[FILLED] Colorado Climate Action Workforce Development
Host: Colorado Energy Office
Region: Colorado
Openings: 1
Project Focus: Climate Adaptation, Climate Mitigation, Energy Efficiency, Infrastructure Development, including Broadband, Renewable Energy, Urban Planning
Skills Needed: Relationship Management, Research, Data Collection, Workforce Development, Critical Thinking, Detail-Oriented
Service Needs & Plans
Colorado’s Greenhouse Gas Pollution Reduction Roadmap is an ambitious and achievable pathway to meet the state’s climate targets. However, labor shortages in key industries and positions threaten CO’s ability to implement strategic actions. The Colorado Energy Office (CEO) is seeking a CivicSpark fellow to support ongoing workforce development projects as CO equitably develops the workforce needed to take on the climate change challenge.
Project Description
Climate Action Workforce Environment Index Tool
- Support the development of a collaborative tool to connect all of the state’s climate action workforce development stakeholders, including state government agencies, climate action non-profit and community based organizations, industry partners, career and technical education partners, local and national data resources, and local and national funding sources.
- Reach out to identified stakeholders to collect up-to-date information on current workforce development initiatives, resources, and needs.
- Help design and implement a communication plan to effectively share the tool with relevant stakeholders.
Data Analysis and Workforce Strategic Planning
- Collect all available workforce data relevant to climate action, current workforce levels (e.g. energy efficiency installers, electricians, HVAC, plumbers, building analysts, solar installers, heat pump installation contractors, etc.).
- Identify missing data and work with consultants to gather gaps in data.
- Analyze data to identify and prioritize most critical labor shortages.
- Analyze the most effective allocation of funding and resources to have maximum impact on CO’s ability to take Climate Action.
Connecting Workforce Opportunities to ALL
- Identify key stakeholders to effectively reach disproportionately impacted communities and connect those most in need to career opportunities that pay a family sustaining wage and provide a path out of poverty.
- Build partnerships with community-based organizations to understand needs and barriers residents are facing – so resources can be effectively utilized for wrap-around services to increase accessibility.
Desired Skills
The ideal Fellow for this project will be passionate about taking climate action and creating more equitable opportunities for disproportionately impacted communities. They will be highly organized and experienced in researching technical topics. They will have the skills needed to build effective relationships with stakeholders including empathy, active listening, and persistence.
Other desirable skills include: data analysis, community engagement, multi-stakeholder collaboration, flexibility and adaptability, critical thinking, and the intrinsic need to serve others.
Organization & Community Highlights
The Colorado Energy Office is a diverse team of passionate professionals dedicated to Colorado’s equitable transition to a clean energy future. This project will have a real impact on the lives of so many Colorado residents, especially those who are from disproportionately impacted communities. Equity isn’t an add-on program at CEO, it is a critical lens through which we see all of our work. This project will establish sustainable partnerships with key community-based organizations to ensure economic opportunities are accessible to all.
The Fellow will have the opportunity to work closely with all types of organizations in Clean Energy and evaluate which organizations may be a good fit for their next opportunity. Colorado is one of the most naturally beautiful places on the planet, and is on the cutting edge of taking climate action. This project will take direct action to protect CO’s environment while also creating a more equitable economy for all.
Remote or On-Site Placement
Hybrid