Description:

The Department of Energy Resources' (DOER) mission is to create a clean, affordable, resilient, and equitable energy future for all in the Commonwealth. As the State Energy Office, DOER is the primary energy policy agency for the Commonwealth. DOER supports the Commonwealth's clean energy goals as part of a comprehensive Administration-wide response to the threat of climate change. DOER focuses on transitioning our energy supply to lower emissions, reducing and shaping energy demand, and improving our energy system infrastructure. To meet our objectives, DOER connects and collaborates with energy stakeholders to develop effective policy. DOER implements this policy through planning, regulation, and providing funding. DOER provides tools to individuals, organizations, and communities to support their clean energy goals. DOER is committed to transparency and education, supporting the accessible access to energy information and knowledge.

DOER's Energy Efficiency Division is seeking a Building Decarbonization Code Specialist to provide support on the Commonwealth's recently updated building energy codes, efforts to improve decarbonization outcomes of these codes, and implementation of U.S. Department of Energy-funded code decarbonization programs and research.

DOER is responsible for the development and implementation of the Commonwealth's Stretch Building Energy Code (Stretch Code) and Municipal Opt-in Specialized Stretch Energy Code (Specialized Code), which are thermal codes designed to reduce building emissions, improve resilience and comfort, and enhance efficient electrification and clean energy generation. The Specialized Code also includes mandatory Passivehouse (PHI or PHIUS) certification for new residential buildings over 12,000-square feet, and minimum solar requirements for new buildings using fossil fuels.

DOER secured federal grants for thermal codes to accelerate adoption, evaluate performance, and research potential improvements. Specific research topics include thermal energy demand intensity (TEDI) requirements and implementation, envelope thermal bridge and derating, air infiltration practices, HERS implementation, and incorporation of embodied carbon. In addition, DOER will be embarking on potential revisions of existing building energy code to improve existing building decarbonization outcomes.

These efforts will require extensive expertise, research, evaluations, work with other staff and expert contractors, stakeholder engagement, engineering, model review, and code authoring. The Building Decarbonization Code Specialist will support implementation of the Stretch and Specialized Codes, develop and implement improvements to advance decarbonization and resilience of the code for new and existing buildings. Individuals with an architecture or engineering degree are preferred. Individuals with a strong background in building sciences, building codes, energy efficiency, energy modeling, and building decarbonization are encouraged to apply.

Responsibilities:

• Support and provide recommendations on the implementation of the Stretch and Specialized code
• Managing federally funded building code grants and contracts.
• Review and respond to questions from code users and code officials
• Engage and lead communications with experts and various committees as required
• Develop scoping and lead work with expert consultants
• Evaluate and make recommendations for codes from research on design & building practices as well as renovation best practices such as EnerPhit
• Engage with PHIUS / PHI to ensure smooth implementation of Passivehouse requirements
• Evaluate new strategies to improve building decarbonization
• Provide technical support and expertise for the implementation of Municipal Fossil Fuel-Free Building Demonstration Program
• Develop communications strategies and present at conferences/training sessions and other venues
• Provide technical support and guidance to Mass Save Program Administrators (PAs) to incorporate best practices and leverage incentives
• Provide support to all DOER Divisions on related programs and projects, including Green Communities, Renewable & Alternative Energy, and Leading by Example.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Knowledge of building energy efficiency codes and standards
• Knowledge of building sciences and building architecture
• Knowledge of building energy modeling and HVAC systems
• Knowledge of Passivehouse, including PHIUS and PHI standards
• Knowledge of existing building renovations
• Research experience
• Communication and presentation experience
• Team and committee experience
• Ability to prepare technical and general reports
• Registered architect or professional engineer or, Engineer-in-Training; or, graduate with NAAB-accredited architecture degree and enrolled in the (NCARB) Architectural Experience Program (AXP) and working towards architecture license
• PHIUS Certified Consultant (CPHC) and/or PHI Certified Passivehouse Designer
• Building Energy Modeling Professional Certification

Please provide Resume and a Cover Letter describing your interest in the position as attachments marked "as relevant" to your application.

Important note: This position is currently set up as a term-limited full-time employee (FTE) position through April 2027.

Qualifications

First consideration will be given to those applicants that apply within the first 14 days.

MINIMUM ENTRANCE REQUIREMENTS:

Applicants must have at least (A) four years of full-time, or equivalent part-time technical or professional experience in urban or regional planning, environmental planning, transportation planning or land use planning, and (B) of which at least two years must have been in a professional capacity or (C) any equivalent combination of the required experience and the substitutions below.

Substitutions:

I. A Bachelor's degree with a major in urban or regional planning, environmental planning, urban studies, architecture, landscape architecture, civil, environmental, or transportation engineering or environmental sciences may be substituted for two years of the required (A) experience.

II. A Graduate degree with a major in urban or regional planning, environmental planning, urban studies, architecture, landscape architecture, civil, environmental, or transportation engineering or environmental studies may be substituted for three years of the required (A)experience and one year of the required (B) experience.

Education toward such a degree will be prorated on the basis of the proportion of the requirements actually completed.

NOTE: Educational substitutions will only be permitted for a maximum of three years of the required experience. Substitutions will only be permitted for a maximum of one year of the required (B) experience.

SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS:

Based on assignment, possession of a current and valid Massachusetts Class D Motor Vehicle Operator's License.

Comprehensive Benefits

When you embark on a career with the Commonwealth, you are offered an outstanding suite of employee benefits that add to the overall value of your compensation package. We take pride in providing a work experience that supports you, your loved ones, and your future.

Want the specifics? Explore our Employee Benefits and Rewards!

An Equal Opportunity / Affirmative Action Employer. Females, minorities, veterans, and persons with disabilities are strongly encouraged to apply.

The Commonwealth is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, age, disability, national origin, veteran status, or any other basis covered by appropriate law. Research suggests that qualified women, Black, Indigenous, and Persons of Color (BIPOC) may self-select out of opportunities if they don't meet 100% of the job requirements. We encourage individuals who believe they have the skills necessary to thrive to apply for this role.