Commercial Buildings Program Manager (Coordinator III)

City of Portland, OR

$102K — $133K *
Energy & Utilities
Less than 5 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • 5-7 years of experience in energy management or sustainability programs.
  • Strong background in grant management and program compliance in energy sectors.
  • Experience supervising and developing staff in a team environment.
  • Ability to implement program designs with climate justice principles in mind.
  • Knowledge of energy efficiency and renewable technology applicable to commercial buildings.
  • Proven communication skills for collaboration with diverse stakeholders.

Responsibilities

  • Lead the development and execution of clean energy programs for commercial buildings.
  • Manage grant portfolios, ensuring compliance and tracking progress toward milestones.
  • Supervise and mentor a team, fostering an inclusive environment.
  • Apply regulations and policies to ensure equitable program implementation.
  • Collaborate with internal teams and external partners to share best practices and outcomes.
  • Represent PCEF in public forums to promote program awareness and integrate feedback.

Benefits

  • Health, vision, and dental care coverage.
  • Wellness programs and employee assistance plans.
  • Flexible spending accounts for medical and dependent care.
  • Retirement benefits including contributions to the Oregon Public Employees Retirement System (PERS).
  • Paid family medical leave and parental leave options.
Full Job Description
Salary: $102,856.00 - $133,619.20 Annually
Location : Vanport Building, 1810 SW 5th Ave., Portland, OR
Job Type: Regular
Job Number:
Bureau: Bureau of Planning and Sustainability
Opening Date: 09/07/2026
Closing Date: 9/21/2026 11:59 PM Pacific

The Position
Job Appointment: Regular, Full time
Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, 8am-5pm. Alternate schedule may be available.
Work Location: In-person work to be conducted at The Vanport Building located at 1810 SW 5th Avenue. Remote work must be performed within Oregon or Washington. For more information,
Benefits: Please check our benefit tab for an overview of benefit for this position
Language Pay Differential: This position may be eligible for for qualifying employees

Application Material: Please click APPLY to submit your application via the City of Portland's online portal. You will need respond to the supplemental questions and attach a résumé. Note: Do not include your age, date of birth, or the dates you attended or graduated from school. Only provide this information if it is specifically requested to meet job requirements or to follow federal, state, or local laws or rules.
About the Position:Join the Portland Clean Energy Community Benefits Fund (PCEF) team at the Bureau of Planning and Sustainability (BPS) as our next Commercial Buildings Program Manager. This pivotal role will lead the clean energy work in larger buildings within the clean energy team, with particular focus on resilience. This position supervises a small team (3 to start, likely growing to a team of 4), manages multiple contracts with external program delivery partners, and works closely with other PCEF teams. This position will manage PCEF investments in commercial sites, community centers, schools, and other large buildings. Investments will focus on energy efficiency improvements, rooftop solar, community solar, as well as solar and solar + storage installations for resilience.

What you'll get to do:
  • Direct the development and implementation of programs in your respective area, including designing program structures, tracking program budget and deliverables, and ensuring equitable access to review processes with climate justice considerations.
  • Manage a portfolio of grants, ensuring compliance with PCEF eligible measures, regular invoicing and reporting from contractors and grantees, and progress toward grant milestones.
  • Supervise, guide, and evaluate the performance of three staff members, providing clear performance requirements and personal development targets, fostering an inclusive and equitable work environment.
  • Apply relevant regulations, policies, and guidelines through a climate justice lens to support successful program implementation.
  • Collaborate with other members of the PCEF team, other city bureaus, contracted implementation partners, grantees, contractors and stakeholders (e.g., contractors, industry associations, members of the community, etc.) in opportunities to improve outcomes, develop best practices, and share lessons learned.
  • Represent PCEF at external forums focused on energy efficiency and renewable energy. Includes delivering presentations, developing case-studies and reports to share program design successes and lessons learned with colleagues and partners.

Who you are:
  • Dedicated: Hard working, flexible and committed to prioritizing frontline communities in addressing the causes and impacts of climate change.
  • Innovative: Creative, open minded, adaptable, and skilled in change management to better serve the community.
  • Socially Intelligent: Motivated, passionate, team-oriented, and empathetic. You can communicate with others in a way that creates ease. You understand how to navigate complex political environments. You can effectively communicate with all levels of an organization.
  • Equity-driven: Commitment to advancing systemic changes that address historic and current discrimination. Experience evaluating program design through an equity lens and creating offerings and solutions that remove barriers and deliver more equitable outcomes.
  • Energy program savvy: Practiced in designing and implementing energy efficiency and renewable programs, including eligibility requirements, participation workflows, program outreach, data systems, energy savings analysis, quality assurance, and program evaluation.
  • Knowledgeable about commercial-scale energy efficiency and renewable energy: You know which energy efficiency and solar upgrades are typical in large buildings, particularly improvements focused on electrification.
  • Skilled at working with contractors: Connected with commercial contractors in Portland and aware about programs for workforce development.

Background
The Portland Bureau of Planning and Sustainability (BPS) is a leader in land use planning, climate action, environmental stewardship, and urban design. BPS centers racial equity in its work and is dedicated to creating a Portland that is more equitable, healthy, prosperous, and resilient. The bureau oversees a world-renowned and leads the U.S. in its commitment to Staff collaborate with partners on and provide research, policy and technical services to advance , as well as policies and actions to
Recorded Meet & Greet Session

We hosted a recorded Meet & Greet session on February 5, 2026. Watch the recording and review this updated job announcement and reach out to the recruiter if you have any questions!
To Qualify

The following minimum qualifications are required for this position:
  1. Experience collaborating with communities of color and people traditionally underrepresented in local decision-making.
  2. Experience managing direct reports, with ability to provide staff guidance, support, supervision and hold team accountable for deadlines and deliverables.
  3. Experience managing grants and/or programs focused on energy in large buildings, with knowledge of clean energy technologies, industry players, trends, climate justice principles, best practices, and the ability to integrate them into program development and implementation.
  4. Experience applying relevant code, regulation, permitting requirements, administrative rules, and policies, and exercise independent judgment, problem-solve, and take initiative within established procedures and guidelines to support program success.
  5. Experience maintaining effective working relationships and communicating the needs of the program and its grantees with internal and external stakeholders and others encountered in the course of work.

Preferred Qualifications:
  • At least 2 years of relevant experience, including program management and grant management.
  • Experience working with non-residential construction contractors, particularly contractors involved in energy projects.
  • Experience scoping and/or installing energy efficiency upgrades in large buildings.
  • Experience scoping and/or installing solar in large buildings or at community solar sites.
  • Experience scoping and/or installing battery storage in large buildings.

The Recruitment Process
How to Apply:
  • Submit your resume and responses to supplemental questions by the closing date.
  • (Optional) Submit Veterans' Preference documents, if applicable.
    If this is your first time applying with the City of Portland, or if you haven't requested veteran preference before (and would like to now), please attach your DD214-Member 4 and/or VA Benefit Letter to your application. Once we verify your eligibility, we'll record your veteran preference in our system, so it automatically applies to your future applications.

What to Expect:
  1. Application Review - (Week of September 21st): We'll review your application materials to ensure you meet the minimum qualifications listed above.
  2. Notice/Feedback - (Week of September 28th): You will receive an email when the minimum qualification review is complete. If you disagree with the evaluation results, you may request a review within 14 days of the email notice, per
  3. Selection Process - (Early-to-Mid October): The hiring bureau will review qualified applications, conduct interviews, and check references.
  4. Conditional Job Offer - (Late October): Final candidates may undergo a background or driving record check, depending on the position.

Additional Information
Learn More About:

We're committed to providing a fair, inclusive, and accessible hiring process. If you need assistance with your application or would like to request a reasonable accommodation due to a disability, pregnancy, or religious belief, please contact the recruiter listed below.

Questions? We're here to help!If you have questions about this recruitment or need assistance, contact:

Tamela Ressler, Senior Recruiter
Bureau of Human Resources

A Career with the City of Portland offers many Employee Benefits
We offer a comprehensive benefits package, including but not limited to
  • Health Care (Medical, Vision and Dental)
  • Carrot Fertility
  • Wellness Benefits
  • Life Insurance
  • Long-term disability
  • Employee Assistance Plan
  • Flexible Spending Accounts
  • Retirement
  • Oregon Public Employees Retirement System (PERS), including contributions to the PERS IAP plan paid by employer
  • Family Medical Leave
  • City Paid Parental Leave
AND SO MANY MORE!

Benefits may vary depending on bargaining unit and employment status.
01

Thank you for considering joining the City of Portland. We sincerely value your time and hope to make your application experience as positive as possible.

The following supplemental questions are an important step in the examination and selection process to assist us in determining if you possess the knowledge, skills, and abilities to succeed in the posted vacancy.

A lack of a complete and thorough response to each of the supplemental questions in the space provided may result in disqualification from the examination. In addition, the selections you make and responses you provide in the questionnaire must accurately reflect what is documented in your resume.

Have you read and understood the information listed above?Veterans Preference: If you are requesting veteran's preference for the first time with the City or since March 3, 2025, please be sure to not only select that you are a veteran, but also upload a copy of your DD214 and/or Veteran's administration benefit letter. Veteran's preference documentation must be submitted by the closing time of this announcement. If you need to update or remove your veteran preference, you need to contact the recruiter listed on the announcement. Have you read and understood all of the information listed above?
  • Yes
  • No - If you have any questions, please contact the recruiter on the announcement.

02

Where did you first learn about this job opportunity? (If on a website or job board, please specify which one)
03

The City of Portland sometimes gets requests for public records. Please choose the response that best fits your preference:
(Your choice will not affect your application process.)
  • I want my application to stay private. I understand that the City of Portland will keep my information confidential unless required to share it by law.
  • I allow my application to be shared. I understand that by choosing this option, my information is no longer private.

04

MINIMUM QUALIFICATION 1: Briefly describe your ability to collaborate with communities of color or underrepresented groups and how their input would influence your decisions, programs, or outcomes. (Limit your response to 1-2 paragraphs)
05

MINIMUM QUALIFICATION 2: Please describe your experience managing direct reports, noting the total number of years you have managed staff, how many staff you have managed at once, and your approach to staff management. (Limit your response to 1-2 paragraphs)
06

MINIMUM QUAIFICATION 3: Please describe your experience managing energy programs or grants, noting the total number of years you have managed energy programs or grants, and your particular expertise in the energy industry.
07

MINIMUM QUALIFICATION 4: This position requires experience applying relevant code, regulation, permitting requirements, administrative rules, and policies, and using exercise independent judgment to problem-solve, and take initiative within established procedures and guidelines to support program success.
Which have you worked with? (Select all that apply.)
  • Building or energy codes
  • Permitting processes
  • Administrative rules
  • Local, state, or federal regulations
  • Organizational or program policies
  • None of the above

08

MINIMUM QUALIFICATION 5: Ability to maintain effective working relationships and communicate the needs of the program and its grantees with internal and external stakeholders and others encountered in the course of work.
Which stakeholders have you worked with regularly? (

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