With more than 70 miles of coast and 40 miles of bay shore, Marin County is one of the communities most affected by sea level rise in the Bay Area. Much of our land is low lying and can easily flood. Rising sea levels will affect many parts of life in Marin, including the safety of and access to our schools, businesses, roads, and wastewater treatment plants. Estimates place the cost of sea-level rise adaptation at $17B, while the cost of inaction is estimated at $34B. The Climate Adaptation Analyst will play a key role in the countywide effort to accelerate climate adaptation by identifying, structuring, and helping secure the funding and financing that will make Marin's sea level rise adaptation possible.
Reporting to the Chief Climate Officer, the Climate Adaptation and Finance Strategist will help advance countywide funding and financing strategy for sea level rise adaptation, using both conventional and innovative financing tools, such as municipal bonds, special assessment districts, utility and special-district financing pathways, and blended public-philanthropic-private structures. They will work with County Departments including the Community Development Agency, Department of Public Works, Marin County Parks and local jurisdictions to identify, understand, and prioritize adaptation projects. They will also partner with the County’s Legislative Affairs team to match projects to relevant federal and state funding opportunities as they arise and help shape grant strategy.