Senior Sustainability and Climate Analyst

Job Description:

Senior Sustainability and Climate Analyst

Description

Position Description

The City of Tacoma is seeking a Senior Sustainability and Climate Analyst to play a key leadership role in advancing citywide sustainability and climate initiatives. This position manages complex programs and projects, supports engagement with a wide range of internal and external stakeholders, and analyzes data to communicate findings and develop actionable recommendations in close coordination with the Chief Sustainability Officer.

The Senior Sustainability and Climate Analyst will lead the coordination, implementation, measurement, and reporting of priority strategies and actions within the City’s Climate Action Plan Climate Adaptation Strategy. This role will support interdepartmental integration of equity, sustainability and strategic priorities into the organization’s planning and operations. The Analyst is central to improving the health, safety, and climate preparedness of the community through data-informed decision-making, cross-departmental collaboration, community partnerships and clear communication.

If the below list of personal traits sounds like you, then you are just the type of person we are looking for to join our team!

• Organized and excels at a broad portfolio of assignments
• Excellent writing and interpersonal communication skills
• Strong personal motivation and commitment to results driven outcomes and accountability
• Outstanding people skills and dedication to building and nurturing relationships with diverse communities.
• Passionate about social and environmental justice
• Adaptable to working in a dynamic organization with minimal oversite

Essential Duties:

• Under the direction of the Center for Strategic Priorities Director and Chief Sustainability Office, develop guidance and resources to support the City in advancing Tacoma’s 2035 Strategic Framework through drafting policies, procedures, tools, recommendations, reporting.
• Develop a deep understanding of internal customer operations, priorities, and constraints in order to provide relevant, actionable consultation related to the direct implementation of equity, sustainability, and strategic priorities to departmental operations.

• Facilitate meetings, trainings and workshops to assist departments in designing and applying frameworks, strategies, and policy directives into organizational operations.
• Coordinate cross-departmental and community focused strategic initiatives to produce high-impact deliverables that directly contribute to organizational success. Organize and manage process including stakeholder engagement, communications, and reporting.

• Work directly with stakeholders to research, analyze, evaluate, and develop policy recommendations to implement climate action plan actions and other emerging community needs, ensuring alignment with Council priorities.
• Evaluate programs and identify programmatic needs, analyze trends and opportunities, recommend strategy to department leadership. Provide data informed solutions along with best practices analysis, and make recommendations regarding funding allocations, policy analysis, and legislative efforts.
• Utilize best practices to deploy analytical and tracking tools along with design and develop reporting of environmental and equity performance metrics.
• Develop and administer contracts, including negotiating and developing scopes of work, developing/managing budgets and procurement for contracted services and developing deliverables-based outputs.
• Act as a representative of the City of Tacoma, and the department, serve as a liaison between the City and community partners and stakeholders.
• Provide primary support to the Sustainability and Climate Commission.
• Prepare and present information to a variety of audiences including City staff, City Council, members of the public, and outside organizations.
• Special projects and assignments: Grant research, application and reporting; research and prepare Council and community constituent responses and develop media communications.
• Supervise interns and others as appropriate.

Qualifications

Minimum Education*
Bachelor's degree in environmental studies, natural resource management, earth or plant studies, or directly related field

Minimum Experience*
4 years environmental program administration

Licensing, Certifications and Other Requirements
None

*Equivalency: 1 year of experience = 1 year of education

Knowledge & Skills

• Experience working collaboratively on complex initiatives and building trusting relationships effectively with people of diverse backgrounds, perspectives, and cultures within all levels of the organization, including external agencies and partners.
• Experience in successful program planning, implementation, and funding, including budget management and operationalizing strategies to ensure smooth and efficient operations of work to achieve priorities and goals.
• Strong facilitation, public speaking, and written communication skills, including writing and editing reports, summary memoranda, correspondence, etc.
• Experience with data management, reporting and visualization including performance management tools.
• High level of self-awareness, self-motivation, initiative, and integrity.
• Experience working within racial equity frameworks.
• Knowledge of climate impacts and adaptation solutions.
• Ability to work independently and make decisions within given parameters.
• Is creative and flexible and not afraid to take risks, improve, and evolve with an orientation towards problem-solving.

Selection Process & Supplemental Information

A Commitment to Equity & Diversity
At the City of Tacoma, we're on a mission to make our workforce as diverse and inclusive as the community we serve. We're committed to eliminating racial and other disparities, and we actively seek out candidates from a wide range of backgrounds and cultures. Join our team at the City of Tacoma and help us build a more vibrant, inclusive, and equitable community for all.
If you have a less traditional background, we want to hear about your transferrable skills and experience. We value a variety of perspectives and are excited to see what you bring to the table.
The Community
Tacoma is centrally located just 32 miles south of the city of Seattle and 31 miles north of the state capital, Olympia. The City of Tacoma is also home to the Port of Tacoma, which is among the largest container ports in the United States. Like most cities in the northwest, Tacoma is surrounded by beautiful nature, offering residents many opportunities for outdoor adventures.

Largely suburban in nature with a small, but dense, urban core, Tacoma is home to numerous institutes of higher learning that attract students from across the country. The University of Washington Tacoma, Pacific Lutheran University, University of Puget Sound, a satellite campus of the Evergreen State College, three community/technical colleges, and several trade and business schools are within Tacoma's geographic area. Downtown's Cultural District is the site of the Washington State History Museum, Museum of Glass, the Tacoma Art Museum, and America's Car Museum.
With its affordable housing and distinctive neighborhoods and business districts, the city has been recognized numerous times as a best city to live in the nation. To see a few of the great things Tacoma has to offer, view this YouTube Video! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2n5MWl8KFvI

To be Considered for this Rewarding Career
Interested individuals should apply online by completing the application and attaching a resume and cover letter by the closing date and time listed on the job announcement. Applications received without attaching the required materials may not progress in the selection process.

If you are a veteran and would like to be considered for veteran's preference points, please attach a copy of your DD214 to your application.

Supplemental Questions
This is a competitive selection process. Applicants will be required to respond to written questions outlining their experience, knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to perform the essential functions of this position. Applicants who meet the minimum qualifications will have their responses to Supplemental Questions #3 to #8 reviewed and scored by a committee of subject matter experts, as the Experience and Training Test. These questions will be scored based on the information provided. It is the responsibility of the applicants to adequately describe all pertinent experience and training. Please make sure you read the questions and provide complete informative answers, including your roles in the position and key activities. DO NOT respond with ‘see resume’ in lieu of answering these questions; this will result in a failing score. Providing false information will result in disqualification.

Get Assistance
For assistance with the application process or questions regarding this job announcement please contact the Human Resources office at (253) 591-5400 by 4:00 p.m. of the closing date of the job announcement.
For technical difficulties using the Neogov system, call the applicant support line at 1-855-524-5627 between 6:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. Pacific Standard Time. This will allow us to assist you before the job announcement closes.

Communication with the City of Tacoma

We primarily communicate via email during the application process. Emails from Tacoma.gov and/or governmentjobs.com should be placed on your safe domain list to ensure that you receive notifications in a timely manner. As a precaution, you may also want to check your junk email folders.

Compensation & Benefits

Pay Details:
Hourly Rate: $47.25 - $66.50
Annual Salary: $98,280.00 - $138,320.00
Employee Benefits | City of Tacoma

The City of Tacoma provides excellent medical, dental and vision plans for the whole family; paid holidays and paid leave; participation in the Tacoma Employees' Retirement System (alternate plan for Police/Fire); continuing education and advancement opportunities and a growing variety of City-sponsored health and wellness opportunities and incentives.

Medical Coverage: For eligible employees and their families, including domestic partners and dependent children age26 or younger.

Dental Coverage: For eligible employees and their families, including domestic partners and dependent children age26 or younger.

Vision Coverage: For eligible employees and their eligible dependents.

Paid Leave: City employees are entitled to received paid holidays, sick/vacation leave or personal time off (PTO), depending upon union affiliation and appointment type.

Insurance Plans: Employees are covered by a long-term disability plan. Short-term and expanded long-term disability insurance plans are also available to employees. The State Industrial Insurance Act also covers employees.

Deferred Compensation: Income can be set aside on a pretax basis and invested for supplementation of normal retirement income.

Retirement: All employees of the City, except members of the Police and Fire services, Tacoma Rail and certain project employees, are included in the Tacoma Employees' Retirement System. Information on the Tacoma Employees' Retirement System can be found at www.cityoftacoma.org or by calling (253) 502-8200.

Other Employment Information

Direct Deposit: Employees are paid on a bi-weekly schedule by direct deposit.

Salary Increases: Based on satisfactory job performance, the City provides for a regular progression of salary increases for most classifications according to the salary schedule.

Union Affiliation: Many job classifications are covered by union security provisions which require union membership, dues, or payment of equivalent service fees.

Note: The provisions of this job announcement do not constitute an expressed or implied contract. Any provision contained herein may be modified and/or revoked without notice.

Closing Date/Time: 1/13/2026 5:00 PM Pacific

Salary:

$98,280.00 - $138,320.00 Annually