Principal - Carbon-Free Buildings Program (Northeastern U.S.)

Job Description:

Are you a senior leader who is passionate about energy and buildings, who takes initiative, is flexible, and enjoys working in a results-driven, team environment? Do you have deep industry experience in real estate, sustainable building design and construction, and/or building decarbonization? Do you have exceptional ability to structure, oversee and execute analytic and strategic problem solving? Can you create impact through influence? If yes, then come join RMI’s Buildings team!      

About the Program

RMI applies rigorous techno-economic research, whole-systems expertise, and entrepreneurial approaches to transform markets and scale breakthrough energy innovations. We engage deeply with stakeholders across the buildings sector to find pain points, then—with influential partners—develop, test and refine innovative business models and solutions. Working together with businesses, philanthropists, communities, institutions, and entrepreneurs, we then seek to remove market barriers and scale the deployment of clean energy solutions. 

RMI’s Buildings program works to transform the built environment globally to support a clean, affordable, and healthy future for all. We are seeking  a Principal with deep industry expertise and established professional networks (especially in the Northeastern US), to help push this work forward. The program is a team of 45+ staff based in the U.S., plus additional matrixed staff in India and China, with projects across the U.S., India, China, and emerging geographies. 

Our work includes:  

• Supporting the technology, market and policy changes needed to equitably and rapidly transform the global buildings stock to be electric, efficient, grid-interactive, and built with low-embodied carbon materials.  

• Scaling breakthrough technologies to decarbonize buildings   

• The use of finance and market-based tools to shift investment practices.  

Position Overview 

RMI is seeking a talented, strategic Principal who can provide technical leadership for its Buildings Program. This Principal will report to the Managing Director and oversee a portion of the program staff and projects. Principals lead project teams, develop and implement short and long-term strategic plans, develop strategic partnerships and business relationships while raising funding, all with an eye to scaling the work of accelerating the global energy transition. Our ideal candidate will have a passion for climate solutions and will have the ability to influence industry and government leaders at the highest levels.   

Principals also mentor junior employees and help set objectives for a high-performance working environment where RMI’s staff can realize professional growth and impact success. As a Principal, you must also take a very engaged role in pursuing funding for your initiatives, through philanthropic avenues, government support, and fee-for-service/consulting engagements. In this role, you will have direct responsibility to co-lead our market-oriented strategy, fundraising and project delivery.  

Key Responsibilities

Qualified candidates for this position will need to demonstrate the following critical competencies:    

• Thought Leadership and Strategic Orientation: Combine deep buildings/real-estate sector expertise with strategic planning to identify the highest-impact levers for decarbonization (technology, finance, policy, and market transformation). 

• Collaboration & Influencing: Build constructive relationships across owners, developers, designers, financiers, technology providers, policymakers, and advocates; align stakeholders toward shared outcomes and unlock collective action. 

• Creating Organizational Capability: Build and mentor high-performing teams; strengthen team culture, structure, and capacity; develop talent through coaching, performance management, and smart resourcing. Demonstrate interest and aptitude to co-lead market-facing strategy and pipeline development for the Buildings Program.  

• Results Orientation: Demonstrate an action-oriented, entrepreneurial approach; translate strategy into delivery; track progress to goals; adapt quickly as priorities evolve while maintaining accountability. 

Required Qualifications

• 10+ years of experience in the buildings, real estate, or buildings technology sector (e.g., real estate development, real estate finance, architecture,