Program Specialist II

Cascade Energy; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 37,000 - 52,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health, dental, and vision coverage

401(k) with 3% employer contribution

Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP)

Paid vacation and sick time

Job summary

Cascade Energy is seeking a Program Specialist II to support the administration of incentive funding programs for energy efficiency projects in the Chicago area. You will drive processes, manage reporting, and serve as a SharePoint and financial software Power User.

The role emphasizes collaboration across teams, data integrity, and the ongoing improvement of energy management systems. This is a full-time, on-site position with minimal travel.

Qualifications

• Associates degree or higher with preference for business administration, project management, or other applicable degree
• 4+ years of relative work experience in a technically focused, customer service role
• Strong verbal and written communications with the ability to adapt to various audiences (operations to executive staff)
• Strong MS Office skills

Responsibilities

• Assist Program Managers in developing, implementing, and managing long-term energy/decarbonization programs for large multi-site industrial clients, tracking performance and recommending adjustments to meet customer goals.
• Collaborate with the CEM team and internal teams to continuously improve processes, enhance Energy Management and Information Systems, and identify data integrity and organization issues.
• Manage project tracking to ensure accurate status and auditable documentation; prepare monthly internal and external reports by running database reports, validating and reconciling data, and populating report templates.
• Perform administrative quality control of final engagement reports for clarity and program compliance and prepare and expedite project-related documentation.
• Serve as the SharePoint and financial software Power User, providing technical support, reviewing and approving projects, and developing data management solutions, dashboards, and reports.
• Support the program team by developing tools, materials, and presentations, and by coordinating meetings, events, webinars, and conference calls.

Skills

Communication skills

Audience adaptation

Customer service experience

Education

Associate degree or higher

Tools

MS Office

SharePoint

Job description

About This Opportunity

We are seeking a Program Specialist II who will support the administration of programs providing incentive funding for energy efficiency projects. Working within a program-specific team, the key role of the Program Specialist is to drive the work supporting the team’s processes and systems which showcase the energy savings achieved for our clients.

Future-Focused AI-Ready Culture

At Cascade Energy, we’re actively shaping how AI gets deployed in the real world, in our tools, our client engagements, and our daily work. Our approach has always been relationship-driven and expertise-led, and AI is how we multiply the impact of both. Successful Cascadians are curious and resilient. They embrace change, seek smarter ways to create impact, and take ownership of their own growth. We embed AI into our work in ways that are responsible and human-centered, and we actively develop our people to deploy it creatively and confidently. We believe the future belongs to organizations that pair emerging technology with genuine human expertise. That future is being built here. . . .come be a part of it!

What You Will Be Doing

• Assist Program Managers in developing, implementing, and managing long-term energy/decarbonization programs for large multi-site industrial clients, tracking performance and recommending adjustments to meet customer goals.
• Collaborate with the CEM team and internal teams to continuously improve processes, enhance our Energy Management and Information Systems, and identify data integrity and organization issues.
• Manage project tracking to ensure accurate status and auditable documentation and prepare monthly internal and external reports by running database reports, validating and reconciling data, and populating report templates.
• Perform administrative quality control of final engagement reports for clarity and program compliance and prepare and expedite project-related documentation.
• Serve as the SharePoint and financial software Power User, providing technical support, reviewing and approving projects, and developing data management solutions, dashboards, and reports.
• Support the program team by developing tools, materials, and presentations, and by coordinating meetings, events, webinars, and conference calls.

This is a full-time, non-exempt (hourly) position to be located in the Chicago, Illinois greater area. Minimal travel is anticipated for this role.

Qualifications

Applicants for this role are required to have:

• Associates degree or higher with preference for business administration, project management, or other applicable degree
• 4+ years of relative work experience in a technically focused, customer service role
• Strong verbal and written communications with the ability to adapt to various audiences (operations to executive staff)
• Strong MS Office skills

A successful candidate should also demonstrate these preferred characteristics and/or skills:

• Knowledge of SharePoint
• Experience in the energy industry
• Experience with data accuracy and reporting
• Experience with carbon tracking and reporting industry standards

For candidates whose experience may not align perfectly with all these preferred skills but can see themselves adding value in this role, we encourage you to still apply. Cascade is dedicated to building an inclusive and authentic workplace and places strong importance on learning and development. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential job functions.

Compensation & Benefits

The salary range for this full-time, non-exempt (hourly) position in Chicago, Illinois greater area is $27.07 - $38.08. At Cascade, transparency and fairness are core to how we work. We post the salary range for every role because we value clarity and equity. Our offers are thoughtfully determined based on factors such as location, experience, qualifications, and internal equity, to ensure fairness. We aim to ensure consistency and integrity in every decision.

Our total rewards include competitive pay and a comprehensive benefits package designed to support your wellbeing and financial security. We provide health, dental, and vision coverage, along with flexible spending and health savings account options that include employer contributions. Additional benefits include life insurance, short- and long-term disability coverage, paid parental leave, and a 401(k)-retirement plan with a guaranteed 3% employer contribution. Cascade is proud to offer an Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP), annual cash performance bonuses, paid vacation and sick time, and an inclusive, flexible holiday policy. To further support wellbeing, we provide a $500 contribution that can be applied to an HSA, FSA, or Lifestyle Spending Account.