Salary : $70,000.06 – $85,000.24 Annually
Location : Denver Metro, CO
Job Type: Full Time
Job Number: EFA-BuildingCWStrategist-07.23
Department: Colorado Energy Office
Opening Date: 07/24/2023
Closing Date: 8/21/2023 11:59 PM Mountain
Primary Physical Work Address: 1600 Broadway, Suite 1960, Denver, CO 80202
FLSA Status: Exempt; position is not eligible for overtime compensation.
Department Information
The mission of the Colorado Energy Office (CEO) is to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and consumer energy costs by advancing clean energy, energy efficiency, and zero emission vehicles to benefit all Coloradans. We do this by developing and implementing highly impactful policies and programs, establishing Colorado as a leading state for climate action. The Colorado Energy Office is a great place to work, with collaborative and talented employees who are passionate about our mission and a flexible hybrid (work from home/work from office) atmosphere. Employees report high satisfaction with their work, their colleagues and manager, and CEO leadership. Join us!
We are committed to increasing the diversity of our staff and providing culturally responsive programs and services. Therefore, we encourage responses from people of diverse backgrounds and abilities.
Description of Job
Starting Salary Range: $70,000.06 – $85,000.24 Annually
Colorado has established statewide emission targets to reduce GHG emissions based on the levels that existed in 2005, including a 26% reduction by 2025, a 50% reduction by 2030, and a 90% reduction by 2050. The built environment is a top source of greenhouse gas emissions, and while CEO has worked on building energy efficiency for years, with the passage of the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) we are significantly expanding our focus on building decarbonization, including through new building performance standards, developing stronger statewide minimum energy codes, and launching market transformation initiatives to stimulate and bring down the costs of building electrification and other building improvements to reduce emissions.
Reducing and eventually eliminating emissions from fossil-based building heating and cooling equipment is critical to reducing emissions across Colorado’s building sector. A multitude of diverse federal, state and local efforts will initiate the widespread transformation of markets for fossil-based building heating and cooling equipment. HB23-1272 establishes a program to improve and accelerate the deployment of heat pump technology through tax credits. HB22-1362 and 1381 provide grants for electrification at the community-scale and using geothermal resources. IRA Home Energy Rebate Programs will provide rebates to offset the price of electrification in single-family and multi-family buildings, especially low and moderate income and affordable housing.
The Building and Climate Workforce Strategist will lead technical and strategic program development resulting in a comprehensive, diverse and sustainable building electrification workforce strategy. While working on a suite of building electrification programs and initiatives, they will spend the majority of their time focused on workforce development including stakeholder engagement, recruitment, training, certification and quality assurance in collaboration with utilities, local governments, manufacturers, contractors, builders and construction companies, labor unions, industry, community colleges, technical programs and community-based organizations.
Candidates for this position should demonstrate the ability to perform under a high degree of autonomy, think creatively and thoughtfully about program deployment, and help manage multiple program components from initial design through full implementation and reporting in coordination with the entire building decarbonization team, the weatherization assistance program and other workforce partners.
The Building and Climate Workforce Strategist will play a key role at the helm of a substantial market transformation effort and will work across multiple program stakeholders to ensure the continuous improvement of workforce development activities and building electrification technology deployment activities.
Duties and Responsibilities:
- Serve as the state lead for building electrification workforce development activities.
- Cultivate new and sustainable relationships with workforce entities including labor unions, community colleges, community-based organizations, local governments, and certification and training entities.
- Create, share and continuously improve a building electrification workforce strategy.
- Develop a contractor incentive/rewards program and evaluate other mid and upstream opportunities.
- Track and manage contractor performance and certification.
- Provide technical support and alignment with partner organizations including the Colorado Energy Efficiency Business Coalition and the Beneficial Electrification League.
- Act as a spokesperson for the Building Decarbonization team, seeking stakeholder feedback and creating connections in disproportionately impacted communities.
- Conduct research on a variety of energy-related issues and technologies as needed.
- Assist in the development of programming work plans, associated contracts, and the proposal of corresponding annual state and federal budgets.
- Help develop, monitor, and report on progress toward program operational measures and goals with other workforce development staff.
- Help promote data-driven decision making through the collection and utilization of program data.
- Participate in the evaluation of program outcomes and propose changes to the Director for program improvements and to support the annual strategic planning process
- Coordinate with the Director and the rest of the CEO team on strategic program outreach.
Minimum Qualifications, Substitutions, Conditions of Employment & Appeal Rights
- Minimum of 3-5 years of direct professional experience in a technical workforce development field.
- Professional experience in managing and leading interdisciplinary teams.
- Background in project or program development and management.
- Demonstrated commitment to improving building efficiency, comfort, health and security.
- Strong time management and organizational skills.
- Strong written, oral, and presentation communication skills.
- Demonstrates a high level of initiative as well as the ability to work both independently and in a team environment.
- Excellent computer skills including the Microsoft Office suite.
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
- Organized, detail-oriented, and collaborative, yet self-directed.
Desired Experience:
- Bachelor’s degree in building disciplines or related fields including home performance, building science, engineering, architecture, construction or facilities management.
- Preference given to candidates with general understanding of building decarbonization challenges and/or field experience in building design, engineering, construction, implementation and/or operations.
- Direct experience in the field with building systems and equipment.
- Experience designing or evaluating building mechanical and electrical systems.
- Knowledge of governmental grant program implementation processes and federal reporting requirements.
Supplemental Information
To Apply:
A cover letter and resume must be submitted with the application for consideration. Your cover letter and resume must provide sufficient detail about your background and experience to allow the screening panel to properly assess your experience in the required elements, including your experience and achievements.
The State of Colorado/Office of the Governor offers a generous benefits package including:
- Medical, dental and vision plan coverage – including extensive prescription drug coverage (many preventive medications covered at no cost)*
- Health Savings Account (with state contribution) when electing HDHP medical coverage*
- Wellness programs – participation can reduce employee premiums*
- Short-term and optional long-term disability coverage*
- Life and Accidental Death/Dismemberment Insurance*
- Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs)*
- Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA) job protection and State of Colorado Paid Family Medical Leave (PFML)
- 12 Paid Holidays Annually and Accrued Annual and Sick Leave
- Retirement benefits** – including PERA Defined Benefit Plan or PERA Defined Contribution Plan, plus optional 401(k) and 457 plans – https://www.copera.org/
- Hybrid work arrangements
- Variety of discounts on services and products available through the State of Colorado’s Work-Life Discount Program
- Training and professional development opportunities, including reduced college tuition through CSU Global (contact CSU Global for latest offerings).
- Access to the Colorado State Employee Assistance Program (CSEAP): offers confidential mental health counseling, professional coaching, employee mediation, 24/7 crisis support
- Free RTD EcoPass to all eligible State Employees
- Credit Union of Colorado Membership Eligibility
*To learn more about State of Colorado benefits, please visit the state’s benefits portal: https://www.colorado.gov/dhr/benefits.
**For information on mandatory employee salary deferral (in lieu of contribution to Social Security), see COPERA for details: https://www.copera.org/member-contribution-rates
Equity, Diversity and Inclusion
The State of Colorado believes that equity, diversity, and inclusion drive our success, and we encourage candidates from all identities, backgrounds, and abilities to apply. The State of Colorado is an equal opportunity employer committed to building inclusive, innovative work environments with employees who reflect our communities and enthusiastically serve them. Therefore, in all aspects of the employment process, we provide employment opportunities to all qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, disability, age, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, pregnancy, medical condition related to pregnancy, creed, ancestry, national origin, marital status, genetic information, or military status (with preference given to military veterans), or any other protected status in accordance with applicable law.
ADAAA Accommodations
The Office of the Governor is committed to the full inclusion of all qualified individuals. As part of this commitment, our agency will assist individuals who have a disability with any reasonable accommodation requests related to employment, including completing the application process, interviewing, completing any pre-employment testing, participating in the employee selection process, and/or to perform essential job functions where the requested accommodation does not impose an undue hardship. If you have a disability and require reasonable accommodation to ensure you have a positive experience applying or interviewing for this position, please direct your inquiries to our ADAAA Staffing Coordinator (the Director of Human Resources) at gov_hr@state.co.us.
Conditions of Employment
Applicants must pass a thorough background check prior to employment.
Effective September 20, 2021, employees will be required to attest to and verify whether or not they are fully vaccinated for COVID-19. Employees who have not been fully vaccinated may be required to submit to serial testing in the future. Upon hire, new employees will have thirty (30) business days to provide attestation to their status with proof of vaccination. Vaccinated employees must provide proof of vaccination. Note: Fully Vaccinated means two (2) weeks after a second dose in a two-dose series of the COVID-19 vaccine, such as the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine, or two (2) weeks after the single-dose vaccine, such as Johnson & Johnson’s Janssen vaccine, as defined by the most recent State of Colorado’s Public Health Order and current guidance issued by the Colorado Department of Public Health & Environment.
Employees who have not been fully vaccinated are encouraged (and may be required) to test before and/or wear a mask while spending time in person at the Energy Office.
Please note that each agency’s contact information is different; therefore, we encourage all applicants to view the full, official job announcement which includes contact information and class title. Select the job you wish to view, then click on the “Print” icon.
01
Did you attach BOTH your resume and cover letter?
- Yes
- No
02
Do you have three or more years of direct professional experience in a technical workforce development field?
- Yes
- No
03
If you answered “NO” to #2, briefly describe your how you acquired your skill set.
04
Briefly describe your experience with, or knowledge of, building electrification solutions.
05
Briefly describe your expertise with strategic program design and deployment.
06
What is your approach to stakeholder engagement? Please provide one example of your role in convening and facilitating cross-cutting and/or technical stakeholders.
07
Briefly tell us why you are interested in working for the Colorado Energy Office.
08
Please describe how you would prioritize CEO’s values of diversity, equity and inclusion in your work in this role.
Required Question