Commercial Buildings Program Manager (Coordinator III)

Commercial Buildings Program Manager (Coordinator III)

Salary

$102,856.00 - $133,619.20 Annually

Location

Vanport Building, 1810 SW 5th Ave., Portland, OR

Job Type

Regular

Job Number

2026-00841

Bureau

Bureau of Planning and Sustainability

Opening Date

09/07/2026

Closing Date

9/21/2026 11:59 PM Pacific

• Description
• Benefits
• Questions

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, click here.

Benefits: Please check our benefit tab for an overview of benefit for this position

Language Pay Differential: This position may be eligible for Language Pay Differential 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.

About the Portland Clean Energy Community Benefits Fund:

As a first-in-the-nation community-led climate fund, PCEF's mission is to fulfill a vision that builds resilience and quality jobs with proactive steps to fight climate change while advancing social, economic, and environmental justice.

For more information on this innovative program, please visit the PCEF website.

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 waste and recycling system and leads the U.S. in its commitment to open data and protecting communities in the application of technologies. Staff collaborate with partners on neighborhood, economic, historic, and environmental planning and provide research, policy and technical services to advance energy efficiency and renewable energy, as well as policies and actions to address climate change.

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!

View Recording

To Qualify

The following minimum qualifications are required for this position:

• Experience collaborating with communities of color and people traditionally underrepresented in local decision-making.
• Experience managing direct reports, with ability to provide staff guidance, support, supervision and hold team accountable for deadlines and deliverables.
• 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.
• 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.
• 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.

• Click here for application tips for resume, supplemental question response and/or cover letter.

What to Expect:

• Application Review - (Week of September 21st): Well review your application materials to ensure you meet the minimum qualifications listed above.
• 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 City Administrative Rule 3.01.
• Selection Process - (Early-to-Mid October): The hiring bureau will review qualified applications, conduct interviews, and check references.
• Conditional Job Offer - (Late October): Final candidates may undergo a background or driving record check, depending on the position.

Additional Information

Learn More About:

• How to Apply Videos and Workshops
• City of Portland Core Values
• HRAR-3.01 - Recruitment Processes
• Veteran Preference Information
• Total Compensation and Benefits
• Language Pay Differential Eligibility

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? Were here to help!

If you have questions about this recruitment or need assistance, contact:

Tamela Ressler, Senior Recruiter

Tamela.Ressler@portlandoregon.gov

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. Click here to review the many different benefits the City of Portland offers.

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 veterans 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 Veterans administration benefit letter. Veterans 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? (Select all that apply.)

• Program participants or grantees
• Community-based organizations
• Contractors or vendors
• Internal staff or leadership
• Government agencies or regulators
• Utilities or energy partners
• None of the above

09

Please note the following information provided will not be considered during minimum qualification review. The information provided will be utilized during the selection process. PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:

Please indicate which of the following experience(s) you have. (Select all that apply.)

• Worked with non-residential construction contractors
• Worked with contractors on energy projects
• Scoped energy efficiency upgrades in large buildings
• Installed or managed installation of energy efficiency upgrades in large buildings
• Scoped solar projects in large buildings or community solar sites
• Installed or managed installation of solar projects
• Scoped battery storage projects in large buildings
• Installed or managed installation of battery storage projects

10

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS: Please indicate how many years of relevant experience you have managing programs and grants.

• Less than 1 year of experience
• 1 to 2 years of experience
• 3 to 4 years of experience
• 5 or more years of experience

Required Question

Employer City of Portland

Address 1120 SW 5th Ave, Room 987

Portland, Oregon, 97204

Website http://www.portland.gov/jobs