Building Technical Specialist

The U.S. Green Building Council, a Washington, DC-based national nonprofit organization of over 8,000 corporate and organizational members from every sector of the building industry united to transform the building marketplace to sustainability, is seeking a buildings professional with advanced technical knowledge to serve as an in-house technical building subject matter expert and internal consultant to USGBC and its teams that develop and support the LEED Green Building Rating System.

Position Overview: 

The Building Technical Specialist will draw on cross-cutting advanced knowledge and direct experience of commercial building industry practices, procedures, and interrelationships to serve as a resource for resolving technical issues pertaining to LEED. The individual is well-versed in both standard and high-performance, market-leading industry technical practices in buildings.

Essential qualifications for this position include:

• Broad technical knowledge of building systems, assemblies, materials, and standards relevant to LEED program requirements across all topical categories
• Business knowledge of market organizations, institutions, relationships, and practices, and the opportunities and constraints arising therein
• Problem-solving skills, including investigation, analysis, research, coordination, and final assessment

Responsibilities: 

• Serve as internal resource and SME on commercial buildings and LEED for internal groups that deal with technical LEED issues
• Help resolve advanced technical issues related to development &/or implementation of LEED credits in all LEED credit categories
• Handle escalated advanced technical customer service inquiries
• Assist in determining which issues need to be run through CIR process and which don't
• Assist in developing, reviewing, and refining LEED programs, policies and plans, as well as specific LEED credit language and reference material
• Assist in conceiving and developing improvements to LEED based on personal knowledge and vision or user feedback
• Liaise with USGBC research team, USGBC market development team, USGBC education team, GBCI, LEED consultants, and other internal and external groups as needed
• Assist LEED Vice Presidents in developing and refining the strategic direction of LEED based on technical industry developments, market conditions, and political developments
• Maintain currency of expertise by staying abreast of new and developing industry issues and trends
• Other duties as assigned

Qualifications:

• Minimum 10 years direct professional experience in commercial building industry specializing in building design, construction, and/or facility management. Experience in more than one of these areas is strongly preferred. Strongly preferred work backgrounds include commissioning agents, MEP design engineers, facility engineers, or architects or builders who have advanced backgrounds in similar technical areas
• Detailed technical understanding of and experience with common environmental building codes and standards, e.g., ASHRAE 90.1, ASHRAE 62, ASHRAE 55, UPC/IPC 2006, Title 24, IECC
• Detailed technical understanding of and experience with building opaque envelope assemblies, fenestration, HVAC systems, plumbing systems, and/or electrical systems
• Currently licensed professional engineer, architect, or interior designer in good standing preferred
• Broad experience overseeing work in diverse types of commercial building design, construction, or operation projects; plus deep experience in the production of detailed technical documents of record of diverse types of projects
• Relevant experience in a variety of high-performance building projects preferred, especially LEED projects. Specialization in a high-performance building attribute such as energy efficiency, water efficiency, materials efficiency, indoor environmental quality, etc. preferred
• Bachelor's degree in a relevant technical building industry-related field preferred
• LEED-AP status preferred
• Excellent judgment, analytical thinking, and problem-solving skills - knowing how much research or exploration of an issue is needed to form an acceptable solution, and which perspectives must be considered
• Experience serving in technical consultative role
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Excellent ability to clearly explain advanced technical issues in manner easily understood by laypersons, verbally and in writing
• Strong interpersonal skills and ability to work well both independently and on teams
• Strong computer skills, including proficiency in MS Office suite
• Passion for and commitment to USGBC mission

Compensation: Compensation includes an excellent benefits package, including 100% employer-paid premiums on healthcare and employer-matching 401(k) program.

To Apply: 

Please submit resume and letter of interest, with salary requirements and title of position applying for, via email. Please indicate where you saw the posting for this opportunity. No phone calls, please.