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Assistant Director of Sustainability (on-site)

University of California Merced

Details

Posted:

October 10, 2025

Location:

Merced, California

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Assistant Director of Sustainability (on-site)

Hiring Range

The University of California, Merced is required to provide a reasonable estimate of the compensation range for this role. This range takes into account the wide range of factors that are considered in making compensation decisions including but not limited to experience, skills, knowledge, abilities, education, licensure and certifications, and other business and organizational needs. It is not typical for an individual to be offered a salary at or near the top of the range for a position. Salary offers are determined based on final candidate qualifications and experience. The salary range the University reasonably expects to pay for this position is $107,600 - $122,500.
Job Closing Date

This position is expected to work on-site.

Initial Applicant Review will take place on or around September 29th. Posting will close upon selection.
About UC Merced

The University of California, Merced, is the newest of the University of California system's 10 campuses and one of the youngest universities to be designated an R1 research university. With approximately 9,100 undergraduate and graduate students, UC Merced is a smaller, more intimate campus compared to its sister campuses, while equipped and staffed as a cutting edge, 21st century research institution. With bachelor's, master's and doctoral degree programs, strong research and academic partnerships and a growing community in the heart of the San Joaquin Valley, the UC Merced campus is continually evolving and requires talented, knowledgeable and dynamic educators, researchers, management and staff.

Ranked in the top 30 among the best public universities in the nation by U.S. News and World Report and #1 for social mobility by the Wall Street Journal, UC Merced is uniquely equipped to provide world class educational opportunities to dynamic and enterprising students in the Valley and throughout the state. In partnership with UC San Francisco, UC Merced has launched a rigorous medical education program that will supply the Valley with culturally competent providers dedicated to improving local access to quality care. The campus enjoys a special connection with nearby Yosemite National Park, is on the cutting edge of sustainability in construction and design and is accelerating the continued economic development of the region.
About the Job

The Assistant Director of Sustainability plays a critical role in advancing University of California, Merced's position as a national and global leader in sustainability. Reporting to the Director of Sustainability, this position manages a portfolio of complex initiatives and projects that integrate sustainability across research, operations, and academic infrastructure. The Assistant Director works collaboratively through the Sustainability Office located within the Sustainable Research and Engineering Center to build institutional capacity, address campus sustainability priorities, and contribute to the UC-System, local, state, national, and international sustainability challenges.

Applying advanced knowledge of sustainability practices and policies, the Assistant Director works across UC-Merced to identify, develop, and implement institutional sustainability strategies while researching and monitoring trends in energy, climate action, waste reduction, water conservation, transportation, procurement, food systems, green buildings, and social equity. This role is instrumental in helping to formulate and execute UC-Merced's sustainability strategy through policy development, innovation, brand reputation management, and financial oversight.

A key focus of the Assistant Director's work is fostering partnerships across academic and operational units to establish the University as a living laboratory for sustainability. This includes supporting faculty-led research, engaging students in sustainability programming, and collaborating with the Office of Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion to advance multicultural and inclusive approaches to environmental and social sustainability. The position also oversees sustainability data collection, reporting, and communications, ensuring compliance with national benchmarking organizations such as AASHE STARS, Sierra Club Green Schools, and Princeton Review Green College Guide.

Additionally, the Assistant Director works closely with the stakeholders across campus to support co-curricular education programs, such as the Sustainability Certificate Program, Green Labs, and Green Office resources. The role includes designing and implementing sustainability initiatives that incorporate principles of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI). This involves providing training for environmental and sustainability organizations to foster social and environmental justice, creating equitable sustainability policies, and utilizing storytelling and community engagement to deepen the impact of sustainability work. The Assistant Director also collaborates with campus stakeholders to integrate climate justice and equity into climate action planning.

Finally, the position directly supervises interns and student leaders working on sustainability projects related to living lab, DEI, campus engagement, environmental justice, research and academic coursework, while leading data-driven sustainability planning and reporting efforts. Through these initiatives, the Assistant Director ensures that sustainability efforts align with UC-Merced's broader mission and effectively address environmental, social, and economic challenges.

Key Responsibilities:

Identify opportunities for innovation and educational alignment to support the institution's Living Lab initiative. Collaboratively advance Living Lab by working with faculty, staff, students, and community stakeholders to identify and develop potential projects. Serve as program liaison to ensure continuing progress to identify and initiate projects for each semester, academic year, or continuing initiatives. Directly plans, manages, coordinates logistics, and develops partnerships for effective programming for the living lab. Related to the living lab, respond to campus and community requests for information, data, committee representation, course guest lectures and educational presentations/workshops as appropriate. Support departments with sustainability projects and initiatives that can connect to living lab; identifies issues related to living lab and recommends courses of action in consultation with Sustainability Director. Manages communication, outreach, and website content for living lab and its projects. Engages with students collaboratively on various projects to support student leadership and participation to advance the living lab on campus. Works with the Multicultural Center, including supporting faculty-led academic research efforts and student programming efforts. Develops strong working relationships to support ongoing partnerships and effective co-programming with departments across campus to strengthen the living lab program. Directly supervises graduate students and interns working on the living lab program.
Supports implementation and annual reporting efforts for the UC system-wide Sustainability Practices Policy. Under the direction of the Sustainability Director, works collaboratively on academic research, analysis, coordination and policy development on inclusive sustainability efforts at the UC system-wide level and UCM campus level. Attends or Chairs the following system wide working group calls for: Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Task Force, Zero Waste, Green Building Working Group, Climate Change, Green Labs, AASHE Stars, Sustainable Procurement, Sustainability Officers and Food Systems.
Develops and identifies opportunities to position environmental, economic and socially responsible solutions to create efficiencies for the university, promotion and awareness of brand strategy, value, campus sustainability reputation, and building public confidence to support the campus sustainability brand. Represent the Sustainability Office at relevant campus and community events as needed. Responds with flexibility to shifting priorities at the campus and UC system wide level. Establishes partnerships with external entities building mutually beneficial projects and relationships locally, regionally, and nationally. Interfaces with regional, state, national, international organizations.
Interface with faculty on sustainable research opportunities through transdisciplinary programs and projects that support campus-wide, local, state, national, international challenges. Provide advice, guidance and assistance to faculty on co-collaborative research projects. Gather data, write and distribute sustainability studies (e.g. life cycle analysis and Return on Investment), financial reports, case studies or environmental impact reports on progress, and status to ensure compliance with policies, standards, regulations, or laws. Identify opportunities for improved systems and defined standards, champion their development and secure organizational support, to ensure effective implementation and compliance. Develop, implement and evaluate comprehensive sustainability programs. Integrate sustainability principles into the operational and educational functions of the University. Manage, collect, organize data, and interpret data and information related to LEED credits on related projects. Serve as guest lecture for LEED lab class, as needed.
Works in collaboration with the Sustainability Office staff team to coordinate annual student team development, orientation and training efforts. Prioritize ongoing feedback, learning and professional skills development for student employees and interns. Oversees modest programming budget for student employees.
Collaborates with the Sustainability Office and campus stakeholders to organize campus sustainability marketing campaigns and communication strategies. Develop, implement, and maintain an effective social media strategy. Develop and coordinate education and outreach programs in support of UCM's sustainability, energy management, and resource conservation programs. Coordinate and/or participate in public relations activities to include preparing brochures, newsletters, press releases, ads and promotional materials/publications; develop plans and schedules for release of publicity materials. Using user-friendly content manager, update sustainability website to highlight campus sustainability initiatives. Develop sustainability content and coordinate content contributions from other campus departments. Assist in resolving questions regarding sustainability issues. Provide alternatives or refer inquiries or concerns timely and tactfully to appropriate campus departmental representatives. Effectively work with all elements of the campus community (faculty, staff and students) to communicate and advance the goals and initiatives of the campus sustainability program.
Provides strategic and tactical leadership in the areas of carbon emissions, procurement, food services, waste, sustainable water, energy, academics. Serves as a leader in UC Merced's decarbonization plan which will encompass a multimillion-dollar strategy to reduce UC Merced emissions as mandated by state law. Manages complex projects on timelines to collect, analyze, and format data and written content across all sustainability topics. Conducts independent research, analysis, and manages coordination, reporting on a wide variety of issues relating to sustainability, including policy, state and signatory requirements, ratings, rankings, certifications. Manages and develops reporting, budgets, and identifies use of funds for projects. Manages individual contracts, as needed.
Performs data-driven advanced analyses and ensures that solutions can support the needs of the organization. Assesses complex situations, identifies improvements and works with executive leaders to address issues, develop recommendations, and implement solutions in alignment with UC Merced strategic goals and objectives. Understands business needs and ensures that systems, both technical and non-technical, can support those needs. Strategic analysis includes but is not limited to carbon, energy, budgets, return on investment, business case, campus sustainable operational investments.
This role supports periodic planning efforts and ongoing implementation of annual priorities identified through the UCM Sustainability Strategic Plan. Periodically provides accountability reporting to assess environmental impacts, cost effectiveness and progress toward goals for various operational, educational, diversity and social equity topics for AASHE-STARS. Helps to manage and maintain sustainability strategic plan, Climate action Plan, Water Action Plan, Zero Waste Plan and Sustainability Annual Report. Works collaboratively as a member of the Sustainability Office staff and student team.

*LI-RM1
Qualifications

Bachelor's degree in related area; and/or advanced degree in related area (preferred); and
5 years of related experience or 9 years equivalent experience / training in environmental science, management, or policy; architecture; engineering; or public health (required)
LEED Green Associate Required
Professional Accreditation in Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design Preferred
LEED Accredited Professional preferred. Preferred
ISSP Certified Sustainability Professional preferred. Preferred
Advanced knowledge around environmental sustainability management policies, issues and initiatives. Required
Advanced knowledge of U.S. Green Building Council rating systems, AASHE Stars Required
Advanced knowledge of sustainability policies and procedures in the areas of design and construction; purchasing; contracts, grants and gift processing; building codes, and regulations. Required
Advanced skill in coordinating, staffing and leading cost-effective sustainability focused programs. Ability to lead, engage and motivate groups to meet common objectives. Required
Proven ability to foster collaboration across diverse constituencies in a large organization. Required
Advanced verbal, written and interpersonal communication skills. Required
Strong writing and editing skills to prepare concise, accurate and understandable reports, policy/procedure documentation, proposals and general correspondence. Required
Proficiency in all software applications (Word, Excel, and PowerPoint, Access) and database applications. Required
Advanced ability to create clear, concise correspondence, presentations and business documents. Required
Knowledge of financial operations that extends beyond budgeting including project finance, corporate finance, debt finance, equity finance, with the ability to make a business case for new direction for sustainability initiatives. Required
General broad knowledge of energy management, transportation, construction, food service, waste management and water resource management. Required
Experience in strategic planning and ability to develop short- and long-range plans for campus sustainability . Ability to write clear and concise reports and correspondence and interact effectively with many levels of staff throughout the department and university Required
Strong initiative, decision making, judgment, discretion, analytical problem-solving ability, confidentiality and the capacity to organize and handle a wide range of duties accurately and consistently. Required
Proven ability to develop new projects within an academic setting; understanding of how to institutionalize new sustainability efforts Required
Resourcefulness and creativity in drafting new University policies and procedures to meet both University and department needs. Required
Demonstrated exceptional oral communication skills, comfort with public speaking and ability to listen, learn and build trust among various constituencies Required
Ability to establish and maintain cooperative working relationships with peers, department and university personnel, and the public to promote sustainability initiatives. Required
Ability to conduct on-site visual inspections of projects involving walking, standing, climbing stairs and ladders, stooping, crouching, and balancing in precarious locations. Preferred
Ability to work in various environmental conditions when conducting visual inspections of construction including noise, fumes, dust and humidity. Preferred

Background Check

Background check required.
Policy Statement

How to Apply:
An online application is required for each position to apply.The University of California, Merced is aware that some web-based application processes may be cumbersome for differently abled applicants. Where appropriate, alternative accommodations will be provided. For applicants with disabilities who need additional assistance using TAM, or reasonable accommodations during the interview or search process, please contact ucmjobs@ucmerced.edu.

As a condition of employment, the final candidate who accepts a conditional offer of employment will be required to disclose if they have been subject to any final administrative or judicial decisions within the last seven years determining that they committed any misconduct; received notice of any allegations or are currently the subject of any administrative or disciplinary proceedings involving misconduct; have left a position after receiving notice of allegations or while under investigation in an administrative or disciplinary proceeding involving misconduct; or have filed an appeal of a finding of misconduct with a previous employer.

Equal Employment Opportunity:
The University of California is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, age, protected veteran status, or other protected categories covered by the UC Anti-Discrimination Policy.

Smoke and Tobacco Free Policy:
The University of California, Merced is a smoke and tobacco free workplace. Information and the Smoke and Tobacco Free policy is available at http://smokefree.ucmerced.edu.

E-Verify:
All employers who receive Federal contracts and grants are required to comply with E-Verify, an Internet-based system operated by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) in partnership with the Social Security Administration (SSA). E-Verify electronically verifies employment eligibility by comparing information provided on the I-9 form to records in the DHS and SSA databases. Certain positions funded by federal contracts/subcontracts requires UC Merced to notify job applicants that an E-Verify check will be conducted and the successful candidate must pass the E-Verify check.

Pay, Benefits & Work Schedule:
For information on the comprehensive benefits package offered by the University of California visit: http://ucnet.universityofcalifornia.edu/compensation-and-benefits/

To apply, visit https://careerspub.universityofcalifornia.edu/psc/ucm/EMPLOYEE/HRMS/c/HRS_HRAM_FL.HRS_CG_SEARCH_FL.GBL?Page=HRS_APP_JBPST_FL&JobOpeningId=80772&PostingSeq=1&SiteId=25〈uageCd=ENG&FOCUS=Applicant

Internal Number: 6636635

About University of California Merced

UC Merced is the first new American research university built in the 21st century, with a mission of research, teaching and service. The campus opened Sept. 5, 2005, in the San Joaquin Valley. The university is about an hour north of Fresno, two hours south of Sacramento, two hours southeast of San Francisco and the Silicon Valley, and 90 minutes west of Yosemite National Park. The University of California, Merced, is the newest of the University of California system’s 10 campuses. With over 9,000 undergraduate and graduate students (https://cie.ucmerced.edu/analytics-hub/student-statistics), UC Merced is committed to interdisciplinary excellence in research and teaching as well as to diversity, equity and inclusion. Ranked as one of the best public universities in the nation by U.S. News and World Report, UC Merced provides outstanding educational opportunities to highly qualified students from the heart of California, the nation, and abroad. The campus has special connections to nearby Yosemite National Park; is on the cutting edge of sustainability in construction and design; and supports the economic development of Central California. The Merced 2020 Project doubled the phys...ical capacity of the campus, and enhanced academic distinction, student success, and research excellence (https://merced2020.ucmerced.edu/). The University of California, Merced is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer advancing inclusive excellence. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, age, protected veteran status, or other protected categories covered by the UC nondiscrimination policy. As a University employee, you will be required to comply with all applicable University policies and/or collective bargaining agreements, as may be amended from time to time. Federal, state, or local government directives may impose additional requirements. This includes the University of California Policy on Vaccination Programs: https://policy.ucop.edu/doc/5000695/VaccinationProgramsPolicy.

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Assistant Director of Sustainability (on-site)

University of California Merced

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