Building Performance Compliance Officer | City of Cambridge, Office of Sustainability

Cambridge, MA | 37.5-hour work week | $71,2341 – $100,582 per year

About the Office of Sustainability:
The Office of Sustainability (OoS) prepares Cambridge for the impacts of climate change with programs that help prevent harm from extreme weather, improve energy efficiency, reduce the use of fossil fuels, and aid the transition to renewable energy. OoS drives Sustainable Cambridge, an initiative that unites all of the City’s work on sustainability, resilience, and climate justice. The Office was established in July 2024 and is led by the City’s Chief Climate Officer.

About the Role:
The Building Performance Compliance Officer will be a member of the Climate team in the Office of Sustainability. They will be primarily responsible for the administration of Cambridge’s Building Energy Use Disclosure Ordinance (BEUDO). Initially a benchmarking law, BEUDO was amended in 2023 to require emissions reductions from large non-residential buildings on a path to net zero. It applies to over 1,000 large buildings in Cambridge and is one of the most progressive building performance standards in the US. The Compliance Officer will play a key role in ensuring the success of this policy by tracking and supporting building compliance and implementing the systems needed for program management. The ideal candidate will be a detail-oriented problem solver, excited to work in the public sector as part of a larger team, and interested in implementing strategies to address climate change.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:
Primary responsibilities will be in four main areas:
Compliance Tracking and Enforcement: Manage ordinance reporting and enforcement, using data management tools to monitor compliance with reporting and emissions reduction requirements. Communicate directly with property owners and managers regarding compliance and to provide support as needed. Prepare materials to support decisions regarding hardship and other applications by the BEUDO Review Board. Send compliance letters and issue fines to implement an annual enforcement plan.
Consultant Management: Oversee and manage a technical help desk service administered primarily by consultants. Work with other OoS staff to oversee consultants on maintenance and additional development of a data and content management system and communications platform. Manage consultant contracts.
Emissions Data Tracking and Analysis: Analyze building energy and greenhouse gas emissions data. Present information to property owners and members of the public. Coordinate with other City staff to visualize and report data. Provide information to inform other city climate initiatives.
Resources and Technical Support: Help create and maintain online resources and support outreach to building owners and managers. Track program outcomes and support regular check-ins with utility partners, other jurisdictions, and other stakeholders.

Additional Duties:
Perform related duties as required to support creative and effective approaches to reducing greenhouse gas emissions in Cambridge. Promote public health and equity. Engage other departments on development of policy and strategy. Collaborate with other OoS team members on strategic planning and workplan and budget development.

Minimum Entrance Qualifications:

Education and Experience

    • A related Bachelor’s degree and a minimum of four (4) years of related experience. A Master’s degree with two (2) years of experience, An Associate’s degree with six (6) years of related experience, or people with 8 years of professional experience in a related field will also be considered.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

    • Exceptional attention to detail, organizational skills, and a passion for accuracy.
    • Client, constituent, or stakeholder communication experience, both written and verbal.
    • Data collection, management and analysis skills, using Excel or other analytic and visualization tools.
    • Interest in climate action and sustainability.
    • Self-starter with demonstrated ability to carry complex projects from concept to implementation, use creative thinking to solve problems, and work in a fast-paced environment.
    • The City of Cambridge’s workforce, like the community it serves, is diverse. Applicants must have the ability to work and interact effectively with individuals and groups with a variety of identities, cultures, backgrounds, and ideologies

    Preferred Qualifications:

      • Familiarity with climate programs, building energy efficiency technologies and decarbonization strategies.
      • Experience collecting or processing building energy information, in particular the calculation of greenhouse gas emissions.
      • Experience managing regulatory compliance and communicating with stakeholders regarding non-compliance.
      • Experience managing consultants to support data collection, analysis, and/or technical support.
      • Familiarity with building energy benchmarking and disclosure programs and building performance standards.
      • Experience using DOE and EPA tools for building energy use data collection and management (Portfolio Manager, Asset Score Tool, SEED, CBECS, Better Buildings Performance Database etc.)
      • Facility with data visualization and communication tools

    Physical Demands: Occasional outdoor work required for community engagement events and activities. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essentials functions.

    Work Environment: Standard office environment with fluorescent lighting, computers, standard office equipment, and air conditioning. Moderate noise level with a shared workstation. Work involved is both indoor in a professional office setting and outdoors at community events. This position is eligible for a hybrid work schedule under the City’s Telework Policy depending on operational needs.

    Required Documents:
    Please upload the following documents to complete your application:

      • Resume
      • Cover Letter

    About the City of Cambridge
    The City of Cambridge is a diverse and vibrant community that 120,000 residents of different ethnic, racial, religious, U.S. nationals and other backgrounds call home. We take pride in our City’s diversity and strive to create a workplace that is reflective of the community we serve — one in which all employees can thrive. The City is also deeply committed to creating an environment in which all our employees are treated equitably and feel included. In joining our team, you would work in a workplace environment that advances and values antiracism, diversity, equity, and inclusion (ADEI), and that is committed to embedding ADEI best practices and tenets in all aspects of our work. City of Cambridge residents are especially encouraged to apply to job openings.

    Equal Opportunity / Affirmative Action
    The City of Cambridge is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate based on race, color, sex, religion, age, national origin, disability, or any other protected category.  Women, minorities, veterans, members of the LGBTQ+ Community, and persons with disabilities are encouraged to apply. The City is committed to advancing a workforce culture of antiracism, diversity, equity, and inclusion. Auxiliary aids and services, written materials in alternative formats, and reasonable modifications in policies and procedures will be provided to qualified individuals with disabilities free of charge, upon request by contacting Human Resources at humanresources@cambridgema.gov.

    For more information and to apply, go to the official page of the City of Cambridge.