Senior Embodied Carbon and Policy Administrator – Climate Action, Sustainability and Resiliency/

The Office of Climate Action, Sustainability and Resiliency’s (CASR) mission is to act with urgency to proactively mitigate climate change. Our objectives are to advance science-based strategies to reduce greenhouse gas emissions on a scale and timeline that align with the recommendations from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, cultivate resiliency in the face of potential climate change-related emergencies, secure an economically, socially, and environmentally sustainable city for generations to come, and ensure that the setting of goals and metrics and monitoring of results considers equity.

The Buildings and Homes, New Buildings Team has an opening for a Senior Embodied Carbon and Policy Administrator. The New Buildings Team is working to align codes and policies with Denver’s climate goal of all new buildings and homes performing as net zero energy by 2030.  As Denver achieves the goal of all new buildings and homes meeting net zero energy by 2030, the operational carbon emissions will significantly decline. By 2040, when Denver meets its goal for all buildings and homes achieving net-zero by 2040, operational carbon emissions will disappear, and embodied carbon will become 100% of the emissions. Denver needs a plan, goals, and policy work on how to address embodied carbon emissions. This position will serve as the technical lead and advisor for reducing embodied carbon emissions through policy development, advocacy at the local, state, and national level, and educational work, while developing and running large-scale complex pilots and programs for buildings to reduce their embodied carbon emissions. This position also oversees research, advocacy, and policy development around refrigerants, the National Electrical Code (NEC), and supports the technical development of the Denver Building Code.

Job duties and responsibilities of this position include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Utilize Denver’s Building Sector Embodied Carbon Emissions report and create a City-wide plan and goal for addressing embodied carbon emissions so that the success of work is based upon the achievement of long term citywide environmental outcomes.
• Develop resources to support the design, development, and construction community with reducing embodied carbon in buildings and homes.
• Development and management of new large-scale environmental pilots and programs to reduce embodied carbon emissions. Shape programs that will transform the market over the long-term to significantly reduce embodied carbon emissions in new buildings and homes.
  • Create a work plan for the pilots to prioritize the highest impact projects.
  • Manage significant budgets for these programs to minimize long term financial and political risk, ensure at least half of all dollars are spent in equity priority buildings and ensure that dollars are spent for maximum climate benefit over the long term.
  • Modify and develop new programs and pilots as necessary from results of programs and pilots.
• Support CASR’s part of the development of new policies in the complex building and energy code language in future code cycles. Work with Community Planning and Development (CPD) to support energy code and building code advancements towards citywide climate goals.
• Advocate and develop policy recommendations for incorporating embodied carbon policies, progress in refrigerants, and green codes and standards into Denver, State, and National Codes. Participate in code committees at various levels and base policy recommendations with critical decision-making skills with scientific and regulatory uncertainty.
• Research and understand upcoming state and federal laws in refrigerants and recommend Denver policies related to progress in refrigerants.
• Advocate for policy supporting electrification in the development of the National Electrical Codes (NEC.)
• Technical and scientific expert and support for team on at 4 areas: (1) embodied carbon emissions (2) green codes and standards (3) refrigerants in heat pumps (4) and electrical engineering.  Guide the team in navigating the rapidly changing landscape of embodied carbon policies and strategies, heat pump refrigerant technology and policies, to keep all Denver policies and programs pushing the market towards the best technologies available.
• Other duties as assigned.

About You

Research shows women and other underrepresented and historically marginalized groups tend to apply only when they check every box in the posting. If you are reading this and hesitating to click “apply” for that reason, we encourage you to apply.

Our ideal candidate will have:

• Expertise in embodied carbon emissions and life cycle stages of a building.
• Familiarity with heat pump refrigerant specifications, and new heat pump technology.
• Knowledge of building science, HVAC engineering and design, refrigerants, the National Electrical Code (NEC) the energy efficiency sector, green codes and standards, code committees, architecture, procurement processes, national and local energy codes, heat pump specifications and technology, and climate science to evaluate programs for the highest impact climate change mitigation strategies.
• Certified Energy Manager, P.E., Licensed Architect, or similar technical certification is desired, but not required.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, and ability to present to diverse audiences. Ability to translate technical data to non-technical audiences through effective data visualization and written executive-level summaries.
• Excellent problem-solving skills, reasoning skills, and attention to detail.
• Experience incorporating the perspectives of multiple communities and under-represented communities in the consideration of impacts and outcomes of a decision-making process.
• An understanding of the concepts of institutional and structural racism and bias and their impact on under-resourced communities. A proven ability and desire to build and maintain a positive and respectful culture within the division and the office.

We realize your time is valuable so please do not apply if you do not have at least the following required minimum qualifications:

• Education requirement: Bachelor’s Degree in Public Health, Environmental Science, or related field based on a specific position.
• Experience Requirement: Five (5) years of professional experience conducting scientific research and/or analysis on a variety of environmental or public health issues required by the specific duties assigned to the position.
• Education/Experience Equivalency: One (1) year of the appropriate type and level of experience may be substituted for each required year of post-high school education.
• Additional appropriate education may be substituted for the minimum experience requirements.
• License/Certifications: None.