Senior Manager Sustainability and Decarbonization

Position Type:

State:

Virginia

City:

Arlington

Zip Code:

22203

Overview

AvalonBay Communities, Inc., an equity REIT, has a long-term track record of developing, redeveloping, acquiring and managing distinctive apartment homes in some of the best U.S. markets, and delivering outsized, risk-adjusted returns to shareholders. With equal parts experience and vision, we’ve established a leadership position rooted in our purpose of creating a better way to live and that is always focused on building value for the long term.

Creating a better way to live is the purpose that binds AvalonBay associates. We take that purpose seriously and expect you will as well. By focusing on collaboration, innovation, and taking ownership of our choices and actions, we act in ways that focus on creating value for our customers, investors and associates. Your positive, professional, and consistent personal interactions make AvalonBay a great place to work.

The Role

This position will be responsible for helping to lead our environmental sustainability and decarbonization efforts across our operating portfolio in support of regulatory compliance, the company’s energy efficiency and GHG reduction goals, and other environmental sustainability targets. More specifically this position will help to further develop our decarbonization and sustainability strategy, identify and manage implementation of related projects, and operationalize this work across the organization. This position will oversee our solar program, partner with our Utilities group to ensure accurate portfolio benchmarking and execute our Building Energy Performance Standard (BEPS) compliance strategy. The position will have a key role on the Sustainability Council to help lead our existing buildings workgroup and to generally organize, drive, measure, report, and influence stakeholders to reduce resource consumption in ways that add value, minimize risks and costs, and support achievement of the company’s environmental goals.

Track building energy performance standards (BEPS) and other sustainability regulations across the company’s markets and regions. Analyze requirements and submission pathways and act as internal subject matter expert educating and engaging internal stakeholders on tactical decarbonization strategies and compliance approaches that drive value and minimize risk. Maintain relationships with local jurisdictions and utilities to obtain knowledge and understand the intricacies of successful for BEPS implementations and their resulting outcomes. Help ensure design and operational targets align with both the company’s environmental goals and current and potential future BEPS requirements. In partnership with the company’s Utilities, Asset Management, Capital Projects, and Engineering teams, create and coordinate community specific capital plans that address BEPS compliance and prioritize decarbonization and other sustainability initiatives in alignment with local regulations and the company’s environmental targets.
Working closely with external solar consultant and VP of ESG, evaluate financial viability and manage expansion of solar program and projects at existing communities and new developments. Partner with Engineering and Utilities to support ongoing performance and reporting for solar projects and Asset Management and Capital Projects on the due diligence and resulting construction of new solar projects at existing communities.
Lead the identification and project planning for scalable decarbonization and sustainability projects to be executed in partnership with the Company’s Asset Management, Engineering, Capital Projects, Utilities, and Residential Services groups. Be the single source of contact and reporting lead for decarbonization and efficiency projects across the portfolio.
Support community level energy benchmarking efforts in partnership with Utilities team and external benchmarking consultant. Provide oversight to ensure accuracy and consistency of ENERGY STAR inputs and outputs and help create processes to ensure ongoing reliability of data both for internal and external reporting. Confirm adequacy and accuracy of portfolio level scope 1, 2, and 3 utility emissions data as part of our annual ESG reporting process.
Participate as a member of the company’s Sustainability Council and other task forces across the organization to help achieve sustainability goals. Create tools to increase visibility into asset level performance and climate risks and present educational content to internal team members in support of the company’s decarbonization goals.
Partners with VP of ESG, and other internal and external stakeholders to identify and pilot decarbonization technologies and systems.

Minimum Qualifications:

Education:

Bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering, sustainability, business, or similar required. Engineering degree preferred.
Advanced degree or equivalent in Real Estate, Sustainability, Economics, Public Policy, or Finance preferred.

Experience:

Minimum 8 years of relevant experience in engineering or managing sustainability projects; strong knowledge of building science, development, and operations a must
Direct experience with, building energy efficiency and electrification, sustainable program management, and carbon accounting, preferably in real estate
Experience with installation and management of onsite and offsite solar programs preferred
Direct experience benchmarking properties in ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager
GHG accounting expertise preferred

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

Strong project manager, comfortable working across all levels of an organization
Demonstrates excellent analytical capabilities, excel modelling, and attention to detail
Familiarity with existing and emerging energy efficiency and sustainable building technologies that support electrification and decarbonization
Excels in a highly collaborative work environment
Excellent oral and written communication skills
Experience with LEED, ENERGY STAR, and other relevant 3rd party certifications
Capable of working independently and leading through influence across an organization and cross functional groups
Ability to manage multiple competing priorities and deadlines
Capable of being a strategic thought partner to VP of ESG and other internal stakeholders
Ability to gain consensus and interact with a large set of stakeholders
Knowledge of regulatory compliance and real estate fundamentals; including the pro-forma, design, financing, permitting, construction, and project management processes

Licenses/Certifications:

Certified Energy Manager (CEM) and LEED AP preferred

How AvalonBay Supports You

We know that our teams are the beating heart of our success and we’re committed to showing our appreciation.

We offer:

Comprehensive benefits — health, dental and vision, 401(k) with company match, paid vacation and holidays, tuition reimbursement, an employee stock purchase plan and more. Click on Benefits (https://jobs.avalonbay.com/benefits) for information.

Growth based on achievement and promotion from within.

Associate recognition (a company-wide recognition program that celebrates associate efforts and successes in contributing to the overall success of the organization – including destination awards, ‘AvalonBay’s Very Best’ recognition program and others!).

A 20% discount on our incredible apartment homes.

A culture built on purpose and our core values - A Commitment to Integrity, A Spirit of Caring, and A Focus on Continuous Improvement.

Additional Info

AvalonBay is proud to be an equal opportunity employer and is committed to an inclusive and diverse work environment free of discrimination and harassment.  We believe that in order to achieve our purpose of creating a better way to live, we must recruit, develop and retain associates with a wide range of backgrounds, experiences and perspectives and create an environment that encourages all voices to be heard, understood and appreciated. With this we know we can do great things.

AvalonBay makes employment decisions without regard to a person’s race, ethnicity, color, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, pregnancy (including childbirth, lactation or related medical conditions), age, physical or mental disability, genetic information (including characteristics or testing), citizenship status, military or veteran status, or any other status protected by the law.

For California residents, if you elect to apply to AvalonBay you accept the AvalonBay California Personnel Privacy Notice (https://www.avaloncommunities.com/california-personnel-privacy-notice/)

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Senior Manager Sustainability and Decarbonization