Sustainability and Climate Adaptation Director (San Rafael)

Sustainability and Climate Adaptation Director

Join to apply for the Sustainability and Climate Adaptation Director role at County of Marin.

The Office of the County Executive is responsible for implementing the policy direction of the Marin County Board of Supervisors and supporting the effective delivery of public services across 22 departments. The office provides leadership on countywide initiatives, coordinates interdepartmental and crossjurisdictional programs. Our work includes advancing the Boards strategic priorities, overseeing the Countys $865 million budget, and leading crosscutting efforts in housing, climate, equity, emergency preparedness, homelessness, and more. The County of Marins Climate Program is a new function within the Office of the County Executive and part of the broader reorganization approved by the Board of Supervisors in 2025. The new Sustainability and Climate Adaptation Director will lead this countywide effort to accelerate climate action, coordinate adaptation planning, and embed sustainability principles across all County operations and in the community in partnership with external agencies. The Director oversees the Sustainability Team, which leads Marins comprehensive greenhouse gas (GHG) reduction work including promoting renewable energy in coordination with local utilities and implementers; encouraging green building and businesses; reducing emissions from transportation; and improving energy efficiency of private and public properties across the County. The position also oversees the Countys Sea Level Rise (SLR) initiatives, including a governance and funding framework to strengthen coordination among jurisdictions and advance longterm resilience investments. Working collaboratively with County departments, cities and towns, regional agencies, and Marins many nonprofit and environmental partners, the Director will serve as a central leader uniting local efforts to combat climate change and prepare and protect Marins communities, economy, and natural landscapes. This is a defining leadership role for a big thinker who can connect the dots across policy, implementation, and partnerships. The Climate Director will represent the County Executive and Board of Supervisors in leading a forwardlooking, equitydriven climate agenda turning broad goals into measurable action. The position combines highlevel strategic planning with grassroots coordination, public engagement, and interagency collaboration. This position works fulltime onsite in the historic Frank Lloyd Wright designed Civic Center.

Key Responsibilities

• Direct the work of the Sustainability Team and Sea Level Rise Unit, integrating GHG mitigation and adaptation strategies across departments and community initiatives.
• Lead implementation of the Countys Climate Action Plan, tracking progress and ensuring alignment with regional, state, and federal goals.
• Convene and facilitate coordination among County departments, cities and towns, special districts, communitybased organizations, and regional/state/federal partners.
• Develop and implement policies to reduce emissions from energy, buildings, waste, and transportation; promote renewable energy; and advance climate equity.
• Oversee governance, policy, and funding strategies for countywide sea level rise response.
• Represent the County Executive in regional and statewide climate forums and partnerships.
• Manage and pursue grants, philanthropic partnerships, and funding opportunities to support sustainability and adaptation projects.
• Communicate progress and challenges to the County Executive, Board of Supervisors, and the public through reports, presentations, and community engagement.
• Supervise staff, consultants, and interdepartmental teams with a focus on collaboration and professional development.

Competitive Benefits Program Includes

• Retirement: A defined benefit retirement plan governed by the County Employees Retirement Law of 1937 (CERL), which can be reciprocal with other retirement systems. For more information visit and
• Deferred Compensation: The County does not participate in Social Security except for a mandatory Medicare contribution. A voluntary deferred compensation 457 plan is administered by Nationwide to enhance retirement planning.
• Health/Dental/Vision/Insurance: Cafeteriastyle health and welfare benefit plan that allows employees to choose from a variety of health, dental, vision, life, and longterm disability insurance plans.
• Leave Allowances: The County offers generous vacation, personal, and sick leave, plus 12 paid holidays.
• Management Leave: 40 hours per fiscal year.

The Highly Qualified Candidate

The ideal candidate is a visionary and collaborative leader who understands that meaningful climate action in Marin depends on meaningful cooperation between jurisdictions, sectors, and communities. They bring deep knowledge of climate policy and sustainability best practices, combined with the strategic and interpersonal skills to convene diverse partners and move complex initiatives forward. They are a systems thinker, able to see the big picture and connect daily decisions to longterm outcomes. They thrive when handling a range of complex and everyday issues balancing ambition with pragmatism. The ideal candidate values datadriven decisionmaking, transparent communication with their team and County leaders, and equitable approaches that prioritize Marins most vulnerable communities. Importantly, they care deeply about Marin its landscapes, its people, and its legacy of environmental leadership and are ready to apply their skills in service of the County. This role is an opportunity to steward Marins legacy into the next generation and ensure we continue to be a model for climate resilience and sustainability.

Qualifications

Knowledge of:

• Program planning, administration and evaluation.
• Climate mitigation and adaptation policy frameworks.
• Environmental planning and sustainability best practices.
• Government budgeting.
• Grant development and contract management.
• Community engagement and environmental justice principles.
• Relevant federal, state, and local environmental laws and policies.

Ability To

• Apply strong leadership and facilitation skills in crosssector environments.
• Think strategically and turn vision into action.
• Comfortably and effectively engage with elected officials, media, and diverse stakeholder groups.
• Manage teams, partnerships, and collaborative projects.
• Coordinate activities with other departments, programs and outside agencies.
• Navigate complex political, regulatory, and organizational systems.
• Communicate effectively, both orally and in writing.
• Demonstrate proficiency in performance measurement, reporting, and datadriven decisionmaking.

Minimum Qualifications

Any combination of education, training, and experience that demonstrates the required knowledge, skills, and leadership capabilities. A typical path would include: Education: Bachelors degree in environmental policy, public administration, urban planning, natural resources, or related field. A masters degree is highly desirable. Experience: At least five years of progressively responsible experience in sustainability, climate change, or public policy, including two years in a management or leadership role. Experience in the public sector and leading crossfunctional or crossagency initiatives is highly desirable.

Application Process

Please apply online, attach a resume and respond to supplemental questions by Monday, December 1st at 11:59PM PST. Application materials will be reviewed and evaluated as received and only the most qualified candidates will be invited to continue in the recruitment process.

Interviews Are Tentatively Scheduled For

• Week of Dec8 (virtual)
• Week of Dec15 (inperson)

All applicants will receive email notifications regarding their status in the recruitment process. Please be sure to check your spam settings to allow our emails to reach you. You may also log into your governmentjobs.com account to view these emails.

Disaster Service Workers

All County of Marin employees are designated Disaster Service Workers through state and local law (California Government Code Section 31003109). Employment with the County requires the affirmation of a loyalty oath to this effect. Employees are required to complete all Disaster Service Workerrelated training as assigned, and to return to work as ordered in the event of an emergency.

Equal Employment Opportunity Employer

If you have questions regarding equal employment opportunities, please contact Roger Crawford, Equal Employment Opportunity Director, at 4154732095. If you have questions concerning this position announcement, please contact Alisa Samuel at alisa.samuel@marincounty.gov.

Seniority level

• Director

Employment type

• Fulltime

Job function

• Other

Industries

• Government Administration

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