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!

Dear reader, it is time to put your analytical (or more likely guessing) powers to the test: what exactly is it you see in the photo to the left?

If you said a mini-mansion, most likely inhabited by a couple or prim family of four, you are dead wrong. Instead, it’s a model of dense urban living that houses ten people in eight bedrooms.

This is where I stayed last week while attending Cascadia’s Living Future Conference in Vancouver, B.C. It’s a charming space that a developer bought, renovated and began renting out to young professionals and students in January.

It’s bright, daylit, airy and dense. It’s clean and well lit and is filled with amicable students and young professionals, including my sister. It’s within walking distance from a number of shops, bars and restaurants in a trendy family neighborhood. It’s a street away from a bus line and only a couple of the house’s inhabitants even have cars.

My only question? Why doesn’t this happen more.

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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!

Hang onto your hats Seattle, our neighbor Vancouver, B.C., is gearing up to require all private developments in the city meet LEED silver.

Does this news make you go doe-eyed and giggly or does it stop your heart like a cold shower in January?

Either way, take a deep breath. It isn’t going to happen anytime soon in Seattle.

Diane Sugimura, director of the Seattle Department of Planning and Development, said Seattle is “looking at a wide range of things” to make buildings more efficient and will be watching Vancouver closely to see how it works with the planned LEED policy and developers. So it is a possibility, but not in the near future. Seattle also tends to take its time with these decisions, so there will most likely be a long lead time, should it ever come to be.

In Vancouver though, Brent Toderian, director of planning for the city, is instigating some major changes. To read Toderian’s blog, press here.

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