Logo
City and County of Denver

Strategy and Policy Manager, Sustainability and Resiliency – Climate Action, Sus

City and County of Denver, Denver, Colorado, United States, 80285

Save Job

About Our Job With competitive pay, great benefits, and endless opportunities, working for the City and County of Denver means seeing yourself working with purpose — for you, and those who benefit from your passion, skills and expertise. Join our diverse, inclusive and talented workforce of more than 11,000 team members who are at the heart of what makes Denver, Denver.

What We Offer The City and County of Denver offers a competitive salary commensurate with education and experience. The hiring range for this position is $98,682.00 - $140,000.00. We also offer generous benefits for full-time employees which include but are not limited to:

Guaranteed life‑long monthly pension, once vested after 5 years of service

457B Retirement Plan

140 hours of PTO earned within first year + 11 paid holidays, 1 personal holiday, 1 Wellness Day, and 1 volunteer day per year

Competitive medical, dental and vision plans effective within 1 month of start date

Location The City and County of Denver supports a hybrid workplace model. Employees work where needed, at a job site 3 days per week and off‑site as needed. The Office of Climate Action, Sustainability and Resiliency requires 3 days in office at the Wellington Webb Municipal Building. Employees must work within the state of Colorado on their off‑site days.

What You’ll Do The Office of Climate Action, Sustainability and Resiliency’s (CASR) vision is to build a carbon‑pollution‑free, sustainable, and resilient Denver for all. Guided by science and shaped by community input, CASR delivers bold solutions through policies, programs, and capital projects that reduce emissions, advance environmental justice, and strengthen climate resilience. Our portfolio includes beneficial electrification, energy efficiency, renewable energy, energy storage, climate adaptation, community resilience, nature‑based solutions, natural resource conservation, embodied carbon, waste reduction and diversion, communications, community engagement, and workforce development—all with a strong focus on equity.

The Sustainability and Resiliency (S&R) Division of the Office of Climate Action, Sustainability and Resiliency (CASR) seeks a Strategy and Policy Manager to lead the division’s Strategy and Policy team. This team is charged with providing essential support to the S&R division through research, strategic planning, policy development, and data management. The work will focus on advancing division goals and priorities for advancing climate adaptation and resilience, environmental justice, zero waste systems, and economic circularity.

The ideal candidate will bring a proven track record of successfully working across departments and agencies within a large city government to drive complex initiatives forward. They will be adept at translating high‑level strategies and policy goals into actionable programs, projects, and regulatory frameworks and embedding sustainability and resiliency priorities into citywide plans, codes, technical standards, and operational practices. This role requires a strategic thinker and skilled collaborator who can navigate diverse stakeholder interests, build consensus, and ensure alignment with broader city objectives to accelerate climate action and systems change.

Job duties and responsibilities of this position include, but are not limited to, the following:

Provide leadership through strategic planning and policy development to advance the City’s climate resilience and adaptation vision, including the development of goals, work plans, programs, policies, and projects to reduce climate impacts.

Provide expertise and support to the division and agency for key research and planning functions.

Collaborate with internal departments, external partners, and community stakeholders to ensure successful project implementation.

Support the integration of the division’s goals into citywide plans, codes, policies, and standards, including:

Land use and development codes

Community and special area plans

Building and energy codes

Zero waste systems and infrastructure

Capital projects and design standards

Economic development and green workforce initiatives

Public and environmental health programs

Manage consultants, contracts, and grant‑funded projects, including complex budgets and reporting requirements.

Prepare and present staff reports, outreach materials, and policy recommendations to City Council, Planning Commission, and the public.

Administer and track Climate Protection Fund investments to ensure compliance and impact.

Foster an atmosphere of innovation to challenge the organization to think creatively, especially as it relates to positive citizen and customer experience opportunities.

Provide exceptional leadership of people including coaching, mentoring, and supporting staff in pursuit of continuous improvement, including devising new strategies and new opportunities.

Develop work plans for direct reports with clearly defined goals and responsibilities.

Formally evaluate work of employees, document performance, and provide performance feedback.

Other duties as assigned.

About You

Bachelor’s degree in sustainability planning, environmental science, urban planning, public administration, or a related field. Master’s degree preferred.

Three (3) years of experience at the type and level of functional or operational management, which must have included management of professional individual contributors.

Minimum of 6 years of progressively responsible experience in sustainability, resilience, or urban planning. Experience in municipal government, community engagement, and data management preferred.

Demonstrated leadership in building and developing functional teams, managing productivity, engagement, retention, employee development, and performance.

Demonstrated ability to analyze complex challenges and develop innovative, data‑driven solutions.

Adept at developing, strengthening, and navigating complex relationships among community, local and state leaders.

Proven track record of translating high‑level strategies and policy goals into actionable programs, projects, and regulatory frameworks.

Strong analytical, critical thinking, communication, and self‑motivation skills.

Experience with management and oversight of project and program budgets, and business processes.

Excellent judgment/sound problem‑solving skills with an aptitude for continuous improvement.

Ability to extract and organize data from various sources, prepare analysis and recommendations, and make oral/written presentations.

An understanding of the concepts of institutional and structural racism and bias and their impact on under‑resourced communities, along with the desire to incorporate perspectives of multiple communities.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

Education requirement: Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration or sustainability planning, environmental science, urban planning, public administration, or a related field based on the specific position(s).

Experience Requirement: Three (3) years of Supervisory experience.

Education/Experience Equivalency: One (1) year of the appropriate type and level of experience may be substituted for each required year of post‑high school education.

About Everything Else Job Profile

CA2750 Manager

To view the full job profile including position specifications, physical demands, and probationary period, click here.

Position Type

Unlimited

Position Salary Range

$98,682.00 - $162,826.00

Target Pay

The hiring range for this position is $98,682.00 - $140,000.00.

Agency

Climate Action, Sustainability & Resiliency

Redeployment during Citywide Emergencies

City and County of Denver employees may be re‑deployed to work in other capacities in their own agencies or in other city agencies to support core functions of the city during a citywide emergency declared by the Mayor.

The City and County of Denver provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, genetic information, age, or any other status protected under federal, state, and/or local law.

It is your right to access oral or written language assistance, sign language interpretation, real‑time captioning via CART, or disability‑related accommodations. To request any of these services at no cost to you, please contact Jobs@Denvergov.org with three business days’ notice.

Applicants for employment with the City and County of Denver must have valid work authorization that does not require sponsorship of a visa for employment authorization in the U.S.

For information about right to work, click here for English or here for Spanish.

#J-18808-Ljbffr