About the Harvard Office for Sustainability:

Harvard University has a long commitment to confronting the global challenges of climate change and sustainable development through its research, teaching, and institutional action. The University-wide Office for Sustainability (OFS), created in 2008, plays a pivotal role in bringing together students, faculty, staff and the community to use the campus as a testbed to pilot and prove solutions that address intergenerational well-being and lead to a fossil fuel-free future. Our efforts are driven by a University-wide Sustainability Plan and goals to be fossil fuel-free by 2050 and fossil fuel-neutral by 2026.

Visit the Harvard Office for Sustainability website for more information.

Position Summary:

This position leads Harvard's sustainability in the built environment program—driving the strategy to support the Schools/units in meeting Harvard's sustainability and climate change goals including regulatory requirements. The Director will advance, and evolve, the framework for meeting Harvard's sustainability goals including addressing climate, health, and equity throughout Harvard's buildings and capital projects by partnering with the OFS Senior team and members of the University community to co-create and drive implementation of programs related to the built environment. This role will oversee the implementation and iteration of Harvard's Sustainable Building Standards in collaboration with faculty experts and OFS to achieve sustainability goals and promote innovation. This position leads the built environment team to develop and manage University-wide sustainability initiatives, programs and activities related to the built environment to stay ahead of regulations while ensuring innovation is incorporated into both capital projects and operational practice.

Responsibilities:

1. Leads University-wide sustainable building strategy, policy development and implementation frameworks, in collaboration with OFS Senior Team and stakeholders from across the University. Partners and advises on optimal sustainability vision, priorities, goals and implementation efforts related to the built environment and advancing University-wide sustainability goals as an integral part of the OFS senior team. Responsible for evaluating and evolving University built environment needs, researching new technological and other opportunities. Responsible for creating/overseeing the services and staffing needed to achieve internal and regulatory sustainability goals and ensure innovation can be incorporated into capital projects and optimal building operational practices.
2. Develops and recommends a built environment structure and staffing to support the University (Schools/units) achieving internal and regulatory sustainability related goals. Responsible for creating the framework, tools and resources to support capital projects and emissions master planning with measurable and achievable objectives including articulating the roles and responsibilities of various partners such as Harvard Capital Projects (HCP), Harvard Planning Office (HPO), Energy & Facilities (E&F), etc.
3. Leads, in collaboration with other key University stakeholders, including faculty experts and expert external organizations, the iteration and implementation of Harvard's Sustainable Building Standards by continuing to evaluate evolving science/research, regulations as well as needs and services to achieve sustainability goals. Leads external certifications and benchmarks and stays current on the latest innovations. Responsible for implementing a centralized built environment data strategy: creating metrics and analysis for program evaluation and to enable data-driven decision making, especially for larger investments.
4. Develops a University-wide communications structure and plan to effectively engage stakeholders in productive dialogue and partnership to ensure Schools/units are aligned, engaged, and incentivized to achieve sustainable built environment goals and innovation, and to have clear and regular communication and feedback loops to ensure value added programs, services and support.
5. Scopes and supports the development and execution of pilot projects and Living Lab opportunities related to the built environment priorities to advance Harvard's sustainability vision—including Harvard's Healthier Building Academy (HHBA), a partnership between OFS and faculty.
6. Acts as the primary lead and consultant on sustainability in the built environment. May include attending key goalsetting meetings and sustainability charettes, assisting with RFP development, proposal reviews, project team selection, etc. as well as training other team members to perform these roles for capital and operational projects.
7. Oversees development of educational materials, tools, resources to ensure schools/units understand how to successfully execute sustainable capital project and operational management best practices and goals
8. Provides leadership to, and supervision of, all staff; responsible for interviewing, hiring, and training new staff as needed; responsible for performance management, ongoing training, and development planning.
9. Prepares and delivers presentations, both internally and externally, on the sustainable built environment at Harvard, shares lessons learned through articles, case studies and award submissions.
10. Manages budget including budget projections and invoice tracking.

Emergency Status Designation: This role is considered non-essential and may be eligible for flex-work arrangements in accordance with departmental policies and manager approval.

The University requires all Harvard community members to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and remain up to date with COVID-19 vaccine boosters, as detailed in Harvard's Vaccine & Booster Requirements. Individuals may claim exemption from the vaccine requirement for medical or religious reasons. More information regarding the University's COVID vaccination requirement, exemptions, and verification of vaccination status may be found at the University's

• BS/BA/BArch degree in mechanical or electrical engineering, energy management, architecture or related field is required.
• A minimum of 10 years professional experience running a program related to campus/large organization sustainability, sustainable building, or design engineering with a demonstrated ability to work independently, effectively manage projects and staff, and promote leading edge practice to address climate and sustainability in the built environment is required.

Additional Qualifications:

• Demonstrated skills: management of teams, individual contributors, and consultants/contractors; capital project planning and management; data analysis, collecting and synthesizing data; energy management; communications and managing interpersonal relationships; and understanding of relevant technologies is required.
• Detailed understanding of and fluency in sustainable building strategies and rating systems required. Professional experience in construction administration, specification writing, and construction documents and drawings is strongly preferred.

• Direct experience designing, operating, or optimizing building mechanical, electrical, and building automation systems preferred.
• Must be able to effectively lead, manage and influence others to effectively promote innovations related to addressing climate change, energy efficiency and sustainability to achieve the established objectives of the larger organization. Previous experience in a university/institutional/multinational company setting is strongly preferable.
• Must be an effective team player and problem-solver with attention to detail and be able to interact effectively in a highly complex and decentralized academic environment, have the ability to communicate effectively and articulately in both spoken and written communication with a diverse audience (both internal and external to the University), and have the capacity for managing multiple projects/priorities and deadlines, as well as people, in a fast-paced, continually adapting work environment.

Technology Skills Requirements: Must be proficient in the use of computers, including Microsoft Office software suite MS Project, Autodesk AutoCAD, and sustainable building certifications (e.g., LEED, Living Building Challenge),. Familiarity with Building Automation Systems and the ability to learn/utilize software (such as Revit, eQUEST, Energy Plus, Photoshop, etc.) also required.