Want a job as the sustainable infrastructure advisor for the city of Seattle Green Building Team and Planning Department? Well the job is open and waiting for you. There’s only one catch: the position closes on Tuesday.

Before you get angry on me for last minute posting, be warned that I just received

Is this the job for you?

this e-mail today. Now it’s your responsibility to move quickly!

The e-mail says the job is “a mid to senior level position.” Salary range is $32.42 to $48.63 per hour. The job that requires the person to have:

• Technical expertise in low impact development, district energy/thermal distribution systems, on-site water and wastewater processing and other decentralized technologies.
• Strong communication skills.
• Financial skills to develop the business case for solutions that may provide distributed benefits to a variety of business units and stakeholders.

You also have to have a BA degree and five years experience in government policy and public utilities. To apply, click here. Happy hunting!

Readers, I’m sorry I haven’t posted in a couple days here, but like I mentioned in an earlier post, September is CRAZY. Tuesday, that craziness was exemplified by my calendar, which had me rushing from the Urban Land Institute’s launch of the Quality

Busy, busy times!

Growth Alliance in downtown Seattle, to a panel discussion (that I moderated) in Bellevue, and back to our offices in Pioneer Square to write up the story. Whew.

In case you missed both those events (and the recommendations put out by the Western Climate Initiative to boot) here is a rundown for your viewing pleasure:

The Quality Growth Alliance. Anyone remember Reality Check in April? The huge event that got 250 big-wigs playing with Legos? At that event (DJC story on it here), I spoke with Jim Potter of Kauri Investments who told me it was a great planning exercise as long as the results didn’t fade away into the sunset. Well the alliance is the attempt of prominent groups - from the UW’s College of Architecture and Urban Planning to NAIOP - to make sure the results stick around and influence future planning policy. More info in my story in today’s DJC or at their Web site.

The Panel Discussion. In case you missed this one, it was a lot of fun. Hosted by SMPS, panelists represented various fields of the AEC community (architecture, engineering, construction) and were Eric Anderson of MulvannyG2, Jeffrey Cox of Triad Associates, Rae Anne Rushing of Rushing and Yancy Wright of Sellen Construction Co. Among some of the interesting tidbits:

• Collectively, panelists said sustainable or green design is changing so quickly, that as soon as you read about it, it’s old. If you want to know what’s going on you need to work to educate yourself. This is true for everyone, and especially for marketers.
• Marketing and public relations professionals, they said, need to be really careful about sounding really stupid. Oftentimes they (and I incidentally) get press releases that virtually make no sense. If you’re going to write about green systems or projects, understand it, otherwise you run the risk of major embarrassments (I can’t tell you how often I get press releases that tell me a product will get me 10 “Leeds” points).
• Green building doesn’t have to be more expensive if you start from the beginning and have the right leaders on board. If you start thinking about integrative design and green systems midway through a project, there’s a good chance it’s going to be more expensive.
• Everyone needs to be on board with green building, even those who have been in the industry for many years and are hesitant to change the way they work. Panelists said they need all disciplines at an eco-charette and that bringing and open mind really, really helps.
• Definitions aren’t clear and because everyone has different definitions…. it’s hard to understand what a word, be it ‘eco-charette,’ ’sustainability’ or ‘integrative design,’ means to a specific person. Define those definitions for your project, or your company.

Western Climate Initiative. And don’t forget yesterday’s announced recomendations by the Western Climate Initiative for a regional cap and trade system. If you want to learn more about this one, read the Seattle Times or the PI.

Also, if you’re looking for an interesting way to fill your Thursday evening, Patrick Bellew of Atelier Ten will speak at the downtown Seattle Library at 5:30.

That’s all for today folks. If I don’t thank you enough, thanks for reading!

Steve Nicholas, one of the most constant faces in Seattle sustainability politics, has left the Mayor’s Office of Sustainability and Environment. In fact, he’s even leaving the state!

That’s right. Nicholas, who has been the director of OSE for eight years (longer than the mayor has been mayor), will begin a new job in Montpelier, Vt. in October as director of climate programs at the Institute for Sustainable Communities.

His spot will be filled, as in interim position, by Michael Mann, the deputy director of the Office of Policy and Management. Mann recently led the department’s Transportation and Infrastructure Team. 

Sadly, Nicholas has already left the building and I have no forwarding address. But what I can tell you is back in 2001, when he had just been appointed the office’s first director, Nicholas told the DJC here, “My goal is to work the Office of Sustainability out of existence in 10 years.”

Back then, the article reads:

“If, on the other hand, his office becomes a “repository for all things sustainable. That’s an abject failure,” he says.”

A lot of things have changed since that article. But some things haven’t changed. The office is still around. The city is still looking at a streamlined permitting process for green buildings. We’re still wrestling with the word ’sustainability.’

Readers, it hasn’t been 10 years yet — only eight. But what do you think the office has accomplished in that time? Has Seattle done everything it could to encourage sustainable development, living, business etc., in eight years or not? And is the mayor’s office a repository for all things sustainable or slowly being worked out of existence? What do you think are the biggest green development changes in that time?

Oh, and if anyone has Steve’s e-mail, tell him I’m lookin’ for him!

For more DJC articles on Steve Nicholas, see this article he wrote for us in 2004, this one he wrote in 2005, this one he wrote in 2002, this one about the mayor’s crusade for trees, and this one about smart growth.

I told you I would update you on the position for Washington State Director of the Cascadia Region Green Building Council and here I am with the update!

The position (open until filled) is responsible for planning and figuring out all of Cascadia’s programs in the state of Washington, together with regional staff and volunteers. Let’s just say it takes a lot of experience and leadership (though my favorite part about the description is ‘must have a sense of humor.’ If only that was always a job requirement!) To read more or apply, click here now.

Cascadia is also hiring a development director, based in the Seattle office (but will consider candidates in Vancouver, B.C., and Portland). Go here for more.

In other job news:

• City of Seattle is still “looking” to fill two spots on its green building team, though I can’t find job applications for it anywhere. Maybe you’ll have better luck.
• Belt Collins is hiring a senior level engineer with 10 years of experience who is committed to sustainabilty. Contact esouthard@beltcollinsnw.com. (Belt Collins is also renting space in its Pike Place offices FYI).
• The city of Eugene, Ore. is looking for a waste prevention and green building program manager here.

And that’s all for today folks! For more, check the tag ‘jobs’ below.

Hold the presses Seattle sustainability people! Marni Kahn is taking an extended sabbatical from the Cascadia Chapter of the U.S. Green Building Council and has resigned her position as Washington State director!

This, my friends, is a big deal.

For those of you that don’t know, Cascadia is pretty much the main face of green in this region. It hosts conferences, trainings, brings speakers to town and is the official information source for LEED and Living Building information. In Washington, the go-to girl for the last two years has been Marni Kahn.

Marni specializes in providing sustainable design and construction educational training curriculum to… well just about everybody. She is a “firm believer,” according to her profile on Cascadia, that people, not technology make great places.

She also smiles through everything, whether it’s hosting world famous speakers or managing gigantic conferences. Seriously.  Good luck Marni in your next step, whatever it may be!

Yes, this does mean there will be an open position for the Washington director, and it’s a choice position. Stay tuned and I’ll tell you all about it once the information is public.

The move is just the most recent in a series of job changes for longterm Seattle green people (witness both Lynne Barker and Lucia Athens of Seattle’s Green Building Team). Has any other mover and shaker moved on to a new position? Is this a trend or just general business?

Let me know what you think below, or wish Marni good luck!  For more on Marni’s history, visit the bio page of Building Seattle Green here.

Here at the DJC, I write up announcements when companies promote or make new hires and let me tell you, summer is usually slow. Not this one.

In Seattle right now, there are a number of jobs available for green building or environmentally-minded individuals. So if you’re looking to come to the sunny (err) Northwest or might be looking to move, peruse the below possibilities at your leisure. Here are some of the jobs I know about:

• People for Puget Sound is making a series of new hires. They need a deputy director, a full-time education and involvement manager, a canvass director, and a community organizer.
• The Cascadia Chapter of the U.S. Green Building Council was hiring a program assistant in Seattle or Portland, but the closing date was June 30. Maybe if you’re the perfect candidate they’d forgive you for applying late….
• Environmental Works, a group that provides sustainable architecture for low income populations, is hiring an executive director and an architect.

((As far as architecture goes, there’s a whole load of jobs listed at AIA’s job board here.))

• Friends of Seattle need a membership and marketing director and a technology director, both here.
• Vulcan Real Estate is hiring a senior project manager for sustainability.

I’ve also heard whisperings that Zimmer Gunsul Frasca will be hiring a sustainability guru, and the city of Seattle will be hiring someone to replace Lucia Athens. But those are rumors. Take them for what they’re worth.

And that’s all I’ve got folks! Happy job hunting….

Looking for a job in Seattle at the forefront of the city’s sustainability push? Do you have lots of experience with sustainable projects? Well, opportunity just came a knockin’. 

Lynn Barker, a mover and shaker in green building politics and policies, pictured at left, is leaving her post as sustainable community planner for the city of Seattle’s Department of Planning and Development’s  green building team. The grape vine says she’s joining ICLEI. What’s a sustainable community? Check it out here.

Do you want the job? Here are some highlights from Barker’s resume to see what kind of qualifications you should have. In 1995, Barker created a sustainable building program for Sellen Construction Co. In 1996, she co-chaired the U.S. Green Building Council’s committee that helped launch LEED. She served on the USGBC board for six years, and co-founded the Cascadia Region Green Building Council. GOOD LUCK APPLICANTS!

Technically though, you’re required to have a bachelor’s degree in urban planning and design, architecture, engineering, construction management, environmental science, economics or a related field. You also need five years experience in project management, planning and research related to urban planning, urban design, or climate protection and green building. It’s preferable for you to have LEED accreditation.

The job pays between $28.92 and $43.38 per hour. The filing close date is June 3, so get on it! To apply, press here. GOOD LUCK!

Want to be a critical member of Seattle’s green building team? Now’s your chance because the city of Seattle is looking for a new green building coordinator.

The person will “oversee and lead planning of market transformation strategies related to integration of City Green Building programs and awareness,” according to the job description.

But that’s not all. The person will also work a lot with the mayor’s office, be a spokesperson for the City Green Building Program, manage media relations and develop consultant contracts, among other activities. Whew!

If this person is you, you’ve got to have three years experience in one of a variety of fields that connects directly to planning and development.

Here’s the rub, I don’t know who you’re supposed to contact if you are interested. But you can always start with the DPD Green Building Web site here. Happy job hunting!

As a teenager, wouldn’t it have been great if the first thing on your resume had been a job with the Washington State Department of Ecology? Personally, the first thing on my resume was babysitting. I’m guessing Ecology would have looked better.

The job is with the Ecology’s Youth Corps program and is for teens between the ages of 14 and 17. The job itself is helping Ecology to clean up roads and highways throughout the state, by picking up litter. It’s an annual program but this year Ecology didn’t get enough applicants.

There are two work sessions: one between June 23 and July 18, and one between July 21 and August 15. Applicants work 7.5 hours a day from 7:00 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., Monday through Friday. Applications must be turned in by April 8 and are available here.

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