Manager, Building Operations, Energy & Sustainability

The Faculty of Arts and Sciences (FAS) is Harvard’s largest school, comprising a diverse portfolio of research laboratories, libraries, residential and athletic facilities, offices, classrooms, museums, and other specialized facilities. The FAS facilities portfolio includes more than 250 buildings and approximately 10 million square feet.

The Manager, Building Operations, Energy & Sustainability, is an integral member of the FAS Office of Physical Resources and Planning (OPRP) and Office for Sustainability (OFS) teams. Within the FAS Infrastructure and Sustainability (I&S) team, the position supports energy efficiency and decarbonization through portfolio-level energy management, recommending building-performance priorities and strategy for the FAS building portfolio, and identifying  corrective actions to optimize building performance. 

Reporting to the Associate Director of Building Mechanical Systems and the Director of OFS, the Manager is responsible for regular monitoring, and reporting portfolio energy performance and utility forecasting, identifying and coordinating investigation of energy anomalies, recommending building-performance priorities, and evaluating the results of the I&S team’s operational and sustainability initiatives. The role works closely with the I&S team as well as Facilities Operations, Building Managers, project managers, Energy & Utilities, OFS, consultants, and service providers to improve building operation and energy performance, and support decarbonization goals.

Job-Specific Responsibilities:

Energy Management and Portfolio Performance

• Leads portfolio-level energy management for FAS, including monitoring electricity, steam, chilled water, natural gas, and other relevant energy and utility data. EnergyCAP is the energy and utility software system primarily used. 

• Identifies trends and building-level energy anomalies (i.e. unusual consumption) and coordinates timely investigation within the I&S team, Building Manager(s), and other FAS and/or University stakeholders as required to resolve the anomaly. 

• Based on analysis, identifies within the I&S team when buildings or systems require additional technical analysis, recommissioning, and/or maintenance intervention.

• Responsible for implementing a structured process for documenting anomalies, assigning follow-up actions, tracking resolution, and verifying performance after corrective measures are implemented.

• Develops and maintains energy-performance dashboards, reports, key performance indicators, and management tools.

• Prepares quarterly energy-consumption forecasts and variance analyses to inform utility budgets using relevant influences such as historical performance, weather, occupancy, operating changes, and/or other relevant assumptions. Works with the I&S and OPRP Finance team  to develop and update/revise utility budgets throughout the fiscal year. 

• Develops presentation and communications of case study projects/programs, portfolio energy performance annually, emerging risks, and opportunities to a range of audiences including FAS and OFS leadership.

• Supports the Manager, Facility Systems & Sustainability in the management of the mechanical-equipment data within the FAS computerized maintenance management system (CMMS), for example preventive-maintenance (PM) schedules, task requirements for mechanical equipment and mechanical-equipment data entry.

Building-Performance Strategy and Prioritization

• Works with the Director of Infrastructure and Sustainability to identify and prioritize building-performance opportunities for the I&S team across the FAS portfolio. The Manager uses multiple existing building data systems, e.g. energy, asset-condition, computerized maintenance management system (CMMS), planning and project information and brings the data together for analysis and prioritization for the I&S team. 

• Recommends I&S team portfolio priorities and performance objectives for energy-efficiency, electrification, emissions-reduction, and decarbonization initiatives.

• Supports the Director of Infrastructure and Sustainability by providing analytical and operational input to  coordinate infrastructure renewal and energy efficiency and decarbonization priorities into FAS campus planning, capital and operational planning and projects through an established FAS Strategic Planning group. 

Investigation and Implementation for Optimal Building Performance

• Partners with the Associate Director of Building Mechanical Systems and Manager, Facility Systems to define the appropriate technical response to identified performance issues, recommend and implement corrective actions, understanding system constraints, risks, and opportunities.
• Manages FAS and University stakeholders and/or external vendors to implement corrective actions.
• Identifies recurring portfolio-wide issues that impact energy and/or operational performance and recommends changes to operating practices, standards, maintenance strategies, or investment priorities.
• Where required, works with the I&S team to translate approved priorities into defined projects and programs with clear scope, schedule, responsibilities, funding strategy, and performance measures.
• Works with I&S leadership to develop identified building-performance opportunities into recommendations for projects or programs, including the operational need, expected performance outcome, preliminary scope, priority, and potential funding considerations.
• Once approved, coordinates with appropriate team(s) for implementation.
• Evaluates post-implementation performance and identifies additional corrective action when results do not meet established expectations.
• For relevant projects, reviews project plans, specifications, submittals, control sequences, and related technical documentation for consistency with FAS operational requirements and building-system standards.

Working Conditions:

Emergency Status Designation: This role is considered non-essential and may be eligible for flex-work arrangements in accordance with departmental policies and manager approval. 

Qualifications

Basic Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in engineering, energy management, facilities management, building science, environmental studies, or a related field, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Minimum of seven years experience in building energy management, facilities operations, building performance, commissioning, energy efficiency, or decarbonization across a complex building portfolio.
• Demonstrated experience analyzing energy and building-performance data, identifying performance issues, developing forecasts, and translating findings into operational priorities and corrective action.
• Strong analytical, project-management, organizational, collaboration, communication, and presentation skills.

Additional Qualifications and Skills:

• Experience in higher education, research laboratory, or other complex institutional facilities.
• Working knowledge of mechanical building systems, building automation systems, commissioning, retro-commissioning, and drivers of energy use in buildings.
• Experience with energy benchmarking, measurement and verification, utility data systems, i.e. EnergyCAP, dashboards, energy and utility budget forecasting, and variance analysis.
• Familiarity with utility-incentive programs, grants, rebates, or other energy-funding mechanisms and their role in project planning.
• Knowledge of state energy codes, local climate regulations, ASHRAE standards, and building-decarbonization strategies.
• Demonstrated ability to communicate technical and analytical information to operational staff, project teams, and senior leaders.

Technology Skills Required

Proficiency with Energy and Utility Management software, Microsoft Office applications and the ability to learn Harvard systems and web-based software are required. Experience with relevant facilities, energy, project-management, reporting, or data-visualization systems is preferred.

Additional Information

Standard Hours/Schedule: 40 hours per week

Visa Sponsorship Information: Harvard University is unable to provide visa sponsorship for this position

Pre-Employment Screening: Identity, Education, and References

About the Harvard Office for Sustainability: 

Harvard University has a long commitment to confronting the global challenges of climate change and sustainable development through its research, teaching, and institutional action. The University-wide Office for Sustainability (OFS), created in 2008, plays a pivotal role in bringing together students, faculty, and staff to use the campus as a living laboratory for piloting and proving solutions that address intergenerational wellbeing and lead to a sustainable future. Our efforts are driven by a University-wide Sustainability Action Plan, which includes goals to be fossil fuel-free by 2050 and fossil fuel-neutral by 2026. 

This is an exciting opportunity to join the Office for Sustainability, an experienced and dedicated team working toward the achievement of the objectives in Harvard’s Sustainability Action Plan. OFS is a fast-paced, dynamic, and evolving organization that looks for talented, experienced individuals who thrive in this environment.  Harvard University views equity, diversity, inclusion, and belonging as the pathway to achieving inclusive excellence and fostering a campus culture where everyone can thrive. We strive to create a community that draws upon the widest possible pool of talent embracing individuals from varied backgrounds, cultures, races, identities, life experiences, perspectives, beliefs, and values. 

Visit the Harvard Office for Sustainability website for more information.

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Work Format Details

This position has been determined by school or unit leaders that some of the duties and responsibilities can be effectively performed at a non-Harvard location. The work schedule and location will be set by the department at its discretion and based upon operational needs. When not working at a Harvard or Harvard-designated location, employees in hybrid positions must work in a Harvard registered state in compliance with the University’s Policy on Employment Outside of Massachusetts. Additional details will be discussed during the interview process. Certain visa types and funding sources may limit work location. Individuals must meet work location sponsorship requirements prior to employment.

Salary Grade and Ranges

This position is salary grade level 058. Please visit  Harvard's Salary Ranges  to view the corresponding salary range and related information. 

Benefits

Harvard offers a comprehensive benefits package that is designed to support a healthy work-life balance and your physical, mental and financial wellbeing. Because here, you are what matters. Our benefits include, but are not limited to: 

• Generous paid time off including parental leave 
• Medical, dental, and vision health insurance coverage starting on day one 
• Retirement plans with university contributions 
• Wellbeing and mental health resources 
• Support for families and caregivers 
• Professional development opportunities including tuition assistance and reimbursement 
• Commuter benefits, discounts and campus perks 

Learn more about these and additional benefits on our Benefits & Wellbeing Page. 

EEO/Non-Discrimination Commitment Statement

Harvard University is committed to equal opportunity and non-discrimination. We seek talent from all parts of society and the world, and we strive to ensure everyone at Harvard thrives. Our differences help our community advance Harvard's academic purposes.

Harvard has an equal employment opportunity policy that outlines our commitment to prohibiting discrimination on the basis of race, ethnicity, color, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, veteran status, religion, disability, or any other characteristic protected by law or identified in the university's non-discrimination policy. Harvard's equal employment opportunity policy and non-discrimination policy help all community members participate fully in work and campus life free from harassment and discrimination.