Project Manager, Buildings

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 strong project management experience. Proficiency in energy efficiency, buildings, stakeholder engagement, and/or underserved/indigenous communities is a plus but is not required. We offer a highly collaborative environment, where the Project Manager will join our committed Building Codes & Policy Team in advancing energy efficiency through MEEA’s building policy and program initiatives at the local, state, and regional levels.

The Project Manager will provide leadership, management, and outreach for multiple projects related to serving communities through energy codes and other building policies, some with a focus on historically marginalized and Indigenous communities. They will work collaboratively to advance equitable climate solutions through energy efficiency, including but not limited to considerations for decarbonization planning and implementation, distributed energy resources and management, energy code adoption and compliance, and workforce development. The Project Manager will accomplish this in part by managing and/or building key partnerships with numerous stakeholders, including Tribal Nations and rural communities as well as leaders in private industry and local, state, and federal governments.

The Project Manager will develop and manage internal and external research, education, or program implementation projects. The Project Manager will manage multidimensional projects and is involved in local, state, regional and national work groups, including stakeholder engagement with historically marginalized and Indigenous communities.

The core of the Project Manager’s work will be to assist the Buildings Team in advancing building energy code and benchmarking ordinance/BPS adoption, implementation, and compliance. The Project Manager 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 to further MEEA’s mission.

Responsibilities

In addition to the key responsibilities described above, the Project Manager will be responsible for performing, or assisting with, the following tasks:

• Leading oversight, management, and delivery for multiple projects, including working with historically marginalized and Indigenous communities
• Being responsible for all aspects of a project from inception to delivery of the final product, including proposal drafting and reporting
• Preparing timeline, milestones and ensuring adherence to project schedules
• Performing technical and administrative tasks associated with project delivery
• Coordinating and sharing resources and expertise across organization
• Developing fact sheets, testimony and other advocacy materials
• Budgeting and contracting management
• Coordinating educational and outreach activities to increase awareness and understanding of building energy policies 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 and funder engagement via numerous communication channels
• Coordinating webinars, trainings, and conference sessions
• Data entry, website updates, and other administrative/organizational tasks

Qualifications

• Demonstrated experience in project management
• B.A or B.S. in one of the following, or related field: Project management, business management, engineering, building science, architecture, planning, environmental science, public policy. Advanced degree a plus.
• 5+ years work experience; proficiency with buildings, sustainability, and stakeholder engagement a plus
• 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 and project management software; 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
• Ability to travel overnight approximately 5%-15% of the time (as circumstances allow)

Compensation

The Project Manager position starts within an annual salary range of $70,000-$80,000. 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 2/13/25. 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.