager responsible for overseeing the County s internal climate protection efforts and waste reduction programs. Both projects provide on-the-ground operational experience in sustainability. First, the Member will work to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from waste disposal by expanding the County s internal waste diversion initiatives, including launching a compost collection program at several County facilities. Second, the Member will support coordination among the interagency team of Climate Coordinators who have volunteered to help implement the Climate Action Plan in their agencies. The interagency group has been working together to develop the Climate Action Plan for Government Services and Operations. Now, agencies that have already launched successful GHG reduction initiatives will share these with other agencies. The AmeriCorps Member will help promote the exchange and implementation of these best practices. (Specific practices will be selected based on the Member s background and interest.) Major responsibilities will include: 1) Overseeing a pilot project to test the effectiveness and cost implications of expanding the County s waste reduction efforts to include mixed container recycling and compost collection at County; 2) Facilitating the internal coordination of GHG reduction initiatives by supporting the interagency team of volunteer Climate Coordinators. Specific responsibilities will include: Conducting waste audits before and after the pilot recycling and compost (paper towel) collection program; Designing pilot program by working with vendors, waste haulers, and janitorial staff; Developing and delivering an outreach campaign to promote participation; Rolling out and monitoring pilot program; Answering customer inquiries about recycling; Assisting in the development of a roll-out strategy for other County buildings if pilot is successful; 4

5 Expanding an initial agency best practices list into a database of GHG reduction best practices being implemented within the County; Facilitating the formation of interagency action teams to replicate these best practices; Quantifying the GHG impacts of agency practices and documenting other program results; Building awareness of GHG emissions reduction programs through outreach and publicity efforts such as case studies and articles; Presenting on the County s climate protection program to employees; Engaging employees as volunteers to support fellow employees GHG reduction efforts; Staffing the County sustainability booth at selected employee and public outreach events (may require flexibility to work outside of normal work hours) 5

6 3) Employee Climate Action Outreach Associate Alameda County General Services Agency, Sustainability Program, Oakland, CA Alameda County employs over 9000 people and operates dozens of facilities. The daily choices of each County employee, multiplied by 9000, have a large impact on the County s greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Working with the Sustainability Program Manager responsible for outreach, the AmeriCorps Member serving as Employee Climate Action Outreach Associate will co-develop and implement a plan for employee education and outreach. The goal is to engage and empower employees to make changes that result in the reduction of GHG emissions, as laid out in the County s Climate Action Plan for Government Services and Operations. The outreach plan will use the framework of community-based social marketing, an approach based on research about what actually motivates behavior change. Major responsibilities will include: 1) Developing a social marketing campaign to measurably increase adoption of workplace behaviors that reduce GHG emissions (and save taxpayer dollars); 2) Engaging employees as volunteers to support fellow employees climate-friendly office workplace behaviors. Specific responsibilities will include: Assisting the Sustainability Project Manager to organize focus group research to determine an overall theme for climate outreach that resonates with County employees; Identifying key workplace behaviors that will have a significant impact on GHG emissions (such as turning off lights and printing double-sided); Gathering employee opinions and data through surveys, focus groups, and in-person interviews; Reviewing employee input on the barriers and benefits to key climate actions; Based on this research, developing workplace greening message and strategy tailored to employees; Piloting strategies to increase participation in key climate actions; Creating County-wide communications including s, posters, and website updates to roll out the strategy; Meeting one-on-one with dozens of employees to roll out the strategy; Presenting on key workplace behaviors and Climate Action Plan to group meetings; Identifying key needs for sustainability Intranet based on meetings with employees; Identifying and directing departmental representatives/volunteers to support workplace greening campaign; Tracking the success of the employee behavior change campaign and quantifying its greenhouse gas reduction impacts; Staffing the County sustainability booth at selected employee and public outreach events (may require flexibility to work outside of normal work hours). 6