Deputy Director of the Building Construction Collaborative

American Council for an Energy Efficient Economy; Washington (District of Columbia); Hybrid; USD 100,000 - 130,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health, dental, vision insurance

403(b) retirement plan

Transportation and bike-share benefits

Vacation: 3 weeks first year, 4 weeks/

Job summary

ACEEE seeks a Deputy Director for the Building Construction Collaborative to provide strategic direction and program management for a major national initiative shaping energy-efficient building practices. The role partners with states, local governments, industry, and national partners to identify barriers and develop practical solutions.

You will lead research, analyses, and publications, translate findings for policymakers and practitioners, and help grow the team and funding opportunities.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree with at least 10 years of relevant professional experience, or a master’s degree with at least 8 years of relevant professional experience.
• Experience leading or co-leading complex, multi-stakeholder initiatives involving diverse organizations.
• Experience with building design, construction, operation, or building performance.

Responsibilities

• Lead strategic direction, planning, and implementation for the Building Construction Collaborative.
• Manage day-to-day operations, budgets, and staff across partners and contractors.
• Supervise staff, set priorities, and support hiring and onboarding.

Skills

Program management

Leadership

Stakeholder engagement

Building science

Policy analysis

Strategic thinking

Staff supervision

Education

Bachelor’s degree + 10 yrs exp or Master’s + 8 yrs exp

Job description

All Jobs > Deputy Director of the Building Construction Collaborative

Deputy Director of the Building Construction Collaborative
Fully Remote - Washington, DC or Remote - Buildings Program

Join ACEEE to shape the future of building construction in the United States. ACEEE is seeking an experienced professional to help lead the Building Construction Collaborative, a national initiative to advance high-quality, affordable, energy-efficient building construction through research, technical analysis, and collaboration. Working with states, local governments, industry leaders, and other national partners, you will develop practical solutions that improve how buildings are designed and built across the country. You’ll be part of a nationally recognized team whose research and policy work helps communities reduce energy use, lower costs, and improve building performance.

About ACEEE:

Since 1980, ACEEE has advanced practical, cost-effective solutions to use energy more efficiently. Our independent research and advocacy have shaped landmark federal and state policies, catalyzed clean technologies, and made energy efficiency the nation’s most productive energy resource. Efficiency today saves more energy each year than the U.S. consumes from any single primary energy source.

As electricity demand rises in the United States, energy efficiency is one of the most practical, affordable, and immediate tools to cut emissions, keep costs down, and make sure the clean energy transition benefits everyone, especially low-income and historically underserved communities. ACEEE’s vision is a clean energy future that secures a healthy planet and better lives for all.

ACEEE’s organizational culture is collaborative and team-oriented with a strong commitment to our mission and an emphasis on results. We strive to help all staff develop professionally and to make ACEEE a flexible, fulfilling, and enjoyable place to work. ACEEE is dedicated to fostering a culture that values all individuals and ensures fairness while incorporating these principles into our research and policy work.

Position Description:

As Deputy Director of the Building Construction Collaborative on ACEEE’s Buildings team, you will provide strategic direction and program management for one of ACEEE’s largest national initiatives. The Collaborative brings together states, local governments, industry, and other participants to identify barriers to energy-efficient building construction and develop practical solutions through research, technical analysis, stakeholder engagement, and implementation support. Working closely with the Collaborative Director, you will oversee major program activities, coordinate staff and program partners, and support the growth and long-term success of the Collaborative.

Working with partners across the country, you will identify the most pressing challenges facing building construction and develop practical solutions that advance energy-efficient, high-quality, affordable buildings. You will convene leaders across government, industry, utilities, and nonprofit organizations to exchange ideas, share tools and resources, develop strategies, and accelerate adoption of effective building construction practices. Leveraging this national network of experts, you will shape the Collaborative’s priorities, guide research and technical analyses, develop publications and implementation resources, and translate findings into practical strategies for stakeholders at the state, local, and national levels. As the Collaborative grows, you will also help build and manage the project team, providing leadership and direction to staff, partners, and contractors.

General Responsibilities:

• Helps lead the Building Construction Collaborative’s strategic direction, planning, and implementation, including identifying emerging policy needs, research priorities, and opportunities to accelerate high-quality, affordable, and efficient building construction.
• Manages day-to-day Collaborative operations and coordinates activities across staff, partners, contractors, and Collaborative participants.
• Manages complex projects, work plans, budgets, and deliverables, ensuring that work is completed on schedule, within budget, and according to funder requirements.
• Leads and contributes to research, technical analyses, publications, and other resources addressing building design and construction, building energy codes and related policies, energy efficiency, affordability, and emerging building technologies.
• Translates findings into practical recommendations and accessible resources for policymakers, practitioners, and other technical and nontechnical audiences.
• Plans and facilitates convenings, workshops, technical advisory groups, and stakeholder engagement activities involving state and local governments, utilities, industry partners, community organizations, federal agencies, and technical experts.
• Develops and maintains relationships with Collaborative participants, funders, and partners, and helps identify opportunities for new partnerships and funding.
• Represents ACEEE through conferences, presentations, publications, stakeholder meetings, and other public forums.
• Supervises and supports research and program staff by setting priorities, delegating and coordinating work, providing feedback and mentorship, and assisting with hiring and onboarding.

Core Competencies:

• Program management and coordination. Ability to manage complex, multi-year initiatives involving numerous partners, competing priorities, and evolving policy and program needs while maintaining progress toward strategic objectives.
• Leadership, facilitation, and relationship building. This senior role requires excellent leadership and interpersonal skills, with the ability to foster collaboration, build consensus, and effectively engage technical experts, policymakers, and practitioners with diverse perspectives. The successful candidate will be collaborative, articulate, thoughtful, and skilled at building trust across organizations and stakeholder groups.
• Technical expertise and analytical thinking. Demonstrated ability to understand and apply building science, building energy codes, and/or related building policies to develop practical, evidence-based policy and program recommendations. Ability to evaluate complex technical issues, interpret research findings, communicate technical concepts to diverse audiences, and recognize when to seek additional expertise.
• Initiative and strategic thinking. Ability to work independently, develop and execute strategy, exercise good judgement, and proactively identify opportunities to advance organizational and program goals.
• Staff leadership and supervision. Ability to supervise, mentor, and develop staff while fostering a collaborative, inclusive, high-performing team environment.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree with at least 10 years of relevant professional experience, or a master’s degree with at least 8 years of relevant professional experience. Equivalent combinations of education and experience will also be considered.
• Experience leading or co-leading complex, multi-stakeholder initiatives involving organizations with diverse perspectives and priorities, including leading and facilitating large convenings, guiding productive discussions, building consensus, and communicating effectively with technical and non-technical audiences.
• Professional experience related to residential and/or commercial buildings, including building design, construction, operation, or building performance. Familiarity with building science, building energy codes, or building energy policy is expected.
• Experience leading research and technical analysis and developing publications, technical resources, or implementation guidance that inform policy or practice.
• Experience identifying new project opportunities, developing grant proposals, cultivating partnerships, and/or securing funding.
• Experience supervising staff and delegating responsibilities and workloads across teams.

Strongly Preferred:

• Experience with building design and construction practices, processes, or technologies, including efforts to improve construction quality, efficiency, affordability, or project delivery.
• Experience with the development, adoption, implementation, or evaluation of building energy codes or related building, housing, or energy policy at the local, state, or national level.
• Experience interpreting economic, cost-effectiveness, or market analyses related to energy efficiency, buildings, affordability, or climate policy.

Preferred start date:

August 2026.

Location:

The position can be fully remote or based in Washington, DC, on a hybrid basis with two days a week in the office. You must be based in the United States.

Salary:

Commensurate with qualifications and experience. Salary range is $100,000 - $130,000. ACEEE’s generous benefits package includes health, dental, vision, disability, and life insurance coverage; a 403(b) retirement plan; transportation and bike-share benefits; three weeks of vacation in the first year and four weeks thereafter.

Please let us know how you heard of this opening.

ACEEE is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to a policy of nondiscrimination with regard to race, sex, color, age, religion, creed, class, sexual orientation, national origin, and disability. ACEEE is committed to increasing diversity and inclusion in its organization and encourages applicants with diverse racial, ethnic, and socioeconomic backgrounds to apply.