Job Title: Sustainability Coordinator
Department: Sustainability
Classification: Non-Exempt
Grade: 9
FTE/Working Schedule: 1.0 FTE (40 hours/ week)
Position Overview:
The Sustainability Coordinator provides management for day to day work of the student sustainability assistants and serves as the primary office liaison for the Peer Leader Program. This role bridges the gap between campus sustainability and student life by coordinating sustainability office participation in high-impact programming (e.g., New Student Week, Winter Workshop) and fostering partnerships with internal departments—such as Facilities, Bon Appétit, and the CCCE.
The Coordinator is responsible for managing campus-wide engagement through events like Climate Action Week and supporting academic initiatives such as Sustainability Across the Curriculum or Living Laboratories. This is a full-time, twelve-month position.
A strong internal candidate has been identified.
Compensation:
The expected hourly rate for this position is $26.50.
Essential Job Functions/Responsibilities:
The Sustainability Coordinator promotes Carleton’s sustainability goals by performing the following duties:
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Manage 8–14 Student Sustainability Assistants (STAs) overseeing projects and engagement related to zero waste, food, water and climate resilience, and energy.
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Utilize campus sustainability data—including greenhouse gas emissions, waste diversion rates, and program engagement metrics—to design, implement, and evaluate evidence-based behavioral intervention strategies aimed at reducing Carleton’s environmental footprint.
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Serve as the formal representative of the Sustainability Office to the Peer Leader Program; coordinate STA contributions for New Student Week, Winter Workshop, and end of year celebrations.
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Plan and execute annual campus-wide events, including Climate Action Week and at least two other events open to all of campus informed by sustainability priorities (e.g. Repair Fair, Bike to Work Week); collaborate with cross-departmental offices on community sustainability initiatives.
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Oversee the public profile of STA efforts, including social media presence, campus announcements, and the development of creative assets (posters, spotlights). Mentor students in effective storytelling and digital outreach.
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Collaborate with the Director to identify and develop case studies for national recognition related to student programs and activities. Support data collection and submission for platforms such as AASHE STARS, Second Nature, and the Carnegie Sustainability Elective.
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Facilitate 2–4 meetings annually for student sustainability organizations to foster collaboration.
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Update and maintain campus-wide resources for student involvement in sustainability clubs or programs.
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Contribute to the planning and implementation of the "Lighten Up" move-out program to support student-facing outreach and engagement and reporting institutional sustainability impacts.
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Attend and present at least one or more virtual, regional, or national sustainability conferences annually.
- Provide coordination to Sustainability Across the Curriculum and education during winter workshop and in the summer, in collaboration with the Director of Sustainability and the Farm Manager.
Supervision Received and Exercised:
The Sustainability Projects Coordinator will be supervised by the Director of Sustainability and will supervise a group of eight to thirteen paid student sustainability assistants.
Education/Experience/Skills:
Required:
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A Bachelor’s degree in environmental studies, science, psychology, political science, marketing, business administration or any field with evidence of a substantive environmental capstone project.
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1+ years of full-time professional experience in sustainability or environmental project management with demonstrated experience with sustainability issues and implementation of best practices.
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Strong project management skills and ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously.
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Excellent communication skills – both written and verbal – and ability to communicate effectively with a wide variety of audiences.
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Effective leadership, collaboration, and interpersonal skills.
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Commitment to inclusivity and diversity and ability to work effectively with all constituencies at a diverse institution.
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Strong time management and organizational skills.
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Strong proficiency with Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint and social media platforms.
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Demonstrated experience with developing, implementing, and evaluating success of applied sustainability our outreach projects.
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Technical Skills: Experience with website content management, databases, Adobe InDesign or Illustrator, and event planning.
Preferred:
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Experience and Knowledge in Sustainability: experience in a higher education sustainability office or demonstrated experience in sustainability issues and best practices, including advising/supervising students and reporting sustainability impacts and activities.
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Experience working with and supervising students in a higher education setting, or project teams carrying out sustainability work.
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Experience with reporting sustainability impacts (e.g. emissions reductions, event engagement).
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Experience with database and website content management.
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Experience with Adobe Suite software.
Must have the ability to understand and follow written and oral work instructions, operations, safety procedures, and hazardous labels.
Note: This position description is not intended to be all-inclusive. Employees may perform other related duties to meet the ongoing needs of the organization.
Review of applications begins immediately and continues until the hire is complete. We accept only online applications.
Carleton College is an AA/EEO Employer: We are committed to developing our staff to better reflect the diversity of our student body and American society. Members of underrepresented groups are strongly encouraged to apply.
Carleton also offers a robust suite of benefits including: A generous 403(b) retirement plan with a 10% employer contribution and 2% employee contribution. Medical, dental, vision, life and disability insurance. Paid time-off, including 25 annual leave days, 8 paid holidays, and extra days at the end of the calendar year to make a continuous week off before New Year’s. Employee Assistance Program (EAP) for all employees. A dependent tuition program after six years of service.
Founded in 1866, Carleton College is a private, coeducational liberal arts college of roughly 2,000 students located in the historic river town of Northfield, Minnesota. Carleton College occupies more than 1,000 scenic acres of campus, arboretum, over 100 campus buildings, and athletic fields. Located 40 miles south of Minneapolis and St. Paul, Carleton offers access to the cultural advantages of a major metropolitan area.
