Climate Adaptation and Finance Strategist

Job Description:

Climate Adaptation and Finance Strategist

Description

ABOUT US

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 cross-jurisdictional programs.

Our work includes advancing the Board’s strategic priorities, overseeing the County’s $865 million budget, and leading cross-cutting efforts in housing, climate, equity, emergency preparedness, homelessness, and more. The County of Marin’s Climate and Sustainability Office 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.

ABOUT THE POSITION

With more than 70 miles of coast and 40 miles of bay shore, Marin County is one of the communities most affected by sea level rise in the Bay Area. Much of our land is low lying and can easily flood. Rising sea levels will affect many parts of life in Marin, including the safety of and access to our schools, businesses, roads, and wastewater treatment plants. Estimates place the cost of sea-level rise adaptation at $17B, while the cost of inaction is estimated at $34B. The Climate Adaptation Analyst will play a key role in the countywide effort to accelerate climate adaptation by identifying, structuring, and helping secure the funding and financing that will make Marin's sea level rise adaptation possible.

Reporting to the Chief Climate Officer, the Climate Adaptation and Finance Strategist will help advance countywide funding and financing strategy for sea level rise adaptation, using both conventional and innovative financing tools, such as municipal bonds, special assessment districts, utility and special-district financing pathways, and blended public-philanthropic-private structures. They will work with County Departments including the Community Development Agency, Department of Public Works, Marin County Parks and local jurisdictions to identify, understand, and prioritize adaptation projects. They will also partner with the County’s Legislative Affairs team to match projects to relevant federal and state funding opportunities as they arise and help shape grant strategy.

Additionally, the Climate Adaptation and Finance Strategist will:

• Compile and maintain a countywide project list that organizes candidate adaptation projects by design and construction readiness.
• Assist the Chief Climate Officer and planning staff to draft grant applications, narratives, and supporting materials for state and federal funding opportunities.
• Assist in coordinating regional shoreline adaptation planning for Marin’s bayside communities and sea-level rise planning for the Outer Coast.
• Help design governance structures that enable Marin’s cities, towns, and special districts to coordinate effectively on sea-level rise adaptation.
• Draft Board of Supervisors staff reports, memos, and public-facing materials synthesizing technical studies, funding strategy, and governance recommendations.
• Support the development and refinement of strategy documents, including annual workplans and staffing and capacity plans.

For additional information about this opportunity, view the Climate Adaptation Analyst brochure .
This position works full time on-site in the historic Frank Lloyd Wright-designed Marin County Civic Center, with flexibility for remote work one day per week.

ABOUT YOU

The Highly Qualified Candidate:

• Has four or more years of professional experience in public-sector planning, infrastructure, public finance, capital planning, grants or funding strategy, climate adaptation, economic development, or a related field.
• Has experience developing, evaluating, or implementing funding strategies for complex projects or programs. Experience with infrastructure or climate adaptation funding and financing is highly desirable.
• Is an effective project manager who can move complex, multidisciplinary projects from concept through implementation while managing schedules, resources, consultants, and competing priorities.
• Has experience developing recommendations and communicating complex information to decision-makers, boards and commissions, community groups, or other public audiences.
• Has experience identifying and pursuing grants, partnerships, budget commitments, or other resources to support public projects and programs.

• Is a strategic and critical thinker with strong analytical, writing, presentation, collaboration, and public engagement skills.
• Has the ability to build trust, navigate differing perspectives, and move shared initiatives forward.
• Can work across departmental, jurisdictional, and institutional boundaries to build productive relationships and advance shared objectives.

QUALIFICATIONS

KNOWLEDGE OF

• Principles of public-sector funding and finance, including familiarity with or the ability to quickly learn financing mechanisms applicable to infrastructure and climate adaptation, such as bonds, assessment districts, grants, and blended public-philanthropic-private approaches.
• Principles and practices and trends in one or more fields of planning, such as environmental, coastal, or sustainable development planning
• Grant application processes and legislative developments affecting federal and state funding for climate adaptation and infrastructure
• Environmental, land use, and water resource analysis
• Research, analytical, and statistical methods, and comprehensive cost analysis techniques
• The physical, social, and economic factors involved in land use, regional planning, and infrastructure finance
• Project management

ABILITY TO

• Lead in the delivery of funding, financing, and planning activities and projects
• Actively manage projects and programs, including multijurisdictional coordination
• Prepare and present studies, reports, and graphics within applicable time limits before boards and commissions
• Interpret and apply laws, ordinances, and funding program requirements to adaptation projects
• Work collaboratively with County departments and other Marin jurisdictions to assure comprehensive and coordinated funding strategy
• Speak effectively at public hearings and forums before public officials, the Board of Supervisors, and community groups
• Think critically and conduct strategic planning
• Work effectively as a member of a County management team
• Communicate effectively both verbally and in writing
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with co-workers, partner jurisdictions, and representatives of other agencies or departments.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

Any combination of education and experience that would provide the knowledge and skills listed. Typically, graduation from a four year college or university with major coursework in business or public administration, public policy or a field related to the work and three years of professional level experience performing administrative, budgetary, operational, management or organizational analysis work. At least one year of the required professional experience must have included journey level experience in the area of assignment. Additional professional level work experience performing administrative, budgetary, operational, management or organizational analysis may be substituted for the required education on a year-for-year basis.
Note: Additional graduate level courses in planning, environmental quality planning or closely related field may substitute for up to one year of the experience requirement at the rate of three semester units for one month of experience.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION

For any questions concerning this position announcement, please contact Alisa Samuel at [email protected] .

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.

Testing and Eligible List: Depending on the number of qualified applications received, the examination may consist of a highly qualified review, application screening, online assessment, written examination, oral examination, performance examination, or any combination to determine which candidates' names will be placed on the eligible list. The eligible list established from this recruitment may be used to fill the current vacancy, and any future vacancies for open, fixed-term, full-time or part-time positions which may occur while the list remains active.

Disaster Service Workers: All County of Marin employees are designated Disaster Service Workers through state and local law (California Government Code Section 3100-3109). Employment with the County requires the affirmation of a loyalty oath to this effect. Employees are required to complete all Disaster Service Worker-related 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 415-473-2095.

PLEASE NOTE: The benefits described herein do not apply to temporary (contingent) or to part-time employees that work less than 50%.

COUNTY OF MARIN BENEFITS: GENERAL
Below are some of the excellent benefits the County offers. More information about our benefits can be found on the Marin County's Benefits Homepage .

Paid Time Off : Competitive vacation accrual; 12 holidays per year; and generous sick leave accruals. Additional types of paid leaves are available for some bargaining units.

Health Plan : Choice of four health plans (two Kaiser HMOs, Western Health Advantage HMO, and an Anthem Blue Cross PPO) along with dental through Delta Dental PPO, and vision through Vision Service Plan (VSP). There is a County contribution toward the premiums (the contribution amount varies depending on coverage tier elected such as employee only, employee + 1, employee + family). Plus, the County offers excellent Life Insurance, Disability, Flexible Spending Plans, a Dependent Care Assistance Program, professional development and more.

Retirement : Defined benefit plan under the County Employees Retirement Act of 1937. More information can be found online at www.mcera.org.

IRS 457 Plan : Choice of pre-tax or post-tax (Roth) employee contribution up to the IRS annual maximum.

Retiree Medical : The County provides access to group health plan coverage to eligible retirees.

For specific questions regarding the employment process, please contact Human Resources at (415) 473-6104. For additional details about the benefits or retirement, please contact the Benefits Division at (415) 473-2197.

*IMPORTANT NOTE: Benefits described herein do not represent a contract and may be changed without notice.

Closing Date/Time: 9/21/2026 11:59 PM Pacific

Salary:

$130,936.00 - $158,225.60 Annually