Strategic Energy & Utilities Program Manager

Strategic Energy & Utilities Program Manager

Job no: 20001964

Work type: Administrative & Professional (Non-teaching Faculty)

Location: Harrisonburg

Categories: Facilities / Skilled Trades

Working Title: Strategic Energy & Utilities Program Manager

State Role Title: N/A

Position Type: Administrative & Professional (Non-teaching Faculty)

Position Status: Full-Time

FLSA Status: Exempt: Not Eligible for Overtime

College/Division: Business Services

Department: 100250 - FM Administration

Pay Band:

Pay Rate: Commensurate with Experience

Specify Range or Amount:

Is this a JMU only position? No

Is this a grant-funded position? No

Is this a Conflict of Interest designated position? No

Beginning Review Date: 5/22/2026

About JMU:

Mission
We are a community committed to preparing students to be educated and enlightened citizens who lead productive and meaningful lives.

Vision
To be the national model for the engaged university: engaged with ideas and the world.

Who We Are
Situated in the heart of Virginia's beautiful Shenandoah Valley, the city of Harrisonburg is a vibrant community with a population of approximately 52,000. Harrisonburg is conveniently located approximately 120 miles from Washington, D.C. and Richmond, VA.


JMU is a selective, public institution with a growing national reputation for offering experiences that lead to an outstanding education and supportive environment for students, faculty and staff. The student body includes approximately 21,000 undergraduate and 1,800 graduate students, with over 1,000 full-time instructional faculty.

JMU offers thriving programs in the liberal arts, science and technology, and professional disciplines at the undergraduate, master's and doctoral levels. JMU has achieved national recognition for the high quality of its academic programs, focus on maintaining strong student/faculty interaction, and innovative faculty research.

General Information:

James Madison University is seeking a highly motivated and experienced professional to serve as the Strategic Energy & Utilities Program Manager. This senior, results-driven role leads the University's energy and utilities strategy, applying professional judgment to optimize an approximately $28M annual utilities portfolio and deliver provable financial outcomes through utility procurement governance, risk mitigation, forecasting, and performance reporting. Success is measured by documented, recurring reductions in annual utility spend while serving as an institutionally integrated partner with academic programs (including East Campus/CISAT), student employees, and sustainability collaborators to advance University priorities.

Duties and Responsibilities:
• Leads, governs, and optimizes the University's utilities portfolio and procurement strategy through independent delegated authority and risk-informed decision-making to deliver documented, recurring cost reductions.
- Advises Facilities leadership and other University units by analyzing rate, fuel, and contract options; recommending portfolio actions for the annual utilities portfolio; and prioritizing high-impact initiatives that produce verified, recurring reductions in annual utility spend.
- Demonstrates results through documented year-over-year savings captured and verified; performance is expected to include measurable reductions in annual utility spend.
- Leads evaluation of energy supply and purchase agreements (including market monitoring and contract structures) and makes recommendations that balance cost, risk, reliability, and institutional priorities.
• Develops, leads, and continuously improves an enterprise energy management strategy grounded in advanced analysis, sound professional discretion, and measurable financial outcomes.
- Partners with Facilities Operations and the Building Automation System (BAS) team to translate analytics into prioritized decisions, implementation roadmaps, and verified savings.
- Leads identification and evaluation of demand-side and supply-side opportunities (including renewable integration and demand response) using non-standardized analysis to inform business cases, prioritization, and implementation planning.
- Leverages metering, analytics, and energy management platforms to generate decision-quality insights, validate savings, and support leadership choices on investments, priorities, and operational changes.
• Works directly with faculty and students in close academic program alignment to deliver applied energy and sustainability initiatives, develop curriculum-connected experiential learning, and advance the University's student work priorities
- Builds sustained partnerships with faculty and academic program leaders and engages as a peer/subject-matter expert to identify applied projects that advance operational needs and academic goals.
- Supervises, mentors, and develops student employees, interns, and capstone teams in roles aligned with their academic programs; helps design structured experiential learning opportunities tied to real energy management decisions and outcomes.
• Provides institutional leadership and subject-matter expertise to integrate energy performance and sustainability outcomes into capital projects, standards, and campus initiatives
- Provides expert guidance on facilities design and construction standards, processes, and project decisions to improve life-cycle energy performance and support institutional priorities.
- Works collaboratively with inspection and facilities teams to incorporate energy and performance assessments into building surveys, prioritization, and corrective action planning.
- Partners with institutional stakeholders (including the Institute for Stewardship of the Natural World) to advance sustainability goals and integrate energy outcomes into broader University initiatives.

Qualifications:

Required
• Must have an advanced engineering degree or training, work experience and credentialing that equates to an advanced degree
• Significant professional experience in a technical role identifying and implementing commercial/industrial energy efficiency solutions for existing operations
• Significant building engineering experience with a strong focus on energy management, HVAC systems, building lighting technologies, and utilities in a large campus or utility setting
• Extensive building automation system optimization experience including the selection, development and management of fault detection and diagnostics systems and platforms
• Energy metering program development and management experience
• Strong knowledge of boilers and chillers and overall district thermal energy systems and the related equipment operations and energy optimization strategies applicable
• Effective at energy accounting, understanding of utility tariffs, and experience with energy procurement and risk mitigation strategies
• Strong financial acumen and budget management experience
• Working knowledge of the LEED rating system and reporting requirements
• Knowledge of applicable building codes and ASHRAE standards
• Must be detail-oriented and computer proficient
• Strong communication skills with a proven record of providing excellent internal and external customer service
• Strong interpersonal skills with the ability to be a team player, work with, and positively influence others. Interactions may be individual, in large multi-skilled technical groups, or cross-functional teams with people at all levels of the organization
• Highly organized with excellent project management skills as well as technical and administrative problem-solving skills
• Valid drivers license


Preferred
• Professional designation of Certified Energy Manager (CEM), Certified Energy Auditor (CEA) and/or LEED AP
• Experience leading facilities management operations in a technical, HVAC, energy, and utilities role
• Proficient with energy modelling software
• Water stewardship program development and management
• Demonstrated experience with the development and leadership of environmental sustainability programs and practices
• Large energy project and program management experience
• Prior responsibilities for multimillion dollar budget development and management

Additional Posting Information:

Conditions of Employment:

Employment is contingent upon the successful completion of a criminal background check and an acceptable MVR.

E-Verify Notice: After accepting employment, new hires are required to complete an I-9 form and present documentation of their identity and eligibility to work in the United States. James Madison University uses the E-Verify system to confirm identity and work authorization.

EEO Statement:

James Madison University is committed to creating and supporting a diverse and inclusive work and educational community that is free of all forms of discrimination. This institution does not tolerate discrimination or harassment on the basis of age, color, disability, gender identity or expression, genetic information, national origin, parental status, political affiliation, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation or veteran status.


We promote access, inclusion and diversity for all students, faculty, staff, constituents and programs, believing that these qualities are foundational components of an outstanding education in keeping with our mission. The university is interested in candidates whose experience and qualifications support an ongoing commitment to this core quality.


Anyone having questions concerning discrimination should contact the Office for Equal Opportunity: View phone number on click.appcast.io.

Reasonable Accommodation:

If you are an individual with a disability and need assistance searching or applying for jobs please contact us at View phone number on click.appcast.io or View email address on click.appcast.io. You may also visit the JMU Human Resource Office, located at 752 Ott Street, Harrisonburg, VA 22807 and we will be happy to assist you.

Advertised: 21 Apr 2026 Eastern Daylight Time

Applications close:


Whatsapp Facebook LinkedIn Email App