Sustainability Specialist - Buildings

Steven Winter Associates, Inc; Northern (KY); Hybrid; USD 65,000 - 75,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical benefits

Dental & Vision benefits

401(k) with employer match

Commuter benefits

Paid time off

Job summary

Steven Winter Associates, Inc. is seeking a Sustainability Specialist / Green Rater to join our Sustainable Building Services team in Washington, D.C., focusing on ensuring multifamily and single-family projects meet energy and environmental performance goals.

You’ll inspect buildings, guide teams on sustainability implementations, and prepare documentation for ENERGY STAR, Passive House, LEED, and other programs. A BS in a building field and hands-on experience are required.

Qualifications

• BS in architectural engineering, building technologies, architecture, construction management or a building-related engineering field.
• 1+ years of experience in building design and construction or applied building science work, including onsite experience.
• Familiarity with ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager.
• Valid U.S. driver’s license with clean record and urban driving experience.
• Ability to communicate complex concepts clearly to diverse audiences.

Responsibilities

• Inspect and test multifamily and single-family buildings to verify sustainability measures.
• Communicate building science principles and green program requirements to project teams.
• Review drawings, specs, and submittals against sustainability goals and provide optimization recommendations.
• Prepare documentation and calculations to support certification programs (ENERGY STAR, Passive House, LEED).
• Conduct research related to sustainability and energy efficiency.

Skills

ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager

Building science

LEED knowledge

Effective communication

Urban driving experience

Microsoft Office proficiency

Education

BS in architectural engineering or related building field

Tools

AutoCAD

Bluebeam/Adobe Acrobat

Job description

For over 50 years, we’ve been on a mission to make buildings and communities more sustainable, accessible, healthy, and resilient. It’s what drives us day in and day out. Through our five company principles, we empower our people to go beyond industry standards, confront new challenges, and continue to transform the built environment.

Be Visionary

Lead the industry forward.

Take Ownership

Pursue opportunities for building lasting success.

Think Holistically

Collaborate to optimize whole building and community solutions.

Foster Comradery

Engage with one another to build community.

Improve the Built Environment

Impact the world in positive and meaningful ways.

We offer guidance, advocacy, and hands-on support to help contractors, developers, designers, and beyond champion sustainability, accessibility, and inclusivity in their work.

Our research projects shape the policies, energy codes, standards, building certification programs, and best practices used industry-wide.

Our greatest strength is our people. At SWA, we value openness, collaboration, and respect at every level of our organization so that all voices are heard.

We come together to help our partners design buildings today that will withstand the challenges of tomorrow.

Advocate

SWA consultants are the voices for communities and the planet. We champion what is best for building occupants and neighborhoods, and we advocate for practices that are less energy- and carbon-intensive.

The end result is a built environment that is resilient against climate change, keeps people healthy and safe, and is accessible to all.

Lead

We are a leading voice in the built environment, proactively collaborating with government, industry, and private sectors on high-impact projects.

As an employee-owned company, we have the autonomy to prioritize our clients, shape our future, and make a meaningful impact on some of the world’s most pressing challenges.

Hiring Process

Connect & Explore

If we think there’s a potential match, we’ll invite you to connect with our team. It’ll start with a chat with someone from our talent acquisition team who will guide you through the rest of the process. It’s all about getting to know each other and finding the right fit.

Welcome Aboard

Once we’ve found our match, we’ll take care of the rest. You’ll receive an official offer to join our team which will prompt your onboarding journey.

Setting You Up for Success

To ensure you’re prepared, we’ll have everything ready for you on Day 1—from your laptop and login credentials to SWA garb, if needed for field work. Expect some training invites to dive deeper into our company. We’re here to support you every step of the way.

Grow with us

Internships

SWA periodically hires interns for the summer, and at various stages throughout the year, if there is an opportunity. Want to spend your summer working on projects that make a difference? Here, you’ll dive into actual projects, and work with real challenges. Every project we do has one goal: to create a more sustainable future.

What We Look For: Undergraduate interns must be currently enrolled in a college or university and be graduating in the Spring/Summer semester of the current year. Our internships are also open to graduate applicants.

Your journey with us starts wherever you are. Starting out? We’ll help you build core skills and find your strengths. As you advance to more mid-level and senior roles, we’ll work together to shape your path. Think of it as a partnership: you bring your ambitions and interests; we provide the opportunities and support to help you succeed at every level.

Training

We developed a comprehensive onboarding training for new hires, we provide practical, technical, and position-based training that includes project management training, supervisor training, and company process training. All employees have access to online learning paths, courses, and videos to supplement their skills in the areas of business, technology, and creativity.

Employee Stories

Alex Guerrieri

Sustainability Consultant

Alex shares insights about his work, his goals, and his vision for the future of his role.

Principal Mechanical Engineer

Gayathri shares how her work at SWA has enabled her to influence code requirements, leading to more energy-efficient buildings.

Jennifer Low

Senior Accessibility Consultant

Jennifer shares how she got started in her role and how the building industry is changing to prioritize accessibility and inclusivity starting in the planning and design phases.

What’s it really like to work in the sustainability and accessibility fields and consult on some of the biggest projects in the world? Our Buildings + Beyond podcast team caught up with SWA employees to hear about their career paths and their day-to-day jobs.

Our company policies and benefits are designed to meet the diverse needs of our team.

Health and Wellness Benefits

• Medical, dental, and vision benefits
• Company paid short-and long-term disability
• Flexible Spending Accounts for healthcare and dependent care
• Paid time off / holidays
• Paid family leave
• Employee assistance program
• Monthly points for employee well-being and lifestyle benefits
• Competitive salary and pay equity program
• 401(k) plan with employer match
• Professional development for career advancement
• Commuter benefits for transit and parking

Work Authorization: Applicants must currently be authorized to work in the United States on a full-time basis. Steven Winter Associates (SWA) does not sponsor employment-based visas (e.g., H-1B, OPT, etc.) for this position, now or in the future.

Why Steven Winter Associates? At SWA, you’re not just joining a company, you’re joining an employee-owned team committed to making buildings healthier, more sustainable, and lower-carbon.

• Be part of a collaborative and supportive environment where your ideas matter.
• Work on real projects, seeing the impact of your work in the field and in communities.
• Learn from experienced building science professionals.

Join us and be part of a company where your work shapes a better future, and your voice matters. Learn more at www.swinter.com .

Why this Role Matters: At Steven Winter Associates (SWA), we’re committed to creating healthier, low-carbon buildings, and we’re looking for a Sustainability Specialist / Green Rater to join our Sustainable Building Services team in Washington, D.C.

In this role, you’ll work hands-on with new and existing multifamily buildings and single-family homes to inspect, test, and guide teams toward meeting sustainability goals. Your expertise will support certifications including ENERGY STAR, Passive House, Enterprise Green Communities (EGC), and LEED, ensuring that building science principles are translated into actionable steps that improve energy performance, indoor air quality, and water efficiency.

The proposed annual salary will be $65,000 to $75,000 based on a 40-hour work schedule. The final salary may vary depending on confirmed job-related skills and experience.

Responsibilities: Reasonable accommodation will be provided to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Inspect and test buildings, including those under construction, to verify sustainability measures.

Communicate building science principles and green building program requirements to all members of a project team.

Review architectural and mechanical drawings, specifications, and submittals against sustainability goals, and make recommendations to optimize performance.

Prepare and coordinate documentation, calculations, and analysis to support certification programs including but not limited to ENERGY STAR, Passive House, and LEED.

Conduct technology, program and/or policy research related to sustainability.

Who You Are:

HERS Rater, HERS Rating Field Inspector, LEED Homes Green Rater, BPI Multifamily Building Analyst AND/OR NGBS Green Verifier credentials preferred. Will consider alternate construction and field inspection experience.

BS in architectural engineering, building technologies, architecture, construction management or a building-related engineering field.

1+ years of experience in building design and construction or applied building science work, including onsite experience, along with solid knowledge of building science, including multifamily mechanical, structural, and thermal envelope systems.

• Familiarity and experience using ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager.

Ability to communicate complex concepts clearly to diverse audiences across written, verbal, and presentation formats.

Ability to work independently, managing time and projects effectively.

Exceptional attention to detail.

Valid U.S. driver's license with a clean record and urban driving experience.

Technical Skills:

Fluency using Microsoft Office suite plus AutoCAD and/or Adobe Acrobat/Bluebeam for takeoffs.

Ability to read / review construction drawings and specifications.

Preferred Technical Knowledge:

Experience with LEED for Homes or Multifamily New Construction, National Green Building Standard, or Enterprise Green Communities.

Knowledge of regional energy codes.

Experience with utility billing analysis and energy saving spreadsheet calculations.

Building commissioning, energy auditing, and/ or energy modeling.

Regional laws related to energy and climate.

Process: Applications will be considered on a rolling basis. Qualified candidates will be invited to a phone screen. Successful candidates will then participate in up to 2 additional interview rounds as we move through the selection process.

Physical Requirements: This role requires frequent movement through active construction sites, including climbing stairs and ladders, bending, reaching, and carrying. The employee may be required to lift or move equipment up to 40 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, and the ability to adjust focus. While performing the duties of this job the employee frequently is required to walk; use hands to type, handle or feel; reach with hands and arms; and talk or hear. The employee is frequently required to stand.

• **A valid and clean U.S. driving license is required.
• **There will be frequent days on construction sites which can be physically demanding.

Travel Requirements: Occasional overnight travel may be required, along with frequent local day travel. Initial travel between corporate offices may be required for training purposes.

• Must be able to operate a vehicle in dense urban environments and use public transportation.

Working Environment: This role requires work on jobsites approximately 50% of the time. Recent hires may be required to work in-office five days per week during onboarding, with potential for a flexible schedule after necessary training and supervisor approval; all team members are expected in the office at least three days per week, with flexibility based on job duties and site work (>1 day/week).

Benefits and Perks: SWA invests in our people, and we’ve designed a benefits package tailored to meet the needs of our team to include medical, dental, vision, 401k (with match), commuter benefits, etc.

Company Principles: Be visionary. Foster camaraderie. Take ownership. Think holistically. Improve the built environment.

SWA is an Equal Opportunity Employer – all qualified applicants will be afforded equal employment opportunities without discrimination because of race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy, gender identity, and sexual orientation), national origin, age, disability, or marital status.

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI): SWA is a workplace where we are aware of and welcoming of the ways in which we are all diverse as evidenced by a culture of listening and understanding. We endeavor to create a workplace where people feel empowered to act; a safe place where people are open to discussing different views; ongoing education opportunities around diversity, equity, and inclusion; and to build a culture of belonging and accountability.

What to Know: Steven Winter Associates, Inc. (SWA) is a proud employee-owned firm that’s been transforming the built environment for over 50 years. Our mission is to make buildings and communities more sustainable, energy efficient, accessible, healthy, and resilient. Working with architects, engineers, developers, owners, and managers, our team of consultants is always pushing boundaries, collaborating, and problem-solving to deliver solutions that benefit people and the planet.

Join us and become part of a company where your work helps shape a better future, and where your voice matters.

Notice to External Search Firms: Steven Winter Associates, Inc. is not currently partnering with external search firms. Please do not send resumes to our company or any of our employees without prior approval. Unsolicited resumes will not be accepted or acknowledged.

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