District Energy Manager in Lynnwood, Washington at University Mechanical Contractors, Inc

Starting Salary: $145,000 - $185,000; depending on experience

Location: Lynnwood, WA

Classification: Exempt

Must be eligible to work in the U.S. - Sponsorship not available

Position Overview:

The District Energy Manager is responsible for leading the development, commercialization, and delivery of district energy projects including scalable, modular decarbonization solutions for existing buildings and new construction. This role focuses on bridging the gap between regulatory requirements and practical, cost-effective implementation strategies.

The Manager is responsible for positioning this approach, and the UMC brand, as the leader in the industry. The Manager will establish specific district energy strategies for various vertical markets including Higher Ed, Healthcare, Data Center, Mixed Use Developments, and Residential. The Manager is responsible for defining and leading the market approach, project development from initial engagement through conceptual design, and providing oversight during construction and long-term operation.

This position will drive the design and deployment of latest technology that integrate seamlessly into existing building infrastructure while minimizing retrofits to existing buildings. The Manager will champion a turnkey approach that includes conceptual development, engineering, construction, operation, and maintenance, enabling building owners to decarbonize without assuming operational complexity or performance risk.

The role requires a combination of strategic leadership, technical expertise, market development, and cross-functional coordination to create a repeatable, scalable platform for deep decarbonization.

Key Responsibilities:

Leadership & Culture

• Establish and cultivate customer-oriented culture and deliver best in class customer experience.
• Cultivate a culture of teamwork and personal connection within the team.
• Supervise all those are in your reporting structure including quarterly and annual coaching.
• Maintain professional demeanor and uphold UMC Core Values.

Business Planning & Growth

• Lead the development of a market strategy targeting regulatory-driven retrofit demand. Develop a marketing strategy, materials and lead outreach efforts to grow customer base.
• Collaborate and provide input into E&E’s business plan, and long term planning including growth initiatives.
• Collaborates with E&E Leadership to develop and meet company goals while supplying expertise and guidance on projects, accounts, and systems.
• Identify and prioritize building segments where modular solutions provide the greatest value
• Define and refine the value proposition for modular high-temperature heat pump systems
• Build partnerships with utilities, municipalities, developers, and institutional clients
• Engage with regulatory agencies and industry groups to shape policy and program alignment
• Product & Solution Development
• Oversee the design and standardization of modular decarbonization systems
• Champion development of industrial-grade, high-temperature heat pump applications for retrofit environments
• Ensure solutions minimize the need for electrical service upgrades and tenant disruption
• Establish design standards, performance specifications, and integration strategies.

Business/Market Development

• Increase annual revenue by initiating new contacts with potential customers and fostering existing customer relationships.
• Assist sales effort in identification and qualification of potential projects.
• Lead client meetings and presentations.
• Support the business by attending industry networking events, speaking opportunities, and writing thought leadership content for published and social media.
• Develop design concepts and other written documentation; including accurate descriptions, savings potential, cost estimates, incentives/grants, payback and M&V procedures.
• Evaluate emerging technology

Financial & Commercial Management

• Develop business models that reduce upfront costs
• Evaluate project financials and risk profiles
• Support proposal development and pricing strategies
• Vet financing pathways including strategic partners including EaaS
• Help make UMC the recognized leader in the district energy industry for our innovative use of technology, and techniques.

Project Development & Delivery

• Lead early-stage project development, including feasibility analysis and financial modeling Lead client qualification process and make business case for investing internal resources early in development cycle.
• Oversee project execution from concept through commissioning and operational handoff
• Coordinate with engineering, construction, service, and commissioning teams
• Develop and implement lifecycle delivery model including ownership, operations, and maintenance
• Ensure long-term system performance through monitoring and optimization
• Integrate measurement and verification (M&V)

Operational Excellence, Policies & Continuous Improvement

Financial Management & Reporting

• Identify, recommend, establish, communicate, document, and implement operations-related policies, practices, standards, technologies, systems, security measures to improve and streamline group and to ensure effective and consistent support and execution of projects. Ensure alignment with the overall company operational objectives.
• Ensure project teams adhere to UMC AIM processes and procedures.
• Qualify customers and limit risk through legal, financial, and technical screening.
• Establish workflows and organizational structure.
• Constantly refine our fabrication and construction techniques to reduce costs and time to build.

Financial Management/Reporting

• Actively manage budgets and schedules for all projects in the DE development pipeline. Provide regular updates to E&E management and other executives.
• Conduct regular progress meetings as needed to ensure projects stay on track to meet deliverable timelines.
• Develop complex life cycle cost modeling and prepare financial models incorporating ROI, life cycle costing, and internal rate of return, net present values, accounting rate of return, and simple pay-back.

Training, Development & Talent Acquisition

• Identifies training needs and ensures proper training is developed, documented, provided, and tracked for field and office.
• Provide training and mentorship for employees you have under your supervision.
• Advise career path progression and training plans for employees you have under your supervision.
• Recruit, hire, and train new team members including coaching and mentorship

Procurement, Contracts & Commercial Management

• Support construction management staff and provide overview support as needed on agreements, contracts, contract drawings, detail drawings, change order proposal, change orders, and specifications to ensure our contractual obligations are met.

Preconstruction, Estimating & Design-Build Support

• Work with Preconstruction and Energy Engineering’s to influence design-build conceptual scopes for maximum energy conservation and utilization.
• Collaborate with engineers, architects, construction managers, and other professionals to influence the construction-based requirements and overall budgets for projects
• Create, analyze, and influence the preparation of project budgets and proposals (scope letters).

Project Execution & Field Support

• Help resolve field installation issues. Help ensure systems operate as promised to the client.

Technical Review, Quality, Compliance & Safety

• Critically analyze proposals before they are submitted to clients for risk factors such as scope, schedule, costs, and savings.
• Provide QA/QC leadership for incorporation into E&E’s best practices including documenting of processes for purposes of training new hires.
• Review contract drawings, detail drawings, shop drawings, UMC installation models, and specifications
• Ensure inspections and QA/QC are being carried out on all projects.
• Ensure project teams are documenting inspections and achieving AHJ sign-off.
• Ensure compliance with building and safety codes.

Secondary Responsibilities:

• Collaborates with other Groups to carry out E&E’s goals and objectives.
• Assist with life cycle cost analysis.
• Identify new project opportunities.
• Provide support and leadership of corporate initiatives such as AIM and process committees.
• Performs other related duties as assigned.
• Regular attendance and promptness are considered part of each employee's essential job functions.

Required Skills and Abilities:

• Strong management and interpersonal skills.
• Strong engineering and technical capabilities.
• Knowledge of energy and utilities.
• Strong financial and marketing aptitude.
• Innovative and persistent mind set.
• Desire to take ownership and deliver successful projects.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills.
• Strong computer skills.
• Ability to prepare & deliver presentations.
• Capable of analyzing & thinking strategically.
• Ability to accurately estimate energy savings.
• Ability to accurately write detailed scopes of work.
• Ability to lead and foster a positive working environment.
• Ability to understand and communicate energy, construction and mechanical concepts.
• Advanced organizational and time management skills
• Attention to detail – errors & mistakes can result in significant financial losses.
• Advanced computer skills including MS Word, Excel, Project, Access, Teams, Outlook, PowerPoint, Visio; Smartsheet, Bluebeam, AutoCAD. Knowledge of Vista and Autodesk Construction Cloud (ACC) is highly advantageous.

Supervisory Responsibility:

• Responsible for leading a development team and overseeing project and resource planning, estimating support, scheduling, contract management and basic project administration.

Preferred Education and Experience:

• Demonstrated leadership experience
• Bachelor's degree in engineering or related field.
• 10+ years of engineering or energy industry experience.

Required Licensing and Other Certifications:

• Maintain a valid driver’s license and satisfactory driving record.
• PE License is desirable
• Association of Energy Engineers (AEE) Certified Energy Manager (CEM) certification is desirable
• OSHA 30 certification is desirable