Location of Service: UT Office of Sustainability – 2040 Sutherland Ave, Knoxville, TN 37996
About UT Office of Sustainability:
The UT Office of Sustainability is committed to promoting the responsible consumption of human, economic, and environmental resources on the University of Tennessee, Knoxville campus. We use holistic data collection and analysis to inform sustainability initiatives and develop collaborations with campus and community partners to reduce the environmental impacts of the University’s operations, all while engaging the campus community in what it means to Make Orange Green.
Position Summary:
- Research ways to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from (1) energy sources and (2) campus transportation, as these represent the largest contributors to GHG emissions at UTK
- Pursue collaborative opportunities with several key groups on and off the UTK campus to improve sustainability efforts in transportation and infrastructure, including but not limited to the following:
- Collaborate with campus planners and designers to help research and create policies to make new campus buildings more sustainable and improve sustainability in existing buildings and pursue ratings or certifications such as Energy Star for buildings and programs like the Better Buildings Challenge
- Collaborate with Facilities Services and other entities to research and assess opportunities for energy efficiency projects, create innovative solutions to energy needs, perform energy audits, and study the feasibility of implementing alternative sources of energy on campus or off-site with appropriate partners to maximize GHG reductions through various efforts
- Collaborate with campus landscape architects, the stormwater team, and the landscape team to improve sustainability in campus landscapes and pursue and maintain campus as an arboretum status and other similar sustainable landscape standards and certifications, such as SITES.
- Collaborate with members in the Office of Sustainability to create and deploy educational materials about current and future projects for energy conservation on campus.
- Collaborate with Parking & Transportation’s Mobility Coordinator to further UTK’s transportation demand management program and improve alternative transportation options on campus
- Collaborate with other transportation organizations, such as East Tennessee Clean Fuels Coalition, the Knoxville Regional Transportation Planning Organization (TPO), Bike Walk Knoxville, and Knoxville Area Transit (KAT)
- Serve as the Chairperson for the Bicycle Advisory Committee (BAC) on campus to further establish UTK as a bicycle friendly university and improve bike infrastructure on campus
- Help sustain efforts for regular campus safety walks to improve bicycle and pedestrian safety on campus
- Research best practices at other institutions regarding sustainable transportation and infrastructure and find ways to incorporate those activities at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville
- Serve on or revitalize campus committees including but not limited to the Stormwater Advisory Committee, Sustainable Energy Working Group, the Committee on the Campus Environment, Bike Walk Knoxville, and the Energy Innovation & Efficiency Committee
- Serve as a representative of the Office of Sustainability at campus and community events that may occur at night or on weekends, and work as a Zero Waste Gameday/Event team member, especially during the football season.
- Participate in educational interventions for K-12 students to educate potential college students on sustainability practices
- Participate in Office of Sustainability projects of varying types
- Assist other team members and Sustainability Manager with various projects and tasks as assigned
The member(s) in this position will have the opportunity to gain the following skills/credentials:
- Supervision/leadership
- Chairing a university committee
- Survey creation, distribution, and analysis
- Proposal and professional report writing
- Data tracking and analysis, particularly for energy, fuel usage
- Volunteer management
- Public speaking, communication
- Proficiency in WordPress
Site Preferences/Qualifications:
- Bachelor’s degree in engineering, planning, sustainability, or environmental field strongly preferred
- Valid driver’s license
- Knowledge of sustainability efforts within higher education or community organizations or experience working with a college or university sustainability office
- Ability to work independently and collaboratively on a wide range of tasks
- Ability to create and give presentations to small and large (30+) groups
Equal Opportunity Statement: AmeriCorps prohibits all forms of discrimination and harassment based on the protected categories of race, color, national origin, sex, age, religion, disability, generic information, military service, or reprisal.