Energy resource coordinator

The position of Energy Coordinator is a continuing 12-month, continuing, Administrative and Professional Staff (A&PS) position within the Office of Energy and Sustainability (OES). The hire will serve four important functions that involve the acquisition and use of data to support a culture and practice of sustainable and climate resilient resource use on campus. They will: 1) Support the development and implementation of energy and conservation resource plans and policies that maximize energy efficiency, load management, carbon free energy acquisition and generation, and climate resilience. 2) Play a central role in managing, troubleshooting, and expanding a campus dashboard metering, analysis and display system; 3) Validate and manage data associated with campus resource use and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions to advance Oberlin’s mitigation and adaptation efforts; 4) Collaborate and coordinate across campus to ensure that data are used to improve facilities management, enhance academic and residential education, enhance student and faculty research, maximize value for behavior change programming, and attain institutional policies and goals.

Responsibilities

Responsibilities:

1) Support the development / implementation of energy and resource conservation plans / policies/projects

• Work with Facilities Operations, Facilities Planning and Construction and the College Leadeship to develop energy conservation, plans, policies and projects.

• Assist and support all planning and strategy efforts related to new and existing energy projects on campus including energy efficiency and renewable energy projects to achieve GHG reduction and climate resilience commitments.

• Assist in the development and revision of energy management standards, guidelines and policy for operations, design, and construction

• Assist in assessing proposed projects in terms of: future resource use forecasting; life-cycle financial and environmental costs; dependability of future energy supply; climate resilience opportunities and impacts; collaborative opportunities with the City and with larger regional entities.

• Assist in researching funding opportunities that support and economize on capital energy projects including: local, state and federal rebate, tax credit and financing programs; grants; power purchase agreements. Assist in proposal writing and necessary reporting associated with these initiatives.

2) Manage essential aspects of dashboard metering and display system

• Oberlin’s dashboard is unique data metering, analysis and display technology that includes hundreds of meters installed in buildings across campus and in the central utility plant. The Coordinator will serve as a point person for maintaining and expanding this system for building level metering. They will provide support services for additional submetering including connecting new submeters, verifying all submeters are operating, reporting and otherwise maintained accurately.

• Directly collaborate with Facilities personnel, OES staff and faculty to plan metering for new construction and renovation projects to maximize data benefits for management and education.

• Evaluate and update metering specifications, and installation protocols required of contractors to insure best technology, practices and economy are considered.

• Oversee meter installation and verify that contractual specifications are met before payment occurs.

• Configure new variables as they are added to the dashboard system and maintain consistent and easily interpretable documentation for the system.

3) Validate and manage data and assist in GHG accounting, mitigation and adaptation

• Verify data quality. “Ground truth” building level metering technology installed on campus to ensure that meters deliver and continue to deliver accurate data.

• Ensure that data from the dashboard meters and from utility bills are organized, stored and managed in ways that optimize access so that data can be easily used by multiple stakeholders for financial, operational, educational and mitigation and adaptation purposes.

4) Facilitate use of data to optimize: facilities management, education, research, behavior change programs and attainment of institutional policies and goals

• Facilities and operations: ensure that data are useful and easily accessible for troubleshooting faulty equipment support efficient management. Identify opportunities for economizing and conserving resources. Facilitate use of metered data in initial building commissioning, ongoing management and retro-commissioning. Help to ensure that specified energy performance is achieved prior to contractor payment. Provide ongoing training and support to facilities personnel so that they can take full advantage of data and analytics from the dashboard system for such purposes

• Education and research: Support access for faculty who wish to develop curricular materials and conduct research that uses data and data visualizations. Create and maintain training materials to augment individual and classroom training and support in the use of the dashboard system to faculty and students as requested.

• Behavior change programming: Assist faculty and with staff in using data and the Environmental Dashboard to support behavior change programming for residential education and for all Oberlin staff such as configuring the annual Ecolympics competition, managing the “environmental orbs” installed in every residential house, and assisting in the development of behavior change initiatives that encourage awareness and conservation of energy, water, food waste and other material conservation programming. Provide data and training to support the Resource Conservation Team, Eco-Reps, Green Labs, and Green Room Pledge and similar entities and initiatives.

• Attainment of institutional policies and goals: Track and communicate adherence to GHG, energy and material conservation goals and desired outcomes to a variety of audiences including Senior Leadership through data, data visualizations, qualitative analyses, and presentations.

Student worker management: The Coordinator may, under certain circumstances, manage student assistants and interns hired to support the duties described above.

Essential Job Functions

Marginal Job Functions

Required Qualifications

• Undergraduate degree or equivalent (advanced degrees and certifications desirable, but not required)

• Well-developed ability to work well with a variety of stakeholders and manage competing priorities

• Demonstrated ability to creativity, and independently troubleshoot and solve technical problems in both mechanical and data systems

• Strong energy literacy that includes the ability to understand and effectively communicate information about electrical and heating and cooling systems to both technical and non-technical community members

• Advanced computer and data management skills

• Demonstrated management, organization and communication (written and verbal) skills

• Ability to work in cramped mechanical spaces with limited access, to exert 20 pounds of force occasionally, and/or up to 10 pounds of force frequently to move objects.

• Demonstrated ability to self-learn in an evolving technological context

Desired Qualifications

Note: We do not expect candidates to have all of the qualifications listed below

• Degrees, and/or certifications in renewable energy, energy efficiency, computer programming are a plus (e.g. such LEED or other green building certifications, Certified Energy Manager, Professional Engineer, Engineer in Training, etc.)

• Practical experience working with building automation systems, data logging devices, and/or microcontrollers such Arduino, ESP32 or Raspberry Pi devices

• Advanced experience with computer systems such as database management, system administration and hardware troubleshooting

• Experience collaborating with trades professionals and facilities managers in a culturally diverse work environment

• Familiarity and experience with energy policy, programs and the grant writing process
• Project management experience

• Experience working with diverse teams at educational institutions

• Experience communicating in a professional environment that involves writing and public presentation.

Physical Requirements:


Light work-Exerting up to 20 pounds of force occasionally, and/or up to 10 pounds of force frequently to move objects. Incumbent must be able to communicate with others. Incumbent may be required to travel from building to building frequently and off campus occasionally.


Diversity Statement:


Oberlin College is committed to the creation and nurturing of a diverse community of individuals through inclusive excellence. Diversity involves recognizing the value of differences and the inclusion of all members of the community including those that experience discrimination or under representation. This is a core value of the organization as we strive for a culturally diverse student body, faculty and staff that reflect the multicultural nature of the nation and our world and bring unique strengths and abilities, which contribute, to our institution.

Compensation

Within the range established for this position, salary will be commensurate with qualifications and experience and includes an excellent benefits package, including 35 days of paid time off.

Special Instructions to Applicants

A complete application will be comprised of 1) a Cover Letter ; 2) a Resume; and 3) List of References from three sources indicating name, title, contact information (specifically, email, phone number, address), and relationship to applicant.

• By providing three (3) Professional References you agree that we may contact them throughout our interview process.

Review of applications will begin on October 15th and continue until the position is filled.


Questions about the position may be addressed
to: Chris Norman, Senior Director for Campus Energy and Sustainability [email protected] with position title in subject line.

Documents Needed to Apply

Required Documents

• Cover Letter

• Resume

• List of References

• Affirmation of Diversity Statement

Optional Documents

• Curriculum Vitae