Under the direction of the Director of Custodial and Sustainability, the Energy and Sustainability Specialist is responsible for supporting, monitoring, and tracking the implementation of the District's Sustainability Plan. This role requires a proactive approach to ensuring the successful implementation of sustainability projects across the district through leadership, collaboration, and clear communication.
The Energy and Sustainability Specialist performs independent work while contributing to the overall team effort, utilizing leadership skills to guide and support colleagues, students, and school staff to promote and implement the district's sustainability initiatives.
ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS:
Under the direction of the Director of Custodian and Sustainability, support the implementation of the District's Sustainability Plan.
Collaborate with school and department staff to develop and execute energy-saving and waste reduction strategies and improve cost-efficiency.
Collaborate with school administrators, the Custodial department, and the waste management company to reduce waste district-wide, including conducting waste audits and optimizing pickup schedules
Implement and maintain a standardized waste collection and reduction practice in all elementary school cafeterias
Work with school sites to establish and maintain a standard recycling program
Develop and execute a plan for managing excess school furniture, coordinating with maintenance for recycling and disposal of unwanted items.
Assist school-based Green Team leaders with sustainability efforts and education related to the Custodial and Sustainability department initiatives and goals
Collaborate with the Facilities Support Supervisor as the Energy Coach in the District's Strategic Energy Management Program.
Facilitate partnerships with community organizations to enhance and leverage district sustainability initiatives.
Assist in designing and implementing marketing strategies to increase participation in sustainability efforts
Conducting audits on current systems and practices relating to waste management, sustainability, and energy usage at all district sites
Maintain confidentiality while handling sensitive information and collaborating with district staff and external entities
Respond to and resolve technical, workflow, and system issues; work with supervisors to assess and address problems
Perform other duties as assigned to support district sustainability goals.
KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES
Knowledge:
Understanding of sustainability practices and principles, particularly in educational settings.
Familiarity with waste reduction, recycling, and energy management strategies.
Knowledge of district policies and state and federal regulations related to sustainability and environmental management.
Awareness of community resources and partnerships relevant to sustainability initiatives.
Knowledge of data collection, analysis, and reporting techniques for monitoring sustainability efforts.
Understanding of effective communication and marketing strategies to promote sustainability.
Familiarity with project management principles and techniques.
Awareness of confidentiality requirements and best practices in handling sensitive information.
Skills and Abilities:
Ability to collaborate effectively with diverse groups, including school administrators, staff, students, and external partners.
Strong organizational skills to manage multiple projects and initiatives simultaneously.
Ability to analyze data and assess the effectiveness of sustainability practices.
Strong communication skills, both written and verbal, for outreach, presentations, and reporting.
Proficiency in designing and implementing educational programs and professional development related to sustainability.
Ability to lead initiatives and work independently while also supporting team efforts.
Problem-solving skills to identify and address technical, workflow, and system issues.
Ability to adapt to changing priorities and environments, ensuring sustainability goals are met.
Ability to efficiently travel between multiple locations as needed
Skill in managing resources effectively to maximize budget and reduce waste.
Minimum Qualifications:
Bachelor's degree in environmental science, sustainability, education, or a related field, or an equivalent combination of education and experience in sustainability, environmental management, or a related area.
Preferred Qualifications:
Public sector experience in waste and/or sustainability management
Experience working effectively with public agencies for
Working Conditions:
The Energy and Sustainability Specialist will be a part of a flexible working environment, including both office and field settings. The Energy and Sustainability Specialist will work in an office setting, at various school sites, and occasionally at partner locations. Duties may involve exposure to waste and dirty environments, working outdoors in various weather conditions, and navigating through inclement weather as needed. The role requires physical activity, including walking, sitting, standing, typing, moving between different locations, and handling materials. The specialist must be able to perform tasks that involve lifting, bending, and other physical movements necessary for implementing sustainability initiatives.
The position requires working knowledge of several technical procedures or work activity areas and ability to teach them to others. In-depth knowledge of work-related district policies and practices is necessary. Job proficiency can be acquired in twelve to twenty-four months.
Benefits Information:
Bend-La Pine Schools provides its employees with a range of competitive and comprehensive benefits including medical, dental, vision, prescription coverage, life and disability insurance, an employee assistance program, options to enroll in employee funded 403(b) and/or 457(d) retirement savings plan, and various leave and professional development programs.
Bend-La Pine contributes the required 6% of employees' annual salary on a pre-tax basis to the Public Employees Retirement System (PERS/OPSRP) on the employee's behalf.
To learn more about the additional benefits or compensation options available for each employee group, please visit our website.