Sustainability Technician

Job Description:

Sustainability Technician

Description

The City of Santa Rosa is Seeking a Sustainability Technician

The City of Santa Rosa is committed to building a workforce reflective of our community and establishing a lasting culture of equity and belonging within our organization. Our collective talents and expertise contribute to high-quality public services that support a vibrant, resilient, and inclusive City for our community and visitors. We celebrate a diverse workforce and welcome all qualified candidates to apply. 

THE BENEFITS OF CITY EMPLOYMENT:

• 12 paid holidays annually, plus 1 to 3 'floating holidays' per year, depending on start date and years of service
• Flexible schedule (9/80 or 5/8) with management approval
• 4% cost-of-living increase approved for July 2025 and July 2026
• $500 annually for wellness
• Unlimited free bus rides on CityBus and Sonoma County Transit
• The City is a Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) qualifying employer
• Paid Family Leave

In addition to offering a challenging, rewarding work environment and excellent salary, the City of Santa Rosa provides a generous suite of benefits, including retirement through CalPERS, a competitive leave accrual package, your choice of three health plans, a flexible spending program, employer contributions to a Retiree Health Savings plan, and top of the line employer paid vision and dental coverage. More information regarding benefits associated with this position can be found on our Miscellaneous Employee Benefits Page. 

ABOUT THE POSITION:

This is a Journey classification providing support to City's Water Resources Division, specifically the Water Use Efficiency section. Under direction, an incumbent provides support by collecting, analyzing and reporting data, implementing projects for a variety of water related programs; connecting directly with customers via email, on the phone and in-person fieldwork for various water related issues; and promoting water efficiency programs to the public through outreach, and presentations. Note that essential duties specific to energy are not assigned to this role.

THE IDEAL CANDIDATE:
The successful candidate will have:

• Strong written and oral communication skills 
• A proven record of excellent customer service 
• Experience performing urban water use efficiency field survey or audits 
• Knowledge of landscape irrigation systems or willingness to learn
• Ability to use basic spreadsheet functions, formulas, and formatting (Excel or similar)

HOW TO APPLY:
 Please complete a thoughtful, thorough Supplemental Questionnaire submission. As part of the selection process, your responses to these questions will be scored using criteria specific to this position. Incomplete responses, or responses such as "See Resume" can result in disqualification from the selection process.

https://www.governmentjobs.com/careers/srcity/jobs/4922621/sustainability-technician

THE SELECTION PROCESS:
 The selection process will include a minimum qualification assessment and may also include an application and supplemental questionnaire review, followed by department selection interviews. 

Examples of Duties and Responsibilities

Essential Duties:
The following duties are considered essential for this job classification:

• Gather, analyze, and interpret data for water and energy efficiency, conservation, sustainability, and resource supply planning and prepare reports using a computer database or spread sheet program;
• assist professional and technical staff in the development and updating of policies and technical documents such as the SB 55 Water Loss Audit, Urban Water Shortage Contingency Plan, Urban Water Management Plan, energy optimization plans, and climate action plans;
• develop and prepare documents, reports and materials for the Water Resources Division;
• assist professional and technical staff by providing the financial, technical, and procedural information they need to complete their projects;
• maintain computer databases of water and energy saving products, resources and program results;
• distribute surveys and assist in program evaluation;
• respond to customer service requests for the Water Resources Division;
• prepare technical reports, correspondence, and a variety of internal memoranda;
  
  Water
• perform residential and light commercial and irrigation water-use surveys, audits and inspections;
• provide technical assistance to the public related to water resources questions, issues, and product inquiries;
• coordinate community water resources awareness events, expos and displays;
• provide water saving devices or provide advice regarding installation of water saving devices;
• maintain recycled water Site Supervisor information;
• assist recycled water customers with meeting the City's Recycled Water User's Guide requirements;
• prepare and staff water resources exhibits at community events;
• stock and monitor information distribution centers;
• maintain the City's weather (CIMIS) stations.
  
  Energy
• Gather information and data about power provider rate structures, incentives, rebates, programs, and greenhouse gas emissions;
• research energy, climate change, and sustainability policies, procedures, projects and programs;
• provide technical support for programs, projects and activities focused on energy optimization, climate change mitigation and adaptation, and resource management and recovery;
• provide support with the compilation and maintenance of energy, greenhouse gas, and sustainability databases;
• gather information and help professional and technical staff assess operational impacts of energy and sustainability policies, projects, and programs.
  
  Additional Duties:
  In addition to the duties listed in the Essential Duties Section, each employee in this classification may perform the following duties. Any single position may not be assigned to all the duties listed below, nor do the examples cover all duties which may be assigned.
• Perform routine office and personal file management tasks;
• make public presentations on water and energy resources activities;
• represent Santa Rosa Water in community or professional meetings;
• and perform related duties as assigned.

Required Qualifications

Knowledge of: Modern office equipment, procedures and practices; financial and data processing systems used by the City; research techniques; methods and techniques of customer services and effective problem resolution; database management; data gathering and reporting techniques; principles and practices of providing training and effective lead direction to others; and rules of English grammar, punctuation and spelling.

Water: Knowledge of water use efficiency methods and practices for residential homes, light commercial businesses, and irrigation systems.

Energy: Knowledge of energy management and climate change mitigation and adaptation.

Ability to: Operate a variety of computer programs, including word processing, presentation, database, and spreadsheet programs; maintain computer records and customer databases; maintain accurate records and prepare clear and accurate statistical reports and correspondence; and communicate clearly and concisely orally and in writing; develop and maintain effective and cooperative working relationships.

Water: Learn the principles and practices of water-use efficiency, water conservation, recycled water and water supply planning implementation; learn the laws and regulations applicable to water management; advise Water customers on technical aspects of water resources programs; review construction and landscape plans for recycled water and water-use efficiency requirements;

Energy: Learn the principles and practices of energy efficiency, energy conservation, energy management, and climate change mitigation and adaptation; learn the laws and regulations applicable to energy management and climate change; advise the Department on technical aspects of energy resources and climate change; review construction plans for energy efficiency and greenhouse gas mitigation requirements.

Experience and Education: Any combination equivalent to experience and education that could likely provide the required knowledge and abilities that would be qualifying. A typical way to obtain the knowledge and abilities would be:

Experience - Sufficient years of experience in water and/or energy resources or operations or similar programs to demonstrate possession of the knowledge and abilities listed above.

Education - completion of college level course work in environmental science/education, energy management, climate change, landscape design and management, horticulture, engineering, public relations, architecture or a closely related field.

Additional Information

Performing onsite inspections, audits and surveys involves walking over rough, uneven or rocky surfaces and walking for extended periods of time. Driving to these sites and surveys involves sitting for extended periods of time. Stocking an inventory of water resources materials requires carrying object weighing up to 50 pounds up to 20 feet and lifting arms above shoulder level. Setting up water resources displays requires carrying materials weighing up to 20 pounds over 20 feet, and may involve extended periods of standing. Working with the computer involves continuous or repetitive arm-hand movements and sitting for extended periods of time. The work requires working occasional evenings and weekends staffing water resources displays and events.

Santa Rosa – A Wonderful City to Call Home
The City of Santa Rosa is located just 55 miles north of San Francisco and 30 miles east of the Pacific Ocean, with a population of approximately 180,000. Santa Rosa is the seat of Sonoma County and the center of trade, government, commerce, and medical facilities for the North Bay. The surrounding area is home to over a hundred wineries and vineyards, and many beautiful parks and recreational facilities, including golf courses. Santa Rosa is in the center of a nationally recognized cycling area. We boast many attractions associated with large cities, including a symphony, performing arts center, theater productions, and internationally recognized restaurants, yet we still retain the warmth and small-town feel of decades past. Santa Rosa has been named one of the 50 greenest cities in the United States, with one of the top five mid-sized downtowns in California.

The City does not discriminate on the basis of disability in employment. Requests for reasonable accommodations needed to participate in the recruitment process may be made by submitting a Request for Reasonable Accommodation Form within five (5) business days of being noticed that an event requiring accommodation is occurring. 

Salary:

$5,946.33 - $7,226.08