Director of Sustainability and Resiliency – The Office of the Akron Mayor

A critical member of the Mayor’s Cabinet, the Director of Sustainability and Resiliency will be a trusted partner and advisor that will help guide the direction of sustainability and resiliency in Akron. This person manages professionals that support the City in reaching its sustainability and resiliency goals in alignment with the Together for Akron vision.

The Director of Sustainability and Resiliency will work with managers, employees, and residents, to address Akron’s approach to environmental responsibility with the goal to minimize the city’s environmental impact.

This position reports directly to the Mayor and the Chief of Staff. It is an unclassified, exempt, salaried position.

Responsibilities:

• Assesses and analyzes City policies and processes to identify areas in and processes to which improvements can be made in accordance with the City’s commitment to sustainability.
• Brainstorms and identifies creative ways in which the City can balance business obligations with the goal of respecting, supporting, and improving the local and global environments.
• Proposes and implements strategies to address various environmental concerns including energy use, conservation, reduction of pollution, recycling, building and facility design, and general education on sustainability.
• Provides leadership around city initiatives around environmental sustainability, including fleet electrification, EV charging, tree canopy preservation, green building standards, and emissions tracking and reductions.
• Works to build culture around environmental sustainability within city departments, working closely with individuals across the city whose work is linked to the environment, particularly in Service and Public Utilities, and Planning, as well as the DEI role to center the intersection of environmental justice and racial justice.
• Works to build an environmental action plan for the city and a long-term plan for increased staffing capacity around environmental sustainability.
• Considers sustainability proposals with attention to factors such as cost effectiveness, feasibility, and ease of integration with other programs.
• Drafts and prepares reports, presentations, and proposals; presents proposals and recommendations to the Mayor, City Council, and other key stakeholders.
• Prepares documentation required for project funding for various environmental initiatives including proposals and grant applications.
• Maintains current working knowledge of, and ensures compliance with, all applicable local, state, federal, and internal environmental laws and regulations.
• Performs other tasks as requested.

Qualifications:

• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Superlative and creative problem-solving and analytical skills.
• Thorough and current knowledge of sustainability practices, and applicable laws and regulations.
• Ability to analyze and understand research and to identify relevant and valuable information.
• Extremely proficient with Microsoft Office Suite or related software.
• Excellent organizational skills and attention to detail.
• Ability to create, interpret, and execute a budget.
• Presentation skills required to deliver proposals to varying groups of individuals.
• Ability to travel to meetings, events, and other locations as needed.

Click here more information about the position and how to apply.