Climate Policy Jobs in Seattle, WA (NOW HIRING)

About the Opportunity 

Start Date: September 1st, 2026

Length of Fellowship: 10 months

Location Type: Hybrid

Are you passionate about tackling climate challenges and driving sustainability solutions? As a Building Performance Standards Fellow in the Climate Corps Fellowship program, you'll have the opportunity to contribute to impactful sustainability initiatives with ATS Automation. This is a hybrid position with the expectation of onsite work 3 days per week.

In this role, you'll support ATS's Clean Buildings team in helping public and private building owners improve energy performance, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and comply with Washington's Clean Buildings Performance Standard. You will assist with ENERGY STAR benchmarking, utility data analysis, Energy Management Plans, and Operations and Maintenance Programs for buildings across western and central Washington. Working alongside experienced energy professionals and CBPS Qualified People, you will gain practical experience applying climate and energy policy to real buildings while developing transferable skills in benchmarking, project support, technical communication, and building-performance consulting. The role will combine technical analysis, document development, client coordination, and occasional site visits. This hybrid position includes office work, remote work, and local travel.

About Our Partner: ATS Automation

Established in 1986, ATS Automation is the leading provider of energy management services, automated control systems, critical airflow solutions, and building systems integration. They aim to be the market leader in excellence in building technologies by providing the industry's best teams, engineered solutions, service support, and products. The Energy team specializes in solutions that help clients monitor, analyze, and reduce energy consumption, promoting sustainability and cost savings. They serve customers across Western and Central Washington state and provide consultative services to guide clients through the Clean Building Performance Standard, Seattle Building Emission Performance Standard, and other state and local requirements related to building energy use and emissions.

What You'll Do

• Support a variety of Clean Building Performance Standard projects by collecting, organizing, and reviewing utility and building data.
• Assist with benchmarking and compliance assessment reviews that evaluate building energy use vs CBPS energy use targets and summarize potential compliance pathways for client facilities.
• Contribute to the development of Energy Management Plans and Operations & Maintenance Programs by gathering building equipment information, client policies and best practices, and tailoring documents to individual buildings.
• Participate in client meetings, building walkthroughs, and site visits.
• Analyze utility consumption and building performance trends for client sites and provide preliminary findings for review by ATS Clean Buildings team staff.

What We Provide

• A fixed, monthly stipend of $4500.
• $1000 end-of-program financial award.
• Health care coverage with 100% of health care insurance premiums covered by SEI.
• 10 Personal Days (for a standard 10-month Fellowship), in addition to all holidays off that are observed as closure days by the partner placement site.
• Comprehensive career-readiness training, including interview prep, salary negotiation, and resume building.
• Panels, workshops, and networking with climate resilience industry professionals.
• Professional networking and learning opportunities.
• Participation in the Building Operator Certification series.
• Green Building Practicum training.
• The optional University of California Climate Stewards Certification equips you to lead community and ecosystem resilience initiatives.

What We're Looking For

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Sustainability, or Environmental Policy, or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Proficiency with spreadsheets and comfort organizing and analyzing data.
• Interest in building energy performance, climate policy, energy efficiency, or sustainable building operations.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills, both written and verbal.
• Organized, detail-oriented, and able to manage multiple project tasks with guidance from a supervisor.
• Valid driver's license and reliable access to a vehicle for travel to client sites that may not be accessible by public transportation (generally in western Washington).
• The ability to work onsite on a hybrid basis. Only candidates currently residing within commuting distance of the site address will be considered.
• Commitment to a fair workplace that honors the experiences, voices, viewpoints, and values of all individuals.
• Authorization to work in the United States for the duration of the fellowship (SEI is unable to sponsor visas).
• May require occasional moving about to accomplish tasks, moving from one worksite to another, or adjusting or moving objects under 25-50 pounds in all directions.
• Must be 18 years or older to apply.

Nice-to-haves

• Knowledge of energy efficiency metrics and general knowledge of building mechanical systems.
• Familiarity with Energy Star Portfolio Manager or building energy use data.
• Exposure to the Clean Building Performance Standard or other building performance policies.
• Experience writing technical reports or presentations.

We encourage everyone interested in this position to apply, even if you don't meet every qualification. We value all perspectives and believe that a unique background can bring significant strengths to this role, even if some qualifications are not fully met.

Climate Corps Fellowships are classified under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) as temporary, educational internships that emphasize training and career development, and thus no employment relationship exists, nor is compensation required. However, while not considered traditional employment, Fellows receive a living stipend and professional development support throughout the program.

Recruiting Timeline: Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis. We encourage early submissions, as we may stop accepting new applications once a sufficient pool of qualified candidates is identified.