Associate, Building Codes & Policy

Organization Overview

Mission: The Midwest Energy Efficiency Alliance (MEEA) is a collaborative network, promoting energy efficiency to optimize energy generation, reduce consumption, create jobs and decrease carbon emissions in all Midwest communities.

Vision: MEEA seeks an achievable pathway for all people and communities in the Midwest to receive the economic, environmental and societal benefits of energy efficiency and the larger clean energy economy.

At MEEA, we leverage our expertise to be the Midwest’s leading resource for our members, allies, policymakers and the broader sector to promote energy efficiency as the essential pathway to achieve a clean, affordable, equitable and sustainable future. We see energy efficiency as the least cost foundation of the clean energy economy, creating immediate energy savings, providing career pathways, reducing emissions, improving new and existing buildings and boosting Midwest business and industries. MEEA develops connections and engagement opportunities for a diverse group of organizations to collaboratively create practical solutions. MEEA serves as a technical resource and promotes program and policy best practices and highlights emerging technologies, all to maximize energy savings, reduce costs, improve resilience and lower energy burden.

Position Summary

MEEA seeks a self-starting, team-oriented individual with a keen interest in the energy efficiency of buildings, and who understands the importance of strong building efficiency policies. We offer a highly collaborative environment, where the Building Policy Associate / Sr. Associate will join our committed Buildings Team in advancing MEEA’s building policy and program initiatives at the local, state, and regional levels.

The core of the Building Policy Associate / Sr. Associate’s work will be to assist the Buildings Team in advancing building energy code and benchmarking ordinance/BPS adoption, implementation, and compliance; and research and understand innovative building efficiency technologies that have the potential to improve building performance and drive deeper energy and carbon savings. The Building Policy Associate / Sr. Associate will coordinate with other MEEA staff who work on building-related energy efficiency programs, will represent MEEA at local, regional, and national conferences, and will develop and maintain relationships with outside organizations in order to further MEEA’s mission.

Responsibilities

In addition to the key responsibilities described above, the Building Policy Associate / Sr. Associate will be responsible for performing, or assisting with, the following tasks:

• Building Team lead for designated projects (Sr. Associate)
• Developing fact sheets, testimony and other advocacy materials
• Coordinating educational and outreach activities to increase awareness and understanding of building energy policy and the role of energy efficiency
• Researching and analyzing building efficiency compliance data at the state and regional levels
• Writing articles, blog posts and using social media to promote MEEA’s mission
• Developing and giving presentations
• Developing reports and other communications with program sponsors
• Stakeholder engagement via numerous communication channels
• Providing testimony and public speaking
• Coordinating webinars, trainings, and conference sessions
• Data entry, website updates, and other administrative/organizational tasks

Qualifications

• Passion for energy efficiency, environmental issues, and building science
• B.A or B.S. in one of the following, or related field: engineering, building science, architecture, planning, environmental science, public policy. Advanced degree a plus.
• 1+ year work experience; experience with buildings or sustainability a plus (Associate)
• 2+ years’ work experience with experience in the energy sector or related field preferred (Sr. Associate)
• Excellent organizational, writing, and communication skills
• Enthusiasm for improving the energy efficiency of new and existing buildings
• Comfortable with speaking and presenting to a virtual or in-person audience
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office suite; data analysis and data visualization programs a plus
• Demonstrated ability to simultaneously manage multiple tasks and responsibilities
• Ability to maintain a high attention to detail while adapting to shifting priorities
• Dedicated employee willing to work as a member of a team in an open-office environment
• Understanding of or willingness to learn building science principles
• Flexible and adaptable to new program tasks and needs
• Experience with building energy modeling software, data analytics, or data visualization software a plus
• Experience with building design, construction, or project management, a plus
• Ability to travel overnight approximately 5%-10% of the time (as circumstances allow)

Compensation

The Associate position starts within an annual salary range of $50,000-$60,000, a Senior Associate range is $60,000-$70,000. Compensation and title for a selected candidate will be commensurate with experience. MEEA offers a competitive employment benefits package that includes:

• 10 days of annual leave in the first year, 8 days of sick/personal leave, 9 holidays and 3 floating holidays
• Health insurance, including vision and dental insurance, and an employer sponsored healthcare reimbursement account
• A 403(b)-retirement plan with employer matching
• Pre-tax commuter benefits and employer paid benefits such as term life and disability insurance
• Flexible hybrid work schedule

Location

Civic Opera Building, 20 N Wacker Dr., Chicago, IL 60606

This position is hybrid, with staff expected to reside in the Chicago area. Currently, MEEA staff are in the office on Tuesdays and Wednesdays and work remotely the other three days.

To Apply

Visit www.mwalliance.org and navigate to our careers page. Submit your cover letter and resume through the online portal by 11/27/24. Candidates who do not submit both items will not be considered. Candidates identified for interviews will be asked to provide three references. No phone calls please.

MEEA is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to a policy of nondiscrimination with regard to race, sex, gender, color, age, religion, creed, class, sexual orientation, national origin and disability.