Description:
- This professional position carries out specialty assignments to strengthen the community-wide efforts towards sustainability initiatives and local food system development. Work performed includes project and program management (principally community garden coordination, Food System Plan implementation, and county recycling and energy monitoring), community engagement and stakeholder collaboration (including serving as staff liaison for the Food Policy Council), and policy research. This position works on complex issues and deals on a continuing basis with delicate, controversial, or confidential matters. This position may also do research and prepare reports. Work requires the exercise of initiative, independent judgment and discretion in various administrative duties. Problems and issues may be resolved at this level without reference to a higher authority, policies, or guidelines. This non-exempt position reports directly to the Sustainability Director for Douglas County and the City of Lawrence.
- Monitor and manage key sustainability and local food system initiatives and indicators;
- Engage residents, and public, private, and non-profit stakeholders;
- Enhance knowledge, skills, and reputation of Sustainability Office and Douglas County;
- Research and advocate for integrated solutions in Douglas County through planning and policy development;
- Collaborate with local government and public agency staff to support implementation of sustainability in internal operations.
- Knowledge of sustainability, public administration, and County operations;
- Active learning and restorative problem solving;
- Great communication/facilitation skills;
- Initiative to assure multiple assignments are completed in a timely manner;
- The ability to build authentic relationships (including with racially, ethnically, and socio-economically diverse and rural communities).