Sustainability and Energy Coordinator

Position Purpose

The Sustainability and Energy Coordinator serves as a central unit between the City of Racine departments and the Utilities to develop, implement, and monitor environmental initiatives that improve the organization’s Environmental, Social, and Governance performance. The Coordinator focuses on reducing waste, energy, and water usage, tracks metrics to ensure regulatory compliance, and promotes an eco‑friendly corporate culture.

• Researches, applies for, and manages grants to develop sustainable City initiatives.
• Develops criteria, policies, and procedures for sustainable programs and administers training and outreach to City personnel to foster sustainable practices in operations.
• Assists departments in identifying and implementing best practices in sustainable operations, acting as a resource and directing staff activities related to sustainability, transportation, pollution prevention, and climate action.
• Strengthens existing partnerships with community organizations and expands networks and partnerships through engagement and outreach activities.
• Identifies potential energy savings and greenhouse gas reduction projects/strategies and evaluates projects/strategies in terms of feasibility and criterion satisfaction.
• Represents the City and Utilities at external meetings and committees, and may present to City Council or other civic and professional groups; meetings may be held outside normal business hours.
• Supports implementation of solar PV and renewable energy projects.
• Conducts or coordinates energy audits of city/utility facilities.
• Assists leadership across all City departments and Utility divisions as needed.
• Performs administrative assistant duties as directed.
• Consults on portions of the annual Utilities Operations and Capital Improvement budgets.
• Performs other tasks as directed.

The following tasks may be performed at leadership’s discretion and are not considered essential job functions:

• On‑site visits to municipal facilities to check operational energy usage and compliance.
• Engagement as a team member for the $80 million ‘Get the Lead Out’ program and Household Hazardous Waste Collection.
• Tracks and benchmarks energy usage across municipal departments.
• Advises on LED conversion and building efficiency upgrades.
• Supports environmental programs within the state of Wisconsin.
• Coordinates with residential programs like the Racine Energy Efficiency Program (REEP).
• Provides support for grant and sustainability partners.

Work locations include the water treatment plants, office settings, and various field sites. The role involves providing customer service and supporting community and client outreach activities.

• Bachelor’s degree in environmental science, sustainability, business, or a related field.
• Previous experience in project management, data analysis, or environmental advocacy.
• Strong communication, research, data management, and knowledge of environmental best practices.

• Experience in outreach initiatives.
• Grant management and reporting.

• Ability to decide the time, place, and sequence of operations within an organizational framework, and to oversee execution.
• Ability to analyze and categorize data using established criteria, determine consequences, and select alternatives.
• Ability to follow instructions and respond to requests.
• Ability to advise and interpret policies, procedures, and standards in specific situations.
• Ability to utilize consulting data and information such as plant operations reports, invoices, budgets, personnel reports, engineering reports, regulations, purchase orders, correspondence, statutes, OSHA and DILHR regulations, textbooks, periodicals, software manuals, and organizational analysis.
• Ability to communicate orally and in writing with Utility personnel, regulators, consultants, vendors, labor union representatives, customers, and the public.

• Use functional reasoning in performing influencing functions such as supervising, managing, leading,…