Residential Retrofit Energy Advisor

The City of Somerville is seeking a limited-term Residential Energy Advisor to provide guidance to participants of a pilot program for energy retrofits in multifamily rental housing. The pilot program aims to provide participating property owners with the tools and knowledge to make educated decisions and undergo building energy retrofits, including, but not limited to, air source heat pumps. The Residential Energy Advisor will help participants identify suitable retrofit and financing options as well as perform public outreach to educate the public on these programs.

Essential Functions:

The essential functions or duties listed below are intended only as illustrations of the various types of work that may be performed. The omission of specific statements of duties does not exclude them from the position if the work is similar, related, or a logical assignment to the position.

• Assist property owners to explore if and how energy retrofits can improve building performance, comfort, and return on investment.
• Guide owner(s) through the logistics of implementation for heating and cooling system installations.
• Provide educational resources to property owners and renters on air source heat pump technology and other retrofit solutions that they may use in their homes.
• Support owner(s) in understanding building requirements, weatherization improvements, and heating and cooling options for their property.
• Preparing residents to work with installers, and, for multifamily buildings, helping buildings develop bid sheets and solicit quotes from installers.
• Coordinate communications between owners, residents, and contractors throughout the installation process; maintain communications project long.
• Administer micro-grant applications.
• Coordinate public outreach efforts with City staff and community partners.

Minimum Qualifications:

Education and Experience: Bachelor’s degree in Environmental Science, Construction Management, Engineering, or another related field preferred, and 1 to 3 years of experience in home energy retrofits; or any equivalent combination of education, training, and experience which provides the required knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform the essential functions of the job.

Knowledge, Abilities and Skill:

Knowledge:

• A strong understanding of the efficiency and upgrade measures available for HVAC and domestic hot water systems in multifamily buildings, with sufficient technical knowledge to review information from heating/cooling contractors and conduct a cost-benefit analysis.
• A strong understanding of heat pump technologies for building heating and cooling, such as mini-split systems and variable refrigerant flow systems.
• A strong understanding of typical financing options available to attached low-rise residential building owners including landlords and condominiums.
• A strong understanding of the incentives available from Mass Save, Mass Clean Energy Center, Massachusetts Alternative Portfolio Standard, and SMART solar program.

Ability:

Ability to handle problems effectively; ability to communicate clearly, both verbally and in writing; ability to operate a personal computer; ability to maintain confidential information; ability to maintain, manage, and organize records; ability to quickly learn and become proficient in new software programs; ability to communicate appropriately and effectively with City employees, City officials and members of the general public; ability to connect and collaborate with local community based organizations and internal stakeholders to create talent pipelines. Ability to handle conflict, mediate as necessary, and work with an array of personalities; ability to work effectively and collaboratively in a diverse environment.

Skills:

Strong interpersonal skills; excellent communication skills both verbal and written; proficient computer skills for all office software programs including word processing and spreadsheet applications, such as Microsoft Office suite. Multilingual skills are highly preferred

Work Environment

The work environment involves everyday discomforts typical of offices, with occasional exposure to outside elements. Noise or physical surroundings may be distracting, but conditions are generally not unpleasant. Employee may be required to work beyond normal business hours in response to attending evening meetings or completing work assignments.

Physical and Mental Requirements
The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the position’s essential functions.

Physical Skills
Little or no physical demands are required to perform the essential functions of this position. Work effort principally involves sitting to perform work tasks, with intermittent periods of stooping, walking, and standing. There may also be some occasional lifting of objects such as office equipment or photocopy paper (up to 30lbs.).

Motor Skills
Duties are largely mental rather than physical, but the job may occasionally require minimal motor skills for activities such as moving objects, operating a telephone, personal computer and/or most other office equipment including word processing, filing and sorting of papers.

Visual Skills
Visual demands include constantly reading documents for general understanding and analytical purposes.

Hours:Full-Time (2-year term from start date)
Salary:$66,244.85 annualized, plus benefits
Union:Non-Union
FLSA:Exempt
Date Posted:July 16, 2024