Salary : $98,000.00 - $105,000.00 Annually
Location : 730 East Broad Street, Richmond, VA
Job Type: Full-Time
Remote Employment: Flexible/Hybrid
Job Number:
Department: Office of Sustainability
Opening Date: 08/04/2026
Closing Date: 8/11/2026 11:59 PM Eastern

This is an EXCITING time to Join the City of Richmond! We are committed to nurturing talent, fostering growth opportunities, and building strong connections within our workforce. As we continue to make strides to becoming the employer of choice, we are thrilled about the below employee benefit enhancements:

• Virginia Retirement System (VRS)
• Language Incentive
• Referral Bonus
• Tuition Assistance Program

Description

The City of Richmond's Office of Sustainability serves as the central hub for equitable climate action and resilience. Our vision is that all Richmonders-regardless of identity or neighborhood-thrive in a climate-neutral community.

We work at a systems level to address the root causes of climate change and inequity by advancing policy, programs, and partnerships that center equity, resilience, and environmental justice. Our office is currently leading the implementation of RVAgreen 2050, Richmond's equity-centered climate action and resilience initiative, which aims to:
• Reduce greenhouse gas emissions 45% by 2030
• Achieve net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050
This full-time permanent position offers an impactful professional opportunity for experienced individuals in the fields of clean energy, energy efficiency, residential weatherization, sustainability, public policy, and community engagement. The Clean Energy Policy Advisor will lead the development, coordination, and implementation of a comprehensive City-wide Energy Efficiency Program focused on reducing energy burden, advancing climate equity, supporting housing stability, and accelerating progress toward Richmond's 2050 net-zero greenhouse gas goals. This position will serve as the primary interdepartmental coordinator for energy efficiency initiatives across housing, sustainability, permitting, community development, and neighborhood services. The selected candidate will report to the Energy Program Manager and work closely with community -based organizations, utilities, nonprofits, small businesses, residents, and state and federal partners to design equitable and scalable programs that improve building performance, lower utility costs, and increase community resilience to the impacts of climate change.

This position was established in principle to support City-wide energy efficiency program that advances equitable reductions in energy burden, accelerates progress towards RVAgreen2050 net-zero goals, and institutionalizes interdepartmental coordination across sustainability, housing, utilities, and community development.

The Office of Sustainability operates under a hybrid work model, with interactions occurring both in person and via digital tools such as Microsoft Teams, email, and project management platforms. This position primarily operates in an office environment with regular community meetings, site visits, and stakeholder engagement activities throughout the City of Richmond.
Duties include but are not limited to

• Create a variety of implementation strategies and incentives that reduce energy burden for low-income and historically underserved communities.
• Develop and manage a City-wide energy efficiency and weatherization program serving residential, multifamily, nonprofit, and small business sectors, with a priority on areas of highest energy burden.
• Create metrics, validate measures, and report on successful implementation of the Energy Efficiency Program.
• Develop policies, procedures, eligibility criteria, and performance metrics for program delivery.
• Develop contractual agreements with contractors to install energy efficiency measures and manage ongoing coordination.
• Review existing City Code provisions, utility efficiency programs, and relevant state and federal regulations.
• Develop recommendations related to Richmond Gas Works energy efficiency programming and related policies.
• Research best practices from peer local governments and utilities regarding equitable energy efficiency programming.
• Establish and facilitate cross-departmental coordination among the Office of Sustainability, Department of Public Utilities, Department of Housing and Community Development, Department of Neighborhood and Community Services, Procurement, Permitting, and other relevant agencies.
• Analyze energy burden, building stock, utility data, greenhouse gas emissions, and program performance metrics.
• Collect, analyze and present appropriate data and information designed to ensure operational and cost efficiencies related to energy efficiency.
• Develop and prepare various reports, policies, presentations and a variety of communication materials to disseminate program and policy information including briefings for City leadership;
• Develop annual program targets and implementation benchmarks.
• Support and manage website content development
• Manage energy education, communications, and outreach with community stakeholders (may include engagement events and workshops).
• Coordinate development of a localized implementation strategy for the Commonwealth's Virginia Energy Connects program.
• Identify opportunities to integrate resilience measures, electrification, and building performance upgrades into existing City initiatives.
• Develop proposals for incorporating energy resilience infrastructure into community centers, fire and police stations, and other municipal facilities.
• Coordinate integration of energy efficiency and resilience requirements into Community Benefits Agreements and other City development tools.
• Support alignment between housing preservation goals, climate initiatives, and utility affordability strategies.
• Develop strategies to leverage and braid multiple funding sources including weatherization, housing rehabilitation, utility efficiency, and resilience programs.
• Identify and manage external funding opportunities and report on grant-related deliverables.
• Perform other duties as assigned

Qualifications, Special Certifications and Licenses

• Bachelor's Degree in sustainability, environmental science, public administration, urban planning, engineering, energy management, community development, or field directly related to assignment
• A Master's Degree in a field directly related to assignment is preferred
• Six years of progressively responsible related experience that includes significant management and supervisory experience
• Three years of professional experience in energy efficiency, sustainability, housing, utilities, climate planning, community development, or public sector program administration
• Experience managing multi-stakeholder projects and partnerships
• Knowledge of weatherization, building science, energy efficiency financing, electrification, or utility assistance programs.
• Familiarity with federal and state energy programs including DOE Weatherization Assistance Program, Inflation Reduction Act funding opportunities, and utility rebate programs.
• Experience working with historically underserved communities and applying equity-centered program design.
• An equivalent combination of training and experience (as approved by the department) may be used to meet the minimum qualifications of the classification

LICENSING, CERTIFICATIONS, and/or OTHER SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS:

• Certified Energy Manager (CEM), Certified Energy Auditor (CEA), BPI Certification, or LEED preferred

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES:

TYPICAL KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES: These are a representative sample; position assignments may vary.

Knowledge (some combination of the following):

• Energy and sustainability concepts, including energy efficiency technologies, building systems, housing rehabilitation, decarbonization, energy burden, energy resilience, and climate policy
• An understanding of concepts related to affordable housing, local permitting, public utilities, community benefits agreements, and community services
• Ability to manage complex interdepartmental initiatives and competing priorities.
• Strong project management, facilitation, presentation, and organizational skills.
• Ability to analyze technical, financial, and policy information and communicate findings clearly.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to build collaborative relationships across government agencies and community stakeholders.
• Commitment to equity, environmental justice, and community-centered program delivery.
• Local, state, and federal energy policy and programs
• Standard office equipment and software
• Basic principles of communications and community engagement
• Administrative practices, record keeping, and document design

Skills (some combination of the following):

• Technical writing, editing, and content creation
• Data entry and information tracking (Microsoft Excel)
• Research and analysis
• Customer service and community relations
• Maintaining confidentiality and professionalism

Abilities (some combination of the following):

• Communicate clearly and effectively
• Manage multiple priorities and meet deadlines
• Exercise sound judgment and problem-solving skills
• Work both independently and as part of a team
• Adapt to evolving tasks and responsibilities

Americans with Disabilities Act Requirements

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of the job. Prospective and current employees are invited to discuss accommodations.

ENVIRONMENTAL HAZARDS:Working conditions may include exposure to travel to other locations within the City of Richmond as well as outside of the City of Richmond; exposure to hazardous physical conditions such as mechanical parts, electrical currents, vibrations, etc.; atmospheric conditions such as fumes, odors, dusts, gases, and poor ventilation; inadequate lighting; intense noise; and environmental hazards such as disruptive people, imminent danger, and a threatening environment.
PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS AND WORKING ENVIRONMENT: Due to the nature of work assignments, incumbents must be able to perform detailed work on multiple, concurrent tasks, with frequent interruptions and under time constraint. The essential duties of this classification may require the ability to regularly work with one's fingers, talk, hear, see, and use repetitive motions; frequently walk; and occasionally stoop, crouch, crawl, reach, stand, push, pull, lift, grasp, and feel. In terms of the physical strength to perform the essential duties, this classification is considered to be sedentary (exerting up to 10 pounds of force occasionally, and a negligible amount of force frequently or constantly to move objects), but may differ based on area of focus. The working conditions may contain environmental hazards, depending on area of focus.