Senior Specialist, Building Science and Analysis

• Cause Areas: Economic Development, Energy, Environment & Sustainability, Policy

Status: Full Time Exempt, Salaried

Working Conditions: Full-Time Remote, 35hrs/wk, Occasional Domestic Travel, Technical Setup Provided (Laptop, Monitor, Accessories)

Benefits: Medical/Dental/Vision/Life Insurance, Disability Coverage, Paid Time Off, Matching IRA Contributions, Professional Development Assistance

Reports to: Associate Director, Building Decarbonization

Team: Policy Engagement

The Institute for Market Transformation (IMT) is a national 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization on a mission to equitably decarbonize buildings in this decade to improve the livability of our communities. Our partnerships with local communities, government leaders, and businesses provide unique insights into how to make this vision a reality.

The Senior Specialist, Building Science & Analysis will serve as a technical lead on building science, building energy performance, and analytical methods that support IMT’s policy, utility, and market-facing work. The Senior Specialist will lead research and analysis on building performance, retrofit strategies, energy and cost impacts, and technical feasibility, translating complex technical information into practical recommendations for governments, building owners, advocates, and other partners.

The Senior Specialist will provide technical depth across IMT’s existing building performance policy programs, including performance target setting, technical policy and program design, evaluation of retrofit costs and technologies, review and development of proposed model energy code requirements, utility incentive program design, and engagement with engineering and analytical partners.

This position is housed within the Policy Engagement Team and will report to the Associate Director of Building Decarbonization.

In support of IMT’s building performance work, this position will:

• Lead quantitative and qualitative analysis of building energy performance using benchmarking, utility, building characteristics, audit, cost, modeling, and other relevant data.
• Develop, evaluate, and refine methodologies for setting building performance and energy savings targets, including approaches that account for building type, climate, existing performance, technical feasibility, available technologies, first costs, energy cost savings, and co-benefits.
• Collect, organize, and synthesize retrofit cost and performance data and assess tradeoffs among upfront costs, energy savings, operating costs, lifecycle considerations, and practical implementation constraints.
• Analyze building retrofit strategies to identify technically viable pathways for improving performance of commercial, multifamily, and institutional buildings.
• Interpret and critically review energy audits, energy models, engineering analyses, capital planning studies, cost estimates, and related technical work produced by consultants and partners; identify key assumptions, limitations, and implications for policy or program design.
• Develop repeatable analytical approaches, tools, and quality-assurance processes that allow IMT and its partners to apply building performance analysis more consistently across projects and geographies.
• Provide technical assistance and internal consultation to IMT staff and partners, translating complex technical information into practical recommendations and implementable policy and program decisions.
• Identify and prioritize high-leverage intervention points with potential for broad reach and impact, and develop the technical case and content for IMT engagement.