Science Volunteer Jobs in Renton, WA (NOW HIRING)

About the Opportunity 

Start Date: September 1st, 2026

Length of Fellowship: 14 months

Location Type: Hybrid

Are you passionate about tackling climate challenges and driving sustainability solutions? As an Energy Advisor & Volunteer Coordinator in the Climate Corps Fellowship program, you'll have the opportunity to contribute to impactful climate resiliency initiatives with Energy Smart Eastside. This is a hybrid position with the expectation of onsite work on Tuesdays and Thursdays, including occasional evenings or weekend events up to three times per month.

In this role, you will work alongside other climate and sustainability professionals and gain broad exposure to career opportunities in sustainability and planning within local government. Over the course of the fellowship, the Energy Advisor and Volunteer Coordinator will develop subject matter expertise in home energy efficiency solutions and will gain experience and confidence in educating homeowners and renters around these topics. You will develop and practice skills related to project management and event coordination, as well as gain familiarity with common CRM and website management tools to set up campaigns and associated reporting. This position offers a unique opportunity to develop your professional skills, grow your network, and contribute to Energy Smart Eastside's sustainability goals.

About Our Partner: Energy Smart Eastside

Energy Smart Eastside is a residential electrification program of the Cities of Bellevue, Issaquah, Kirkland, Redmond, Mercer Island, and Sammamish. The program is administered by the City of Bellevue on behalf of the Eastside city partnership and seeks to catalyze a major change in how Eastside homes use energy. Our collective goal is carbon-neutral residential emissions by 2050.

What You'll Do

• Recruit volunteers for the program, with an emphasis on diversity that reflects the Eastside community.
• Create and deliver training materials for volunteers around heat pumps.
• Schedule volunteers to staff community events.
• Engage community members directly as an Energy Advisor and at outreach events.
• Build out reference materials related to heat pump water heaters and induction stoves.
• Support volunteers in answering questions for which there is no previously established answer, and establish a knowledge base for future volunteers.
• Manage the Energy Smart Eastside CRM and installation reporting.
• Maintain and improve tabling materials.
• Organize and deliver community presentations around energy efficiency and heat pumps.

What We Provide

• A fixed, monthly stipend of $3500.
• $2000 end-of-program financial award.
• Health care coverage with 100% of health care insurance premiums covered by SEI.
• 14 Personal Days, 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.
• The University of California Climate Stewards Certification equips you to lead community and ecosystem resilience initiatives.

What We're Looking For

• Bachelor's degree or commensurate experience.
• Education or experience in energy efficiency.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with a particular ability to understand complex topics and translate them for a wide range of audiences.
• The ability to work onsite on a hybrid basis (Tuesdays & Thursdays on-site). 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

• Coursework in engineering, energy systems, climate science, building science, or similar experience is preferred.
• Previous experience coordinating or leading volunteers.
• Confidence in navigating ambiguity and developing an independent work plan to achieve a stated outcome.
• Fluency in Mandarin, Hindi, or Spanish.

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.