Job Information
City of Somerville Energy Manager in Somerville, Massachusetts
Statement of Duties
The City of Somerville is a national leader in climate action. The Energy Manager will support the city’s vision of creating an equitable, resilient, thriving, and carbon net-negative city. The Manager will be responsible for forwarding the leadership goals of Climate Forward, Somerville’s climate action plan, aimed at reducing and mitigating greenhouse gas emissions from municipal and school building and fleet operations, with goals of reaching 50% reduction by 2030, 90% by 2040, and 100% by 2050. The Energy Manager will develop and implement strategic plans to create cost-effective energy utilization in building and fleet operation and maintenance. They are responsible for overseeing operational decisions and carrying out projects, such as the Capital Investment Plan, to facilitate the transition to all-electric and renewable systems. The employee is required to perform all similar or related duties.
Essential Functions:
The essential functions or duties listed below are intended only as illustrations of the various type of work that may be performed. The omission of specific statements of duties does not exclude them from the position if the work is similar, related, or a logical assignment to the position.
Lead the reduction of energy usage and greenhouse gas emissions from City operations, focusing on the City’s energy procurement, data management, facilities and fleet operations, behavior changes, and capital projects, acquisitions, and purchases.
Research best practices, convene partners, and propose solutions. Identify strategies and implementation measures, recommend changes, execute contracting, and oversee contractor implementation and ensure sufficient and complete delivery of services.
Provide technical input on energy efficiency and decarbonization measures on projects and purchases for municipal and school buildings and fleets, as well as legislative and regulatory matters. Identify building management system improvements and analyze data outputs, diagnose system vulnerabilities, and support the enhancement and expansion of building management systems and controls.
Measure, track, report, and evaluate progress. Manage the City’s energy data using tools such as MassEnergyInsightand Portfolio Manager and other energy disclosure programs. Prepare financial, energy, emissions, and evaluation analyses.
Support, maintain, track, and/or enhance energy billing and financial data systems.
Manage the City’s solar PV systems and solar power purchase agreements.
Identify and apply for funding and grants, including but not limited to state and federal grants. Maintain and implement strategic planning for funding sources, including but not limited to the Energy Stabilization Fund.
Serve as point of contact for internal stakeholders, the community, state agencies, and energy utilities regarding municipal and school energy matters.
Recommended Minimum Qualifications
Education and Experience: Bachelor’s degree in mechanical or environmental engineering, architecture, business or related discipline with five to seven (5-7) years of experience in energy management, mechanical systems design, construction, and/or maintenance, or related work experience; or any equivalent combination of education, training and experience which provides the required knowledge, skills and abilities to perform the essential functions of the job. Master’s degree preferred but not required. Previous experience as an energy manager is preferred.
Special Requirements
Certified Energy Manager (CEM), Certified Lighting Efficiency Professional, LEED, Certified Carbon Reduction Manager and/or Certified Energy Auditor certifications are preferred but not required.
Currently, department staff are required to be in-person 1-2 set days per week and attend work in person as required and as is beneficial to completing tasks.
Knowledge, Abilities and Skill
Knowledge: The ideal candidate has a strong grasp of best practices in the field of energy management and is eager to bring Somerville to a world-class level of energy efficiency and emissions reduction. This may include the following: demonstrated mastery of the broad range of energy conservation measures (ECMs) that can reduce energy usage and greenhouse gas emissions in built structures; knowledge of the principles and practices of building maintenance; knowledge of the principles and practices of effective budgetary management, as well as financial modeling; knowledge of building energy systems including heating, hot water, ventilation, refrigeration and air conditioning systems and related electrical systems including Energy Management Systems (EMS) and controls; experience with emissions and energy modelling and tracking emissions; a certificate or diploma from a recognized HVAC program is preferred but not required. Working knowledge of computer hardware and software in support of departmental operations; thorough knowledge of building and accessibility codes and statutes; healthcare knowledge; networked geothermal knowledge; and municipal finance laws are preferred but not required.
Ability: Ability to carry complex projects from concept to implementation, use creative thinking to solve problems, and work in a fast-paced environment; ability to work independently; ability to manage and/or design energy systems in buildings; ability to maintain, manage, and organize records; ability to handle problems appropriately and effectively in response to day-to-day activities and in the event of an emergency; ability to communicate effectively orally and in writing professionally, promptly, effectively, and accurately; ability to operate a computer; ability to prioritize projects based on multiple factors, which may include but are not limited to, public health and safety, values, financial, and political factors; ability to manage compliance scenarios; ability to work and interact effectively with individuals and groups with a variety of identities, cultures, backgrounds, and ideologies; demonstrated ability to manage multiple tasks and deadlines; ability to communicate complicated ideas succinctly and persuasively; ability to receive and deliver feedback to staff.
Skill: Skill in coordinating various programs and projects simultaneously; demonstrated skills and experience with energy data management; excellent oral and written communication skills required; superior team building skills, including the ability to coordinate and lead diverse teams of individuals towards cooperative management goals and objectives; exceptional attention to detail; strong interpersonal and critical thinking skills; excellent computer skills for word processing, spreadsheets, and databases; excellent analytical skills; experience with virtual meeting programs such as Teams and Zoom. Proficient in Microsoft Word, Excel, Access, PowerPoint, and Project. Experience with Citizenserve and Microsoft Office 365 OneDrive are preferred but not required.
Work Environment
The work environment involves everyday discomforts typical of offices, with occasional exposure to outside elements. Noise or physical surroundings may be distracting, but conditions are generally not unpleasant. Employee will be required to work beyond normal business hours to attend evening meetings, weekend events, or complete work assignments. Employee will need to be on site and in person as needed. Employee may work remotely at supervisor’s discretion and when work does not require them to be on site/in person.
Physical and Mental Requirements
The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the position’s essential functions.
Physical demands will include lifting and wheeling up to 50 pounds at a time (for example, setting up outreach table and tent, and moving boxes of supplies), standing for long periods of time at events, traveling door-to-door, as well as periodically working outdoors in various weather conditions for most months of the year.
Physical Skills
Minimal physical demands are required to perform the work. Work effort principally involves sitting to perform work tasks, with intermittent periods of stooping, walking, and standing. There may also be some occasional lifting of objects such as office equipment or photocopy paper (up to 30 lbs.).
Motor Skills
Duties are largely mental rather than physical, but the job may occasionally require minimal motor skills for activities such as moving objects, operating a telephone, personal computer and/or most other office equipment including word processing, filing and sorting of papers.
Visual Skills
Visual demands require constantly reading documents for general understanding and analytical
Hours: Full-time, City Hall hours
Salary: $88,326.46 annualized plus benefits
Union: Non-Union
FLSA: Exempt
Date Posted: November 13, 2024
City of Somerville residents are especially encouraged to apply.
The City of Somerville is an affirmative action/equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, sex, religion, age, national origin, disability or any other protected category. Women, minorities, veterans, and persons with disabilities are encouraged to apply.
Auxiliary aids and services, written materials in alternative formats, and reasonable modifications in policies and procedures will be provided to qualified individuals with disabilities free of charge, upon request. Persons with disabilities who need auxiliary aids and services for effective communication (i.e., CART, ASL), written materials in alternative formats, or reasonable modifications in policies and procedures in order to access the programs, activities, and meetings of the City of Somerville should please contact Adrienne Pomeroy at 617-625-6600 x 2059 or apomeroy@somervillema.gov.
Please Note: The below details do not apply to any Mayor Student Jobs programs OR youth workers with the city.
Pre-Employment Requirements for All Employees:
MA Criminal Offender Record Information (CORI) clearance
Completion of Conflict-of-Interest Law Education training for municipal employees
Overview of Total Rewards:
4 weeks annual vacation (for non-union positions) union positions vary by contract
Medical insurance through the Group Insurance Commission (GIC) - 80% of premium costs paid by City
Dental coverage low and high plans through Cigna
Vision care through Vision Service Plan (VSP)
Long term disability through Sun Life
Group and voluntary life insurance through Boston Mutual
Health Care and Dependent Care flexible spending through Benefit Strategies
Deferred compensation plans through a choice of three vendors
Free, confidential services through the Employee Assistance Program (EAP) provided by E4Health
Annual cancer screening & wellness release
Somerville Retirement Pension System
Tuition reimbursement
MBTA pass program
FREE Blue Bikes membership
Eligible employer for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program (PSLF)
Benefits listed are for benefits-eligible positions and the above information is meant to be a general overview of the benefit programs offered by the City of Somerville and not a binding contract.
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