Program Associate

About the Opportunity

Start Date: September 1st, 2026
Length of Fellowship: 10 months
Location Type: Hybrid

About Our Partner: County of Ventura - County Executive Office's Sustainability Division

The County Executive Office’s Sustainability Division leads local and regional initiatives focused on climate action and greenhouse gas emissions reduction.

What You’ll Do

• Support VCREA’s rebranding initiative, including assisting with the development of a new logo, brand identity materials, and early-stage website update concepts.
• Contribute to strategic planning efforts that support implementation of the Regional Climate Action Plan, including research, stakeholder outreach, and development of draft planning materials.
• Maintain and update VCREA’s contact lists and help develop communications and outreach content, such as newsletters, email updates, Google Forms, social media posts, and presentation templates.
• Participate in grant-funded climate projects, including public outreach for electric vehicle charging station installations and the collection and organization of information for a GIS mapping application and a resource library.
• Assist in designing and coordinating community engagement activities, such as preparing materials for tabling, supporting event calendar planning, and helping facilitate climate-focused outreach opportunities.
• Support the planning and facilitation of VCREA Board and partner meetings by reviewing agendas, preparing draft notes, and assembling meeting minutes for learning and documentation purposes.

What We Provide

• A fixed, monthly stipend of $4000.
• $1000 end-of-program financial award.
• Health care coverage with 100% of health care insurance premiums covered by SEI.
• 10 Personal Days (for a standard 10-month Fellowship), in addition to all holidays off that are observed as closure days by the partner placement site.
• Comprehensive career-readiness training, including interview prep, salary negotiation, and resume building.
• Panels, workshops, and networking with climate resilience industry professionals.
• Professional networking and learning opportunities.
• The University of California Climate Stewards Certification equips you to lead community and ecosystem resilience initiatives.

What We’re Looking For

• Bachelor’s degree or commensurate experience in sustainability, public administration, environmental studies, public policy, or a related field.
• Experience coordinating with partners or stakeholders across agencies, organizations, or regional networks.
• Working knowledge of California climate action, sustainability, energy efficiency, building decarbonization, or related climate resiliency topics.
• Familiarity with digital communication tools such as Canva, Microsoft Outlook, Word, Excel, SharePoint, and Google Forms.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills, with the ability to translate technical concepts into accessible messaging.
• Strong organizational and project-coordination skills, with attention to detail and the ability to manage multiple tasks.
• Collaborative team player with the ability to engage effectively with community members, partners, and public-sector staff.
• The ability to work onsite on a hybrid basis. Only candidates currently residing within commuting distance of the site address will be considered.
• Commitment to a fair workplace that honors the experiences, voices, viewpoints, and values of all individuals.
• Authorization to work in the United States for the duration of the fellowship (SEI is unable to sponsor visas).
• May require occasional moving about to accomplish tasks, moving from one worksite to another, or adjusting or moving objects under 25-50 pounds in all directions.
• Must be 18 years or older to apply.

Nice-to-haves

• Conversational fluency in Spanish.
• Background in community engagement, public outreach, or experience collaborating with local governments or public agencies.
• Understanding of climate mitigation and adaptation concepts, energy efficiency programs, building performance concepts, or electric vehicle infrastructure.
• Experience coordinating or supporting events, community tabling, or workshop facilitation.