Job Abstract

Job ID

2024-14444

Category

Staff

Position Type

Regular Full-Time

The Office of Campus Sustainability works closely with campus, community, and external constituents and stakeholders to envision, plan, monitor, and oversee sustainability and resilience initiatives and responsibilities. Guided by the University’s mission and vision, and informed by the University’s strategic plan, campus plan, and five-year sustainability plan, the interdisciplinary team of professionals in the department and within the wider organization work closely with University Leadership, faculty, staff and students on environmental stewardship projects, initiatives, monitoring/compliance, and external engagement. The work of the Division enables the University community to pursue scholarship, research, teaching, learning, spiritual celebration, residential life, and athletics by providing the environments necessary for the activities of faculty, students, alumni, visitors and staff.

The Director of Campus Sustainability is a key leader on the management team for Facilities Planning and Management (FPM) and reports directly to the Associate VP / University Architect. The primary responsibility of this position is the establishment and management a formal sustainability program for the University. Informed by benchmarking with peers and best practices, the Director leads the formulation and execution of the University’s long-term sustainability and resilience vision, mission, and operational principles. The intention of the program is to strengthen collaboration between departments to ensure maximum compatible use of University resources, utilize the campus as a student teaching tool, and encourage an organizational culture of continuous improvement. The Director provides thought leadership, advises University policy and decision makers, oversees outreach and programs, and communicates sustainability performance and progress. The Director also monitors and reports on sustainability-related regulations and compliance. The Director of Campus Sustainability will supervise other professionals and interns in the department.

Environmental Stewardship Leadership and Strategic Direction
• Promotes thought leadership on environmental stewardship, sustainability, and resilience.
• Develops, plans, formulates, and evaluates sustainability practices and outcomes.
• Coordinates with internal collaborators and engages with diverse communities of stakeholders on sustainability and related topics and issues.
• Collaborates with educators, students, and other staff on curriculum, presentations, programs, and activities.
• Proposes strategic goals, seeks approval where needed, and monitors progress.
• Actively identifies compliance and knowledge gaps and coordinates with FPM leadership to refine processes, procedures, and areas of responsibility.

Management of the University Sustainability Plan, Compliance, and Related Programs
• Publishes a whole school sustainability plan unique to The Catholic University of America based on industry best practices; include goals, measurements, milestones, and detailed implementation recommendations based on existing operations. Monitors and publishes annual progress toward goals.
• Assists in managing CUA’s sustainable design efforts for projects, including certification processes such as LEED, WELL, and client specific high-performance efforts. Coordinates with project managers and others in FPM on sustainability, resilience, and commissioning requirements in capital and maintenance projects.
• Serves as a subject matter expert to project teams and staff, providing information and expertise regarding sustainable ideas, systems and products, while coordinating with project teams to ensure an integrated design process.
• Strengthens collaboration between departments to ensure maximum compatible use of university resources, utilize the campus as a student teaching tool, and encourage an organizational culture of continuous improvement.
• Measures and monitors key indicators, such as energy, electric, gas, and water. Assists with utility data gathering, analysis and tracking. Promotes automated integration of utility data into performance dashboards.
• Monitors generation and usage of Solar Renewable Energy Credits (SRECs), as applicable, and assists with Stormwater Retention Credits (SRCs).
• Assists in oversight/management of consultants and partners for the West Campus Solar Project.
• Maintains active registration in DOEE and DOE programs, in conjunction with other FPM subject matter experts.
• Tracks, compiles and submits sustainability-related data and benchmarking to federal and local compliance programs.

Culture of Continuous Improvement
• Identifies barriers to change and inter-departmental collaboration
• Analyzes University policies and procedures that currently inhibit or restrict innovation and recommend adaptations that encourage creative new approaches and cost-effectiveness.
• Supports professional development in a manner that benefits individual employee growth and University return on investment.
• Collaborates with other units in FPM, including Environmental Health and Safety / Risk Management (EHS/RM), Facilities Maintenance and Operations (FMO), Planning and Design Management (PDM), and Capital Project Management (CPM), to ensure that deferred maintenance is sustainably addressed in operationally-funded maintenance priorities as well as in capital projects.
• Assures that all essential sustainability measurement construction deliverables are complete.
• Assists in obtaining bids and overseeing contract work for Sustainability Initiatives, as appropriate.
• Coordinates trainings in conjunction with other Facilities leaders.

Communication, Collaboration and Customer Service
• Communicates with a wide variety of internal and external constituents, including executive management.
• Conducts effective presentations to groups with disparate levels of technical knowledge.
• Works closely with University staff as appropriate, including all FPM departments, Office of General Counsel, Department of Public Safety, Disability Support Services, Office of Procurement and Payment Services, and other offices as needed to ensure compliance with university standards and systems.
• Manages stakeholders. Engages appropriate University constituents effectively in development of program/project goals, vision and program requirements.
• Assists in the preparation of and/or review of internal and external communications regarding sustainability. Clears all official communications through appropriate parties.
• Promotes University activities, programs and accomplishments in the area of sustainability. Maintains a current and accurate Sustainability section within the FPM website. Utilizes social media in accordance with University policy.
• Assists on interactions with Authorities Having Jurisdiction.
• Represents FPM on a variety of internal committees and taskforces.
• Represents the University on a variety of external engagements with subject matter authority and relevance, such as: Laudato Si Action Platform Working Group, DC Mayor’s College and University Sustainability Pledge (CUSP), US Dept of Energy’s Better Buildings Challenge, DC Sustainable Energy Utility University Round Tables, Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education.

Organizational Effectiveness, Professional Development and Leadership
• Supervises Office of Sustainability staff.
• Manages the operational budget allocated for the Office of Sustainability. Identifies opportunities for income-producing activities, rebates, project-specific fund-raising, and/or grant funding. Responsible for planning and budgeting for all equipment, tools, software, and supplies required for proper work performance, in accordance with FPM’s procurement procedures.
• Mentors student interns and junior staff by spending time in review of their work, providing exposure to meaningful client interactions and development of design and engineering documents.
• Ensures that correspondence, documents and records of decision-making are saved and archived according to University and department standards in the appropriate project drive folders and database systems.
• Assists in the assemblage, organization, digitization and archiving of historical project records.
• Maintains relevant expertise and credentials through professional training and industry conferences.
• Assists in the development of standard processes, procedures, and standards for incorporation into reference materials for the FPM Division’s business practices handbook/website.
• Assists with the development and maintenance of a design resource center to serve the department providing architectural and engineering reference material, including technical data on sustainable materials and practices.
• Suggests venues for highlighting the work and accomplishments of the department and FPM Division. Participates in community-building activities.

A Bachelor's Degree and minimum 5-7 years professional experience with demonstrated progressive experience and leadership in facilities planning and management, particularly with sustainability-centered aspects. Proven experience establishing a new program within an existing organization. Established ability to manage high profile, multi-stakeholder projects. Proven track record of initiating and managing mutually beneficial stakeholder relationships. Experienced in budget development and management.

LEED credential required; or ability to obtain a LEED credential within one year of hiring.

Strong communication and interpersonal skills. Ability to plan, organize, set priorities, implement, and evaluate programs and services within a broad range of subject areas. Demonstrated ability to be productive, deliver high quality work, take initiative, and use good judgment/problem analysis. Strong service orientation towards individuals and groups at all levels of an organization. Proven “hands on” and energetic team player. Ability to translate knowledge and skills into action. Strong ability to handle multiple tasks simultaneously. Ability to handle heavy workloads under pressure and within deadlines. Ability to write Requests for Proposal (RFPs), vendor recommendations, and project specifications. Ability to produce quality results with limited resources. Supportive of the unique mission of The Catholic University of America.