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Sustainability Facilitator

Montgomery County Public Schools United States Added on Jul 8, 2026
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As a Sustainability Facilitator, you will be the hands-on driving force behind local environmental action across Maryland’s largest school district. You will own the process of transforming high-level board policy into grounded, day-to-day practices by working directly with student-led teams and school administrators. Your focus will be on operationalizing conservation, from auditing energy and water consumption to streamlining waste reduction initiatives at the campus level.

This role is vital because it embeds climate resilience and sustainability literal into the formative years of over 160,000 students. By facilitating Maryland Green Schools certification and reducing the district’s greenhouse gas emissions, you are helping to transition public infrastructure while fostering a culture of environmental stewardship in the next generation. It is a unique opportunity to see the physical and behavioral results of your work across hundreds of community facilities.

This suits someone who possesses a blend of technical facility knowledge and the interpersonal energy to inspire diverse groups of staff and teenagers toward shared environmental goals.

Job-FAQs

What are the main missions and responsibilities of this role?

The primary mission is to foster a culture of sustainability within the school system by implementing Board policy regarding climate mitigation. You will be responsible for building relationships with school-based teams to encourage active participation in energy and water conservation programs, as well as waste reduction efforts like composting and food recovery. Day-to-day activities include performing site visits to conduct facility audits, analyzing utility data to identify inefficiencies, and supporting schools in achieving and maintaining their individual Maryland Green Schools certifications. You will also be tasked with developing presentations and educational materials tailored to various grade levels to ensure high engagement from both staff and students.

Key learning opportunities for this job

In this role, you will gain deep expertise in K-12 facilities operations, specifically regarding energy optimization and green building technologies. This is a rare chance to understand the intersection of public infrastructure management and environmental advocacy within a governmental framework. Furthermore, you will sharpen your skills in data-driven climate action by using Building Automation Systems (BAS) and specialized vendor platforms to track GHG reductions. The position provides exposure to the entire lifecycle of sustainability certification, offering a comprehensive view of how large institutions transition toward carbon neutrality.

How does the ideal candidate look like (experience, skills)?

The ideal candidate brings a mix of environmental passion and technical literacy. While a Bachelor's degree in environmental science or sustainability is preferred, a strong background in conservation programs or facility management is essential. You should be comfortable interpreting energy bills and using software to monitor building performance. Strong communication skills are non-negotiable, as you must be able to translate complex sustainability concepts for a diverse audience ranging from elementary students to senior administrators. Familiarity with Maryland Green Schools standards and waste management strategies like food recovery will make an applicant particularly competitive.

Advice to stand out and make a successful application

To stand out, emphasize your experience in behavioral change management. Highlight quantitative examples where your interventions directly led to measurable reductions in energy use or waste. Show that you can navigate the unique environment of a public school system by showcasing past collaboration with youth or educational leaders. Your application should demonstrate your ability to be a self-starter who is equally comfortable in a mechanical room analyzing a HVAC schedule and in a classroom leading a sustainability workshop. Specifically mention your comfort level with high-visibility presentations and data analysis tools.

What aspects of the company's sustainability is this role likely to focus on?

The role focuses heavily on operational decarbonization and waste diversion. You will be the primary link between the district's carbon reduction goals and actual school performance, focusing on heating, cooling, and water systems optimization. A significant portion of your focus will also be on community resilience. By encouraging school-specific sustainability teams, you ensure that the district's environmental goals are localized and sustainable for the long term, moving beyond top-down mandates toward grassroots involvement.

What are the main challenges someone in this role might face?

One of the most significant challenges is the scale and diversity of the district. Moving 209 schools toward a unified sustainability standard requires managing competing priorities and varying levels of initial engagement from site leaders. You may also face technical hurdles when dealing with older building infrastructure that requires creative solutions for energy optimization. Balancing the physical demands of site inspections and ladder climbing with the analytical requirements of data reporting will require excellent time management and adaptability.

How could a typical day look like for someone in this position?

A typical day might start at a local elementary school, performing a walk-through to audit energy-saving behaviors and checking waste separation stations. You could spend the afternoon at the central office, pulling data from Building Automation Systems to troubleshoot a sudden spike in water usage at a high school campus. The late afternoon might involve preparing a strategic presentation for a school's Green Team or coordinating with facility maintenance staff on a recycling upgrade. Because some meetings involve the community, occasional evening work is expected to support school events or board updates.

What are the opportunities for professional growth and development in this role?

This position offers a pathway into sustainability leadership within the public sector or large-scale institutional management. You will build a portfolio of successful energy reduction projects and certifications that are highly valued in both public and private sustainability roles. Opportunities for growth also exist within the Supporting Services Professional Growth System, which provides structured development and potentially higher-level management roles in energy management, environmental compliance, or district-wide facilities planning.

The main stakeholders you might be interacting with

Your primary interactions will be with school administrators, teachers, and students, acting as a coach and resource for their local sustainability projects. You will also collaborate closely with the facilities and maintenance teams to ensure building systems are running at peak efficiency. Externally, you may interface with utility vendors to resolve billing or usage issues and with organizations like the Maryland Association for Environmental and Outdoor Education (MAEOE) regarding school certifications.

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