Make a difference while launching your career in sustainability!
Apply now to become a CivicSpark AmeriCorps member.
CivicSpark is a Governor’s Initiative AmeriCorps program dedicated to building capacity for local governments to address climate change. 48 Members will be hired annually, serving for 11 months completing climate change mitigation and adaptation work.  Members have the chance to gain valuable experience in their field, build office professional skills, and develop a strong network, while creating a lasting difference.
Role:
48 Members will be selected and placed in 9 regions through California, including: Central Coast, Greater LA/Inland Empire, LA, North Coast, Sacramento, San Diego, San Francisco Bay Area, San Joaquin Valley, and the Sierra Nevada. Regional teams will be made up of 3-10 Members and a half time senior project manager. Members will work on defined projects with local governments. Although all projects will contain different tasks and responsibilities, on a day-to-day level, CivicSpark Members will work on a range of tasks from data collection and analysis, to meeting facilitation, to community outreach, to report writing, and presentation of results. All Members should leave the service year with an understanding of work within local governments, experience working with key climate change mitigation and adaptation tools, ability to analyze data, and ability to work successfully in a team office environment.
Examples of project from 2014-15 Service Year include:
Energy Efficiency – benchmarking local building energy use, identifying solar ready sites, engaging local governments in a bulk solar purchasing program, greenhouse gas inventorying, building business or residential energy efficiency programs

·       San Gabriel Valley Council of Governments Point of Permit Energy Audit and Education Program – conduct home energy assessments as a means to educate homeowners about energy efficiency and incorporate energy efficiency.

·       Ventura Climate Friendly Buildings – support the Ventura Better Business Challenge of reducing energy usage by 20% by the year 2020.

Climate change –localizing a Community Climate Action Plan template, tracking metrics to monitor and evaluate progress, updating and reviewing existing CAPs, implementing CAP initiatives

·       Climate Action Planning for the Sierra Region – support climate action planning and community climate research and risk analysis for local governments.

·       Cities of Fontana and Redlands – help prepare a localized climate action plan

Sustainable Communities – completing vulnerability assessments, implementing adaptation strategies, analyzing ZEV infrastructure needs

·       Sacramento Regional Climate Vulnerability Assessment – conduct a broad-level vulnerability assessment for the community and audit the community’s existing plans and policies that can contribute to community preparedness.

·       Resilient Shorelines in the Bay Area – support implementation of resilient shorelines project and develop regional analysis of shoreline vulnerabilities.

In addition to project work, members will have the chance to work on volunteer services and volunteer recruitment and support, and will regularly attend trainings for technical knowledge and professional development.
Benefits
AmeriCorps was created to address community need through service. AmeriCorps Members have the opportunity to make an impact in their community while gaining valuable career and life experience. In exchange for their service, each Member receives the following benefits:

·       $14,000 Living Allowance (before taxes) spread evenly over 11 months.

·       Segal Education Award of $5,775 at the completion of service

·       Forbearance on existing qualifying student loans and payment of interest accrued during service

·       Health Insurance

·       Childcare Assistance – (to qualifying Members), paid to an eligible provider of your choice.

·       Significant professional development training

·       Network development with regional and statewide contacts in the climate protection field.
Qualifications
CivicSpark Members will have completed at least a 4-year degree and will have relevant experience in the sustainability field. An ideal candidate might have the following characteristics:

·       Degree in environmental related field and one year of relevant experience

·       Experience with California climate change policies and practices (mitigation and/or adaptation related)

·       Experience with local government operations and structures, especially as they relate to climate protection

·       Good communications and teamwork skills, some experience with outreach preferred

·       Capability to work in a professional office setting

·       Comfort with quantitative work, including data collection and analysis

·       Solid analytic or technical writing ability

·       Candidates must complete a DOJ, state, and NSOPR background check prior to service

This is an equal opportunity position and we prefer to place a candidate who already lives in the community being served.
Application Instructions
CivicSpark is currently hiring for all regions. The 2015-16 Service Year will start October 19th and last through mid September, 2016. To apply, candidates must complete an online application found on the CivicSpark website, www.civicspark.lgc.org. Candidates selected for interviews will be contacted in the coming weeks, as interviewing is ongoing until all slots are filled.