Director of Energy Management & Decarbonization

University at Buffalo; Buffalo (NY); On-site; USD 125,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

The University at Buffalo seeks a dynamic Director of Energy Management & Decarbonization to drive energy efficiency, conservation, clean energy adoption, and aggressive emission reductions across the campus.

You will lead policy development, manage energy focused projects, supervise metering and data analytics, pursue incentives, and partner with Sustainability and Facilities teams to advance UB’s Climate Action Plan and long‑term decarbonization goals.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in engineering, energy, or related field.
• Demonstrated experience in energy management, utilities or decarbonization with measurable savings.
• Expertise with building systems (HVAC, BAS/BMS) and energy metering/analytics.
• Familiarity with energy modeling and forecasting tools; ability to support planning and reporting.
• Strong organizational and communication skills; able to manage multiple priorities.

Responsibilities

• Lead development, maintenance, and evaluation of campus‑wide energy policies and guidelines.
• Oversee energy focused capital and operational projects; assess energy savings and decarbonization potential.
• Manage utility accounts, billing, and procurement of energy resources.
• Oversee campus energy metering and performance monitoring with analytics and reporting.
• Identify and pursue energy incentives and grants; coordinate with leadership and funded entities.
• Drive building performance improvements and commissioning activities; support long‑term decarbonization goals.

Skills

Energy management

Decarbonization

Building systems understanding

Project management

Data analytics

Communication

MS Office

Driver's license

Education

Bachelor's degree in engineering/energy or related field

Advanced degree (preferred)

Tools

Building Automation Systems (BAS/BMS)

Energy modeling software

Carbon accounting systems

Job description

Director of Energy Management & Decarbonization

Position Title Director of Energy Management & Decarbonization

University at Buffalo seeks a dynamic Director of Energy Management & Decarbonization to drive operational efficiency, energy conservation, clean energy adoption and aggressive emission reduction to accelerate the university’s pace in achieving greater resilience, sustainability, and climate neutrality.

Drawing on best practices in energy management and clean‑energy, the Director will develop and implement procedures, manage energy focused projects, and operational improvements aimed at reducing energy consumption, cutting greenhouse‑gas emissions, and meeting New York State climate mandates (e.g., CLCPA ).
Key responsibilities of this role include but are not limited to:

• Lead the development, maintenance, and evaluation of campus wide policies, procedures, standards, and guidelines related to energy use, utilities management, electrification, building performance, carbon accounting, and decarbonization strategies. Ensure policies align with SUNY , New York State mandates (including CLCPA ), and UB’s Climate Action Plan, while balancing operational feasibility, financial impacts, and long-term institutional risk. Recommend policy changes to senior Facilities leadership and the Chief Sustainability Officer and participate in governance and compliance discussions affecting university operations. Serve on the University at Buffalo Climate Action Leadership Counsel with other senior leaders across the institution.
• Provide Strategic Collaboration on Energy‑Focused Capital and Operational Projects – Consult closely with design, planning, operations, and sustainability teams to incorporate energy efficiency, electrification, and decarbonization strategies into new construction and major renovation projects. Assess energy savings / decarbonization potential to ensure measurable energy performance improvements.
• Utility Account Management – Oversee utility billing, cost allocations, budget development and procurement of energy resources for the University.
• Manage Campus‑Wide Energy Metering and Performance Monitoring – Oversee metering infrastructure, data collection, and analytics for all campus utilities. Track and report progress on energy‑use intensity, utility cost performance, and carbon‑emission reductions driven by capital renewal, maintenance activities, and operational improvements.
• Oversee Utility KPI Development / Reporting – Oversee all internal and external utility related KPI development, and reporting. Examples include but are not limited to SUNY and New York State reporting under Executive Order 22, the Climate Leadership Community Protection Act, and other regulatory agencies.
• Identify, Secure, and Manage Energy Incentives and Grants – Proactively identify projects eligible for financial incentives; prepare business cases, coordinate applications with the Chief Sustainability Officer and Associate Vice President of Facilities, and cultivate relationships with utilities, state agencies, and other funding entities. Partner with faculty and staff in collaboration with the Chief Sustainability Officer to pursue competitive grant opportunities that advance UB’s energy and climate priorities.
• Advance Building Performance and Commissioning Efforts – Drive continuous improvement in building operations through collaboration with Facilities partners. Support commissioning and retro‑commissioning efforts to optimize system performance, extend asset life, and enhance occupant comfort and reliability.
• Advance Decarbonization Initiatives Across the Facilities Enterprise – Serve as a key driver of carbon‑reduction strategies and climate‑action implementation, ensuring alignment with the University’s Climate Action Plan, state mandates, and UB’s long‑term decarbonization goals.
• Partner with Sustainability and Communications Teams – Collaborate with UB Sustainability and University Communications teams to highlight progress, document successes, and promote awareness of UB’s energy and climate initiatives across the university community.
• Assess, Build, and Lead an Energy Management Team -Evaluate the operational, technical, and analytical needs of UB’s energy and decarbonization portfolio to determine the appropriate structure, size, and skill sets for an energy management team. Develop role definitions, participate in hiring, and provide ongoing leadership and supervision as the team is established. Foster a collaborative, high‑performance environment that supports UB’s strategic energy, utility, and carbon‑reduction goals.

Learn more:

• Our benefits , where we prioritize your well-being and success to enhance every aspect of your life.

About the University at Buffalo

The University at Buffalo (UB) #ubuffalo is one of America’s leading public research universities and a flagship of the State University of New York system, recognized for our excellence and our impact. UB is a premier, research-intensive public university dedicated to academic excellence. Our research, creative activity and people positively impact the world. Like the city we call home, UB is distinguished by a culture of resilient optimism, resourceful thinking and pragmatic dreaming that enables us to reach others every day. Visit our website to learn more about the University at Buffalo .

Applicants must be authorized to work in the United States by their start date. The University at Buffalo does not guarantee that it will sponsor, support, or otherwise assist with obtaining work authorization.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in engineering, energy, or related field.
• Proven history of progressively responsible experience in energy management, utilities or district‑energy operations, decarbonization planning, or large‑scale facilities management, with a demonstrated record of delivering measurable energy savings and greenhouse‑gas reductions.
• Demonstrated expertise with building systems ( HVAC , BAS / BMS ), energy metering and analytics, and measurement and verification (M&V), along with strong project management and vendor/contractor oversight skills.
• Familiarity with energy modeling and tracking software (e.g., building energy simulation tools, utility data platforms, carbon accounting systems) and the ability to use these tools to support forecasting, project evaluation, performance validation, and strategic planning.
• Excellent organizational and communication skills to manage multiple priorities and interact with diverse stakeholders.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, Outlook, and PowerPoint) for daily administrative and reporting tasks.
• Valid driver’s license.

Preferred Qualifications

• Advanced degree in engineering, energy, or related field.
• Certified Energy Manager ( CEM ) or equivalent certifications.
• Experience with microgrids, energy storage, building electrification, and utility rate structures.
• Familiarity with GHG Protocol (Scopes 1–3), New York State’s CLCPA compliance requirements, and higher‑education sustainability reporting frameworks.
• Experience with Energy CAP .

Our University Community

Prodig+ No

Executive Position

Executive Position Yes

Physical Demands

Driving Requirements

Driving Requirements A Class D driver’s license is a required minimum qualification for this position. Employees must operate university owned vehicles for business purposes and be enrolled in the LENS program to verify license validity.

Salary Range

Salary Range $125,000 - $150,000

Additional Salary Information

Job Type