Senior Sustainability Program Lead

Job Summary

Reporting to the Senior Director of Energy, Utilities & Sustainability, and working closely with the FD&O leadership team and campus colleagues, the Senior Sustainability Program Lead oversees the collection, organization, analysis, and reporting of sustainability data. They also play a pivotal role in championing efforts to bridge the gap between campus sustainability goals and the integration of sustainable practices across all divisions and departments.

The Energy, Utilities and Sustainability unit of Facilities Development & Operations provides services to the University campus spread across multiple sites comprised of +150 acres, 81 buildings, and more than six million gross square feet. Primary responsibilities of this unit are associated with operation of the Main Campus and its central energy plant and utility infrastructure. The Main Campus utility infrastructure consists of a 5.5MW natural gas fired co-generation plant with large capacity chillers, thermal energy storage system, auxiliary boilers, high voltage substation and medium voltage switchgear and electrical distribution infrastructure at 33 building substations. Utilities infrastructure also includes steam, condensate and distributed chilled water pumping systems, up to and including the interface to the connections in the campus buildings. Additionally, the unit is responsible for the fire/life safety and security systems for the Main Campus and all other off campus sites. The Energy, Utilities & Sustainability unit employs approximately 18 full time permanent staff.

Key Responsibilities

• Generates, collects, reviews, and analyzes periodic quantitative and qualitative sustainability data and for reports to demonstrate progress toward sustainability policy, regulations, laws and contracts
• Acts in the capacity of a peer reviewer program in AASHE STARS and participates in AASHE STARS planning and execution
• Monitors and evaluates developing public policy and/or ratings systems for applicability SJSU and its unique urban sustainability context
•  Serve as Sustainability Lead for SJSU to internal, Chancellor’s Office and external audiences
• Organize and integrate sustainability efforts among FD&O, auxiliaries, academic programs and research & innovation to strengthen SJSU’s sustainability brand among its peer institutions
• Responsible for outreach and training to promote sustainability at SJSU and community
• Develops and maintains a sustainability assessment including production of reports and charts/graphs to assist others in determining priorities
• Responsible for STARS certification in alignment with CSU sustainability policy
• Work with faculty to increase the number of sustainability focused degree programs
• Identify and communicate how SJSU curriculum fulfills sustainability as defined by United Nations Sustainable Development Goals
• Promote sustainable building practices for all future and current building projects
• Work with design and construction teams to achieve LEED Gold certification for all new buildings

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

• Thorough knowledge of sustainability topics, data gathering, tracking and reporting practices, including pertinent laws and regulations
• Expertise in the analysis of sustainability metrics and performance data including but not limited to UN Sustainable Development Goals, AASHE STARS and LEED sustainability criteria
• Ability to interpret and evaluate results to develop sound conclusions and recommend new or revised procedures/practices
•  Ability to understand and analyze complex problems from a future-oriented and broad interactive perspective and readily develop proactive solutions that integrate strategic goals into tactical operations
•  Fluent in the use of standard computer and web-based applications such as the Microsoft Office Suite and the Google Suite with demonstrated understanding and skill in the use of energy management control systems and energy modeling programs to verify utility performance based on trend data
• Ability to demonstrate, through personal example, a caring, collaborative and open culture and environment which values the individual, teamwork, ethical conduct, exemplary customer service and quality results
• Ability to implement a customer (constituent) service approach, with a commitment to high ethical standards and to present work to a wide variety of audiences

Required Qualifications

• A bachelor's degree and/or equivalent training
• Six years of administrative work experience involving study, analysis, and/or evaluation leading to the development or improvement of administrative po