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Climate Adaptation Jobs in Hawaii (NOW HIRING)

Deep understanding of climate resilience, adaptation and infrastructure challenges. * Strong stakeholder management skills, including the ability to engage senior internal and external audiences ...

Deep understanding of climate resilience, adaptation and infrastructure challenges. * Strong stakeholder management skills, including the ability to engage senior internal and external audiences ...

Deep understanding of climate resilience, adaptation and infrastructure challenges. * Strong stakeholder management skills, including the ability to engage senior internal and external audiences ...

Deep understanding of climate resilience, adaptation and infrastructure challenges. * Strong stakeholder management skills, including the ability to engage senior internal and external audiences ...

Deep understanding of climate resilience, adaptation and infrastructure challenges. * Strong stakeholder management skills, including the ability to engage senior internal and external audiences ...

Deep understanding of climate resilience, adaptation and infrastructure challenges. * Strong stakeholder management skills, including the ability to engage senior internal and external audiences ...

Climate Adaptation information

What is climate adaptation?

Climate adaptation refers to the process of adjusting natural or human systems in response to actual or expected climate changes and their effects. The goal is to minimize harm and take advantage of potential opportunities created by climate shifts. This can involve modifying infrastructure, updating policies, and developing new technologies to better cope with extreme weather, sea-level rise, or other climate-related challenges. Climate adaptation is a key part of building resilient communities and ecosystems in the face of ongoing climate change.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive in a climate adaptation role?

To thrive in a Climate Adaptation role, you need expertise in environmental science, risk assessment, and urban or regional planning, often complemented by a relevant degree such as environmental studies or geography. Familiarity with GIS software, climate modeling tools, and certifications like Certified Climate Change Professional (CC-P) are commonly required. Strong analytical thinking, stakeholder engagement, and project management skills help professionals excel in this field. These competencies are vital for designing and implementing effective strategies that help communities and organizations address and respond to climate-related risks.

What are some common challenges faced by professionals working in climate adaptation roles?

Professionals in climate adaptation often encounter challenges such as balancing immediate community needs with long-term resilience planning, navigating complex regulatory environments, and working with limited data to predict future climate impacts. Collaboration is essential, as adaptation specialists frequently coordinate with government agencies, scientists, urban planners, and community stakeholders to implement effective strategies. Additionally, securing funding and building public awareness can be ongoing hurdles, requiring strong communication and project management skills.

What is the difference between Climate Adaptation vs Climate Resilience Specialist?

AspectClimate AdaptationClimate Resilience Specialist
Required CredentialsBachelor's or master's in environmental science, climate studies, or related fieldsSimilar credentials, often with additional focus on community planning or policy
Work EnvironmentFieldwork, research, policy development in government, NGOs, or consultingCommunity engagement, project management, policy implementation
Industry UsageDesigning strategies to adjust to climate impactsEnhancing community or infrastructure capacity to withstand climate impacts

Climate Adaptation focuses on developing strategies to adjust to climate change impacts, while Climate Resilience Specialists work on strengthening systems and communities to withstand and recover from climate-related events. Both roles often overlap but differ in scope: adaptation emphasizes proactive changes, resilience emphasizes capacity building and recovery.

What are popular job titles related to Climate Adaptation jobs in Hawaii?

For Climate Adaptation jobs in Hawaii, the most frequently searched job titles are:

What job categories do people searching Climate Adaptation jobs in Hawaii look for?

The top searched job categories for Climate Adaptation jobs in Hawaii are:

Infographic showing various Climate Adaptation job openings in Hawaii as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 80% Full Time, 17% Part Time, 1% Contract, and 2% Nights. Highlights an 94% Physical, 2% Hybrid, and 4% Remote job distribution.

Senior Planner, Climate Adaptation and Resilience

Brown and Caldwell

Honolulu, HI • On-site

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, Retirement, PTO

Re-posted 4 days ago


Brown and Caldwell rating

9.4

Company rating: 9.4 out of 10

Based on 7 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

15th of 450 rated engineering


Job description

Job Summary 

The Senior Planner, Climate Adaptation and Resilience role is responsible for leading projects that include comprehensive assessments, analyses, development and implementation of strategies and implementation plans for our clients’ water-related businesses. The role will support ongoing Climate Readiness and OneWater plans with emphasis in the Pacific Area and broader Western Business Unit, as well as supporting company-wide opportunities that advance BC’s Climate Strategy. Project elements can include strategic and adaptive planning, organizational development, long-term and scenario planning, policy and procedure development, business process mapping, evaluation, and development, and change management efforts with an emphasis on stakeholder engagement and facilitation. This role focuses on leading overall project delivery teams, solving complex problems, and providing guidance and training to less experienced colleagues, with minimal direct supervision and limited oversight from management. The position plays a vital role in contributing to the advancement of BC’s Climate Strategy, Business Consulting, and Planning business through business development pursuits, industry groups and conference involvement, and contributions to standards and best practice content development. This role leads pursuits and projects of strategic importance, and balances risk and opportunity in client business plan decision-making processes. 

Responsibilities   

  • Lead targeted and/or comprehensive business assessments and development of implementation strategies and plans for our clients to enhance their operations and efficiency. 
  • Develop client strategic plans and decision-making processes directly tied to the successful achievement of overall organizational and functional area goals. 
  • Lead organizational development and management services for clients to achieve organizational excellence. 
  • Lead development and implementation of stakeholder engagement and communications plans including communication piece development. 
  • Lead facilitation of in-person and/or virtual stakeholder workshops across a diverse array of project, program, or other engagement needs to elicit input, foster alignment, and achieve desired engagement outcomes. 
  • Assist with supporting Client Service Managers and core Client Service Teams in defining client organizational goals and drafting client business plans aligned with these goals.  
  • Flexibility to adapt and execute various additional assignments based on evolving needs. 

Mentorship 

  • Provide mentorship, guidance, support, and knowledge-sharing to help less experienced team members develop their skills and grow within their roles. 

Skills and Competencies 

  • Strong proficiency in systems thinking skills for analyzing organizational and business needs. 
  • Strong proficiency in the process of researching, developing, and communicating an understanding of a client’s essential or critical business factors. 
  • Strong proficiency in organizational development and management principles. 
  • Strong proficiency in change leadership and management, decision support theories and models, and monitoring. 
  • Strong proficiency in strategic planning, engagement and communications approaches and plans. 
  • Strong proficiency in workshop design and implementation skills both in-person and virtual. 
  • Strong proficiency in communication piece development in a variety of mediums (written, audio, video) and content formats (text, graphics, photo, sound, and video). 
  • Advanced proficiency in facilitation and interview skills. 
  • Advanced communication (written and oral) and presentation skills. 
  • Effective leadership skills with the capability to inspire and guide a team. 

Experience 

  • Typically, a minimum of 10 years of relevant experience in a related role. 
  • Prior experience in leading projects. 
  • Experience in analyzing organizational and business needs, organizational development, and change management. 
  • Typically certified in the Subject Matter Specialist (SMS) Framework, and progressing through the SMS competencies. [once onboarded] 

Preferred Experience 

  • Experience leading adaptive, adaptation, and or resilience planning efforts or initiatives for large, public water utilities 
  • Experience evaluating climate impacts, performing vulnerability assessments, and incorporating adaptation measures into planning efforts and recommendations 
  • Engagement or leadership in a climate-related industry group 

Education 

  • A relevant degree or equivalent experience in business administration, management, communications or a related field. 

Salary Range: The anticipated starting pay range for this position is based on the employee’s primary work location and may be more or less depending upon skills, experience, and education.  These ranges may be modified in the future.   

Location A: $129,000 - $177,000
Location B: $142,000 - $194,000
Location C: $155,000 - $212,000 

You can view which BC location applies to you here. If you have any questions, please speak with your Recruiter. 

Benefits and Other Compensation:  We provide a comprehensive benefits package that promotes employee health, performance, and success which includes medical, dental, vision, short and long-term disability, life insurance, an employee assistance program, paid time off and parental leave, paid holidays, 401(k) retirement savings plan with employer match, performance-based bonus eligibility, employee referral bonuses, tuition reimbursement, pet insurance and long-term care insurance. Click here to see our full list of benefits. 

About Brown and Caldwell   

Headquartered in Walnut Creek, California, Brown and Caldwell is a full-service environmental engineering and construction services firm with 50 offices and over 2,100 professionals across North America and the Pacific. For more than 75 years, we have created leading-edge environmental solutions for municipalities, private industry, and government agencies. We strive to be the company of choice—to our clients, who benefit from our passion for delivering exceptional quality, and to our employees, present and future, who share our commitment to client service, collaboration, and innovation. Join us, and you will find a home where you can do your best work, reach new levels of expertise, and enjoy exceptional development opportunities. For more information, visit www.brownandcaldwell.com  

This position is subject to a pre-employment background check and a pre-employment drug test.   

Notice to Third Party Agencies: Brown and Caldwell does not accept unsolicited resumes from recruiters or employment agencies. In the event a recruiter or agency submits a resume or candidate without a previously signed agreement and approved engagement request with Brown and Caldwell, Brown and Caldwell reserves the right to pursue and hire those candidate(s) without any financial obligation to the recruiter or agency.  

Brown and Caldwell is proud to be an EEO/AAP Employer. Brown and Caldwell encourages protected veterans, individuals with disabilities, and applicants from all backgrounds to apply. Brown and Caldwell ensures nondiscrimination in all programs and activities in accordance with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act.

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