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Dir of CA, Sustain & Energy



Job Description

As a member of the university’s core climate action, sustainability, and energy team, the primary role of the Director of Climate Action, Sustainability, and Energy is to work collaboratively with the Virginia Tech community to conceive, develop, implement, maintain, and measure short and long-term frameworks highlighted in Beyond Boundaries 2047: The Campus Plan, the Virginia Tech Climate Action Commitment, and Virginia Tech Design and Construction Standards by:
• Leading and coordinating activities of the climate action, sustainability, and energy team and outside consultants with a high level of professional acumen and technical expertise in support of university-wide success by directing, monitoring, and evaluating these professional activities.
• Managing campus-wide programs, leveraging the campus as a learning laboratory for students (Energy Action Plan, Green RFP, Green Office Certification, Green Tailgate, Green Grad, Sustainability Week, Earth Week, and other strategic sustainability initiatives).
• Overseeing a campus-wide internship program, fostering partnerships in both the division and the academy.
• Maintaining a university-wide public presence to nurture communication, outreach, and engagement while expanding the network of sustainability support on campus.
• Conceiving, developing, and implementing new programs that expand and strengthen assigned responsibilities.
• Coordinating strategic planning efforts for the assigned function.
• Seeking grant-funding opportunities for the university and preparing and submitting these grants.
• Documenting, measuring, and reporting on campus climate action, sustainability, and energy initiatives.
• Maintaining a deep level of knowledge, technical expertise, and understanding of campus climate action, sustainability, and energy programming – in order to support best practices in design and operations.
• Professionally guiding and partnering with Campus Planning, Infrastructure, and Facilities team members in project delivery, providing associated oversight and analysis for scopes ranging from large scale multiyear multimillion-dollar campus and infrastructure systems, new capital construction projects, existing building evaluations, and other smaller scale construction and renovation projects.
• Championing the delivery of long-term sustainable building environments, systems, and initiatives – focusing on (but not necessarily limited to) - energy efficiencies, building automation, utility optimization, and distribution system best practices, renewals, occupant health and wellness and campus sustainability excellence.
• Evaluating energy use and designing energy programs that increase efficiency and reduce energy-related costs.

The incumbent will interact routinely with a wide variety of university faculty and staff, as well as external constituents. The incumbent will make decisions independently and work autonomously in developing and implementing new programs with a strategic intent to advance the university’s sustainability commitment. The incumbent must be detail, action, solution, and results oriented and dedicated to the mission of the university’s sustainability program.

This position will report directly to the Assistant Vice President for Infrastructure and Chief Sustainability Officer and will represent the university in scheduled events on and off campus. The position will lead a team of nearly 20 full-time professionals in the areas of energy management; sustainability; instrumentation controls, and metering; and utility optimization. The position will require evening and/or weekend responsibilities during peak times.

Required Qualifications

- Advanced degree in sustainability, engineering, urban or environmental planning, environmental science, or a related field or equivalent training and/or experience. At minimum, a bachelor’s degree is required.
- Considerable experience in the development and implementation of climate action, sustainability, and energy initiatives in an institutional environment.
- Ability to demonstrate a thorough knowledge of the principles of climate action, sustainability, and energy management and how they relate to organizations and university campuses.
- Experience researching and preparing technically complex executive level documents, position papers, reports, proposals, and presentations on a variety of strategic topics.
- Demonstrated commitment to data-driven decision-making and the use of key performance indicators in the execution (development, analysis, corrective action, communication, and pursuit and provision of feedback) of tactical, operational, and strategic responsibilities.
- Exceptional communication skills, interpersonal skills, diplomacy, and the ability to effectively interact and build trusted relationships with diverse internal and external constituencies.
- Demonstrated commitment to exceptionally responsive service delivery to all customers and stakeholders, and interact effectively with administrators, community leaders, employees, students, legislators, and other constituent groups on a broad range of sensitive topics.
- Demonstrated ability to prioritize and manage multiple tasks and projects; excellent organizational, leadership, and delegation skills; and ability to work collaboratively. Must have strong problem solving and conflict resolution skills to manage complex tasks and/or those that require balancing competing interests.
- Strong analytical, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills, with ability to see patterns, be a fast thinker, and make decisions with strong attention to accuracy, detail, and local context.
- Demonstrated patience, reliability, composure, and stability under pressure as well as a strong personal ethics commitment.
- Extensive leadership and teambuilding skills with a demonstrated ability to work independently and with minimal supervision.
- Ability to travel to on-campus and off-campus facilities sites, with occasional overnight travel.

Preferred Qualifications

- Professional credentialing, such as a Professional Engineer (PE).
- Experience with facilities administration, maintenance and repair, budgeting, fiscal administration, people management, client management, and operational planning. Experience should demonstrate a broad understanding of public sector or higher education facilities operations.
- Experience working on climate action, sustainability, and energy initiatives in a large, complex, and publically oriented organization.
- Experience working on climate action, sustainability, and energy initiatives in a Higher Education environment and familiarity with the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education (AASHE) and the Sustainability Tracking, Assessment, and Rating System (STARS).
- Experience seeking grant-funding opportunities as well as preparing and submitting grants.
- Experience in/with communications, marketing, and public relations and in establishing partnerships and collaborating with numerous stakeholders, developing a climate action, sustainability, and energy literacy curriculum, and/or workshop facilitation.
- Knowledge of Assetworks’ AiM or similar maintenance management software.

Appointment Type

Regular

Review Date

August 16, 2021

Additional Information



- Work hours are typically M – F 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.; however, additional hours, modified schedule, after hours, and/or weekend work may be required to meet the needs of the department.
- Must have a criminal background check, must have a driver’s license check.
- Must have an acceptable and safe driving record.
- Travel to meetings at non-Blacksburg sites with some overnight stays.
- This position meets the criteria for issuance of a mobile communication device (such as radio, cell-phone, I-pad, I-pod, pager, etc.). Devices issued are the responsibility of the employee and are to be returned in satisfactory condition upon separation of employment. Devices are to be used according to supervisor instruction and according to relevant policies.

Please see the new requirement for incoming employees with Virginia Tech: COVID-19 vaccines are now required for all employees . Verification of receiving the COVID vaccine will be required as a condition of employment for all new employees.

The successful Candidate will be required to have a criminal conviction check

About Virginia Tech

Dedicated to its motto, Ut Prosim (That I May Serve), Virginia Tech pushes the boundaries of knowledge by taking a hands-on, transdisciplinary approach to preparing scholars to be leaders and problem-solvers. A comprehensive land-grant institution that enhances the quality of life in Virginia and throughout the world, Virginia Tech is an inclusive community dedicated to knowledge, discovery, and creativity. The university offers more than 280 majors to a diverse enrollment of more than 36,000 undergraduate, graduate, and professional students in eight undergraduate colleges , a school of medicine , a veterinary medicine college, Graduate School , and Honors College . The university has a significant presence across Virginia, including the Innovation Campus in Northern Virginia; the Health Sciences and Technology Campus in Roanoke; sites in Newport News and Richmond; and numerous Extension offices and research centers . A leading global research institution, Virginia Tech conducts more than $500 million in research annually.

Virginia Tech does not discriminate against employees, students, or applicants on the basis of age, color, disability, sex (including pregnancy), gender, gender identity, gender expression, genetic information, national origin, political affiliation, race, religion, sexual orientation, or veteran status, or otherwise discriminate against employees or applicants who inquire about, discuss, or disclose their compensation or the compensation of other employees or applicants, or on any other basis protected by law.

If you are an individual with a disability and desire an accommodation, please contact Operations HR at opshr-g@vt.edu during regular business hours at least 10 business days prior to the event.

Advertised: August 26, 2021
Applications close:

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