Resource Conservation Specialist
Launch your Sustainability Career with the Climate Corps Fellowship program!
SEI’s Climate Corps Fellowship program offers the chance to lead impactful climate and community resilience projects while gaining paid, hands-on experience. This full-time, bridge-to-career opportunity pairs fellows with host organizations, from local governments to nonprofits and businesses, to drive real-world change.
About the Opportunity
Start Date: June 1st, 2026
Length of Fellowship: 10 months
Location Type: On-site
Ready to make an impact through a hands-on role advancing sustainability in a public school district? As a Resource Conservation Specialist in the Climate Corps Fellowship program, you’ll have the opportunity to contribute to impactful sustainability initiatives with Kent School District. This is an on-site position with the expectation of on-site work 5 days per week.
In this role, you’ll play a major part in the success of the fifth-largest school district in Washington by managing critical resources across 44 schools and academies. You will identify and act on "low-hanging fruit" to drive significant conservation changes, ensuring that facilities are managed efficiently to support the mission of preparing all students for their futures. As a Resource Conservation Specialist, your contributions will have a district-wide impact, turning the district's tools into measurable results and sustainable growth.
Advance Kent School District’s sustainability goals while gaining hands-on experience, growing your network, and creating measurable results.
About Our Partner: Kent School District
The Kent School District is located 30 minutes south of Seattle and serves the cities of Kent, Covington, Renton, Maple Valley, SeaTac, and Black Diamond. With 25,752 students, speaking over 130 languages, it's an exciting place to work and live. Opportunities to contribute and succeed abound. They have a team of highly dedicated professionals who elevate the success of those around them. Kent School District’s vision is to produce graduates who are globally competitive learners. Through equitable access to high-quality academic, social, and applied learning, students are ready to excel in college, careers, and in life.
Partner-Provided Benefits (in addition to Climate Corps Benefits):
- Hands-on K12 experience, including process and procedures.
- Industry interface with District vendors.
- Green Building Practicum training.
What You’ll Do
- Sets up and maintains resource use and cost accounting system to monitor, evaluate, and provide feedback on district utility costs and consumption.
- Compiles district utility service information.
- Verifies meters, accounts, and services.
- Maintains information on district buildings, including square footage, building occupancy, and weather data.
- Reviews utility invoices for abnormal use patterns, correct charges, and correct service types.
- Works with district staff to investigate and correct abnormal use
- Coordinates billing adjustments with utility companies and tracks district savings resulting from billing errors.
What We’re Looking For
- Knowledge of effective practices and measures to conserve utility resources.
- Knowledge of appropriate environmental standards for schools and other facilities.
- Knowledge of building mechanical, electrical, HVAC, and control systems.
- Knowledge of utility resource cost and use accounting system.
- Ability to communicate effectively, including making public presentations.
- Ability to perform cost/benefit analyses and to interpret and analyze statistical information and trends.
- Ability to operate a computer effectively and learn the use of specific software programs.
- Ability to design and deliver effective presentations, including effective electronic audio-visual presentations.
- Ability to navigate the internet and AI applications.
- The ability to work onsite on a full-time basis. This position requires the employee to be physically located within commuting distance of the site location at the time of hire. 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
- Experience or ability to execute district requirements for the Clean Buildings Performance Standard, and an ability to navigate Energy Star - portfolio manager
- Identifies opportunities and promotes activities to increase awareness of resource use and cost reduction strategies.
- Promotes environmental stewardship to create a strong conservation ethic among employees, students, and the community.
- Encourages the use of school buildings as learning laboratories to model conservation and environmental stewardship practices that may be applied at school or at home.
We encourage everyone interested in this position to apply, even if you don’t meet every qualification. We value all perspectives and believe that a unique background can bring significant strengths to this role, even if some qualifications are not fully met.
What We Provide
- A fixed, monthly stipend of $3950.
- $1000 end-of-program financial award.
- Health care coverage with 100% of health care insurance premiums covered by SEI.
- Fellows receive 10 personal days for a standard 10-month fellowship (prorated for longer terms), which may be used for vacation or sick time. Additionally, Fellows follow their partner site's holiday schedule to observe the same holidays as their team.
- 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.
Climate Corps Fellowships are classified under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) as temporary, educational internships that emphasize training and career development, and thus no employment relationship exists, nor compensation is required. However, while not considered traditional employment, Fellows receive a living stipend and professional development support throughout the program.
Recruiting Timeline: Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis. We encourage early submissions, as we may stop accepting new applications once a sufficient pool of qualified candidates is identified.
Join the Climate Corps Movement
Climate Corps, a program of SEI, is an award-winning fellowship designed to prepare the next generation of leaders in sustainability and climate action. Our fellows work on cutting-edge sustainability and resiliency projects with local governments, nonprofits, and businesses, building essential skills and creating real-world impact. Since 2010, Climate Corps has empowered over 800 Fellows to work with 500+ partners on 1,350 transformative projects. With nearly 99% of Fellows continuing careers in sustainability, you could be the next environmental leader shaping a better future!
Our Hiring Values
SEI is proud to be an equal-opportunity employer and is committed to uplifting the experiences, voices, viewpoints, and values of all individuals. We believe that a wide array of perspectives contributes to creative climate solutions where all communities can thrive. We strive for a workforce that reflects the communities we partner with and serve, especially those most impacted by climate change and environmental, social, and economic injustice. We welcome candidates who share SEI’s commitment to cultivating a people-centered work environment. Individuals from all backgrounds are encouraged to apply.
How to Apply
By applying to the Climate Corps Fellowship, you'll automatically be considered for all relevant positions. Apply only once to the position in your geographic region that best matches your background.