Manager, Energy & IoT Management

Inspire-Brands; Atlanta (GA); Remote; USD 120,000 - 160,000; Full time

Job summary

Inspire Brands seeks a Manager, Energy & IoT Management to lead our energy management strategy across the company-owned portfolio. You will own EMS and Connected Kitchen platforms, drive energy optimization, and manage rebate programs while partnering with Facilities, Operations, Finance, and vendors.

You will leverage data analytics to identify savings, validate results, and deliver measurable business outcomes that support sustainability objectives across all brands.

Qualifications

• Experience leading enterprise programs and cross-functional initiatives.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving capabilities.
• Ability to develop financial analyses and ROI models.
• Experience utilizing data analytics to identify trends and influence decisions.
• Experience managing vendor relationships with performance metrics.

Responsibilities

• Serve as business owner for EMS and Connected Kitchen platforms (including Open Kitchen) and future energy management technologies.
• Define priorities, governance, reporting, and adoption strategies.
• Manage relationships with EMS providers, utility consultants, energy vendors, utility companies, and strategic partners.
• Develop and execute utility reduction programs and energy optimization initiatives.
• Utilize energy dashboards and reporting tools to identify consumption trends and opportunities.
• Develop and manage utility rebate and incentive strategy across brands.
• Build business cases, savings analyses, and ROI models for energy investments.
• Support ESG initiatives through utility data management and energy performance analysis.

Skills

Utility management

HVAC

Refrigeration

Lighting

Building management systems

Data analytics

ROI analysis

Financial acumen

Project management

Vendor management

Executive communication

Strategic thinking

Continuous improvement

Education

Engineering degree

Facilities Management degree

Construction Management degree

Business degree

Finance degree

Sustainability degree

Tools

EMS platforms

IoT platforms

BMS

Connected Kitchen technologies

Job description

The Manager, Energy & IoT Management is responsible for leading Inspire Brands’ energy management strategy across the company-owned portfolio. This position develops and executes programs that optimize utility consumption, improve restaurant performance, extend asset life, reduce operating costs, and support sustainability objectives.Reporting to the Director, Facilities Strategy & COE, this role serves as the business owner for Inspire’s company-owned location Energy Management Systems (EMS) and Connected Kitchen platforms, utility usage performance management and efficiency initiatives, and utility incentive programs. The Manager will be responsible for governance, reporting, continuous improvement of these platforms while leveraging data and analytics to identify opportunities, recommend enhancements, prioritize investments, validate results, and drive measurable business outcomes across all brands.The position partners closely with Facilities, Operations, Equipment Innovation, Restaurant Technology, Finance, Procurement, utility providers, and strategic vendors to optimize energy performance, maximize rebate opportunities, optimize system capabilities, and support enterprise utility reduction goals. The role will also support the evaluation and implementation of emerging technologies and initiatives that advance Inspire's operational and financial objectives.*This position is a remote based roleRESPONSIBILITIESServe as business owner for EMS and Connected Kitchen platforms (including Open Kitchen) and future energy management technologies. Define priorities, enhancements, governance, reporting, and adoption strategies.Manage relationships with EMS providers, utility consultants, energy vendors, utility companies, and strategic partners. Establish vendor KPIs, lead regular business reviews, and drive continuous improvement across relationships.Develop and execute utility reduction programs and energy optimization initiatives that reduce operating costs, improve restaurant performance, extend asset life, and support enterprise objectivesUtilize energy dashboards and reporting tools to identify consumption trends, outliers, savings opportunities, and operational risks. Evaluate reporting effectiveness and partner with internal stakeholders to enhance visibility, analytics and where capabilities are needed.Develop and manage Inspire's utility rebate and incentive strategy by identifying opportunities, partnering with utility providers and vendors, prioritizing projects based on ROI, and maximizing incentive capture across all brandsBuild business cases, savings analyses, lifecycle cost evaluations, and ROI models that support capital planning, utility reduction projects, EMS enhancements, and energy-related investmentsSupport enterprise sustainability and ESG initiatives through utility data management, reporting support, and energy performance analysisEDUCATIONAL QUALIFICATIONSMinimum: 4 yr Degree in Engineering, Facilities Management, Construction Management, Business, Finance, Sustainability or related fieldPreferred:Certified Energy Manager (CEM) or similar industry certification.Certified Energy Auditor (CEA), LEED Accredited Professional, or similar industry certificationEXPERIENCE QUALIFICATIONSMinimum: 5+ years of experience in facilities management, energy management, utilities, engineering, building systems, restaurant operations, or related fields.Experience leading enterprise programs and cross-functional programs and strategic initiativesExperience developing financial analyses, business cases, and ROI models and capital investment recommendationsExperience utilizing data analytics to identify trends, prioritize opportunities, and influence business decisionsDemonstrated ability to manage multiple initiatives while driving measurable outcomesStrong analytical and problem-solving capabilitiesPreferred:Experience in multi-unit restaurant, retail, hospitality, healthcare, or commercial facilities environmentsExperience with EMS, BAS, BMS, IoT platforms, or Connected Kitchen technologiesExperience managing utility rebate and incentive programsExperience working with utility providers, energy consultants, and technology vendorsExperience implementing energy efficiency or smart building technologies across multiple locationsREQUIRED KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIESStrong understanding of utility management, HVAC, refrigeration, lighting, controls, and building management systemsAbility to leverage reporting and analytics tools to identify opportunities and drive actionKnowledge of utility rate structures, utility rebates, incentives, and energy efficiency programsStrong analytical skills with the ability to interpret large data sets and translate findings into actionable business recommendationsFinancial acumen, including capital planning, ROI analysis, and cost-benefit evaluationStrong project and program management skillsAbility to communicate and present complex analyses and recommendations to executive and operational audiencesExperience managing vendor relationships through performance metrics, scorecards, KPIs’ and driving accountabilityStrategic thinker with a continuous improvement mindsetAbility to elevate emerging technologies and recommend scalable solutionsInspire is a multi-brand restaurant company whose portfolio includes more than 33,300 Arby’s, Baskin-Robbins, Buffalo Wild Wings, Dunkin’, Jimmy John’s, and SONIC restaurants worldwide. We’re made up of some of the world’s most iconic restaurant brands, but we’re much more than just a restaurant company. We’re a team of hundreds of thousands who individually and collectively are changing the way people eat, drink, and gather around the table. We know that food is much more than a staple—it’s an experience. At Inspire, that’s our purpose: to ignite and nourish flavorful experiences.