Overview

Application Deadline: Rolling until position is filled
Start Date: ASAP
Salary Range: $50,000 to $60,000 – Dependent on experience and qualifications
To Apply: Send resume and cover letter detailing your qualifications and reasons for applying to Karina Graeter,
malexandre@smpdc.org.

The Southern Maine Planning and Development Commission (SMPDC) is seeking an organized, independent, and
motivated Sustainability and Resilience Specialist. This full-time position will support a variety of sustainability and
coastal resilience projects as well as provide general assistance to the Regional Sustainability and Resilience Program. The first program of its kind in southern Maine, SMPDC’s innovative Regional Sustainability and Resilience Program supports both regional and individual community action to enhance sustainability, climate preparedness, and community resilience.

The chosen candidate will work as part of a tight knit team assisting communities on actions such as climate change
planning, coastal resilience projects, outreach and educational efforts, renewable energy/energy efficiency projects, and more. This new position in the growing Regional Sustainability and Resilience Program offers a tremendous opportunity for career development – including the chance to develop and lead new initiatives with southern Maine communities. This will be a hybrid position with both in-office work and the opportunity for remote work. The position might require occasional attendance at night meetings.

Roles and activities:

This position will support the Sustainability Coordinator and the Coastal Resilience Coordinator in the following areas:

  • Assist current ongoing projects of the Regional Sustainability and Resilience Program, including Climate Ready
    Coast – Southern Maine, the Local Climate Action Planning Cohort, and the SMPDC Energy Audit Program.

    • Potential activities: synthesizing data and writing reports, conducting greenhouse gas inventories,
      creating compelling visuals and infographics, developing and facilitating workshops, and conducting
      direct outreach to stakeholders.
  •  Support ongoing program activities including regular program meetings for municipalities, bi-monthly
    newsletters, informational webinars, and general technical assistance to municipalities.

    • Potential activities: writing newsletter articles and designing newsletter layouts, developing meeting
      agendas, meeting and workshop facilitation, and digital outreach.
  • Help identify, design, and implement new projects for municipalities and the region based on community needs and interests.
    • Potential activities: Project design, budgeting, grant writing, and project administration.

Skills and Qualifications:

Skills and qualifications of the successful candidate include:

  • Excellent Microsoft Office skills, specifically Excel and Word
  • Strong written and verbal communications
  • Excellent organizational and time management skills
  • Ability to research, integrate, analyze, and interpret data from various sources to produce information and
    reports
  • Aptitude creating data visualizations such as infographics, graphs, and dashboards
  • Experience planning and facilitating meetings of diverse stakeholder audiences
  • Familiarity with stakeholder engagement and climate resilience planning processes
  •  Superb attention to detail
  • Ability to work effectively independently and as part of a team
  • Ability to follow verbal and written instructions with minimum supervision
  • Positive attitude and professional demeanor

Education and Experience
The Sustainability and Resilience Specialist must have training and proven experience with sustainability and coastal
resilience. The preferred candidate would have applied experience working on sustainability and coastal resilience issues in a municipal or regional setting.

About SMPDC
SMPDC is a non-partisan nonprofit that cultivates thriving, sustainable communities and strengthens local governments by leading planning and economic development for 39 member towns in southern Maine. SMPDC is a leader in land use, sustainability, and resilience planning throughout Maine. SMPDC works closely with member municipalities by providing Planning Board support, development review, ordinance writing services, and long-range planning services.

SMPDC offers a flexible work environment with opportunities for advancement and professional enrichment. The position offers a competitive benefits package. SMPDC’s office is located in a vibrant area, walking distance from both downtown Saco and Biddeford, which was just recognized as a ‘Top 10 Small City in America for Food’ by Food & Wine Magazine.

How to Apply
Interested candidates should electronically submit a resume to Marian Alexandre at malexandre@smpdc.org with the email subject line: Sustainability and Resilience Specialist. Candidates will be reviewed on an ongoing basis until the position is filled.

Equal Opportunity Employer
SMPDC is an equal opportunity employer and shall continue to pursue a policy of non-discrimination in all employment actions, practices, and conditions of employment.
1. Recruitment and selection will be administered without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin,
age, disability, sexual orientation, or any other characteristic protected by law.
2. Reasonable accommodations for any qualified individual, applicant, or employee will be made in accordance
with the provisions of the American with Disabilities Act (ADA).

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