Energy and Sustainability Manager

Job Description

This is a non-civil service position.

Pay grade range: $90,000 - $110,000

Essential functions:

• Develop and execute energy reduction strategies to meet the City's 2030 greenhouse gas emission targets and maximize utility cost savings across 100+ municipal facilities.
• Ensure compliance with applicable building codes, energy standards, and environmental regulations, and conduct comprehensive energy audits and analyze utility data to identify inefficiencies, prioritize improvement projects, and track progress toward reduction goals.
• Manage energy efficiency retrofit projects from planning through implementation, including procurement, contractor coordination, budget oversight, and measurement and verification.
• Monitor and analyze utility accounts, rate structures, and consumption patterns to optimize costs and identify billing errors or opportunities for rate adjustments.
• Serve as primary support and liaison to Energy Saving Company (ESCO) under Energy Saving Performance Contract (ESPC).
• Prepare financial analyses including ROI calculations, lifecycle cost assessments, and business cases for energy projects to secure funding and leadership approval.
• Explore and evaluate renewable energy deployment opportunities, including solar, geothermal, and other technologies appropriate for municipal applications.
• Identify and pursue grant opportunities, TVA rebates, and alternative financing mechanisms to fund municipal and community clean energy and energy-efficiency initiatives.
• Support Sustainability staff, Knoxville residents, and partner organizations with community weatherization and home energy-efficiency programs.
• Support and educate the development community and public-private partnerships aligned with the City's key development priorities, including "incorporating environmentally friendly and sustainable engineering characteristics."
• Develop energy performance benchmarks and reporting systems to track facility performance and demonstrate progress on climate and cost-saving goals.
• Work closely with City Operations, Facilities Planning, and Public Building Authority teams, as well as external stakeholders to improve capital planning and property management processes, and energy management capacity.
• Present findings, recommendations, and program updates to City leadership, elected officials, and community stakeholders.
• Stay current on emerging energy technologies, best practices, industry standards, and available incentive programs.

Marginal functions:
Performs related work as required.

Knowledge, skills, and abilities:

• Strong technical knowledge of building systems including HVAC, lighting, controls, and building automation systems (BAS).
• Proficiency in energy modeling software, data analysis tools, and utility tracking platforms such as Energy Cap and Energy Star.
• Knowledge of project management with ability to manage multiple initiatives simultaneously.
• Excellent analytical skills with experience in financial modeling and cost-benefit analysis.
• Strong written and verbal communication and presentation skills for technical and non-technical audiences.
• Knowledge of greenhouse gas accounting and standards, emissions reduction strategies, and climate action planning.
• Familiarity with federal, state, and local energy codes and environmental regulations.
• Ability to work collaboratively across departments and with external partners.

Physical requirements:

This position consists of primarily medium work, requiring the incumbent to exert up to 50 pounds of force occasionally, and/or 20 pounds (or less) of force frequently, in order to lift/carry, push/pull, or otherwise move objects. A description of the specific physical requirements associated with this position is maintained on file in the Human Resources office for review upon request.

Mental requirements:
This position requires training and/or experience, the use of logic and/or scientific thinking to define problems, collect information, establish facts, draw valid conclusions, recommend and appropriate actions and implement policies and regulations, and to manage and coordinate multiple programs or projects.

Minimum requirements:

• Valid driver's license and ability to travel to municipal facilities throughout Knoxville.
• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Energy Management, Architecture, Technology, Physics, Environmental Science, Earth Science, Business, or related field.
• Minimum five years of professional experience developing and implementing energy management programs, analyzing infrastructure for energy and sustainability improvements, and managing energy conservation initiatives and energy budgets.
• Candidates with six or more years of experience in the field of energy conservation and management but without a four-year degree in the specified fields will be considered.
• Certified Energy Manager (CEM) or ability to obtain within 12 months of hire (please check extensive requirements for this certification before applying to this position)

Preferred qualifications:

• Master's degree in…