Business Energy Programs Manager

Position Description

Tacoma Power’s Customer Energy Solutions Section is seeking an experienced Business Energy Programs Manager. This position is based in Tacoma, Washington, in the heart of the Puget Sound region near both urban amenities and the natural beauty of the Pacific Northwest.

As the Business Energy Programs Manager, you will lead a team of nine engineers and program professionals dedicated to designing and delivering energy programs for Tacoma Power’s commercial, industrial, government, institutional, and multifamily customers. Your role is to provide strategic direction and technical leadership in the development, marketing, and implementation of customer-focused energy services. Your team will identify and implement cost-effective energy solutions for a wide range of customer types and building systems, ensuring programs achieve measurable results.

You will recruit, train, and mentor staff while fostering a collaborative, high-performance culture that values innovation and customer service. In this role, you will lead the design and delivery of demand-side management (DSM) products and services, including energy efficiency, demand response, and other initiatives, ensuring alignment with the Washington Energy Independence Act, Clean Energy Transformation Act (CETA), Clean Buildings Performance Standard, and other legislative requirements.

This position works closely with key accounts, trade allies, contractors, and industry partners, representing Tacoma Power on regional committees such as the Northwest Energy Efficiency Alliance (NEEA). As a member of the Customer Energy Solutions Leadership Team, you will play a pivotal role in shaping strategies that help our business customers save energy, lower costs, and achieve their sustainability goals.

We’re seeking a leader who has business insight, makes sound quality decisions, and cuts through complexity to deliver results. You see the big picture and use your understanding of markets and customers to move initiatives forward, take ownership, and set a strong example for others. You value teamwork and know how to build strong relationships across teams, departments, and organizations to achieve shared goals. Your technical fluency in building systems, engineering, or energy efficiency grounds your leadership in practical solutions.

Duties And Responsibilities Include

- Managing day-to-day energy program implementation, technical oversight, and ensuring alignment with utility goals and targets. Overseeing program development process from initial concept and market identification to pilot development and scale up, to on-going evaluation and maintenance, through to final exit strategy.

- Preparing and delivering presentations to diverse audiences on programs such as energy efficiency, distributed generation, electrification, decarbonization, and load management.

- Leading the technical review and approval of custom project savings analyses and associated measurement and verification (M&V) plans and reports in accordance with industry protocols and Tacoma Power standards. Develop program tools such as calculators, technical specifications, and workflow diagrams to support consistent, high-quality delivery. Monitoring program performance to make strategic adjustments as needed.

- Managing the Commercial & Industrial budget (O&M and capital) and approving large conservation incentive payments.

- Overseeing contract negotiations, preparing resolutions for the Public Utility Board (PUB), and securing approvals from senior management and, when required, City Council.

Qualifications

Minimum Education*

Bachelor's degree in business or public administration, economics, finance, accounting, engineering, project management or directly related field.

Minimum Experience*

6 years of power industry experience directly related to area of assignment, including 1 year of experience as supervisor or manager.

As Assigned

Washington State Driver's License

- Equivalency: 1 year of experience = 1 year of education

Desired Qualifications

- At least 2 years relevant experience in engineering analysis, building science, energy savings measurement and verification (M&V), including increasing responsibility with demand-side energy programs.

- Professional Engineer (PE) or industry certifications such as BPI, CEM, CMVP, LEED, PgMP, or PMP.

Knowledge & Skills

- Utility conservation policies, regional energy efficiency standards, and regulatory requirements. Commercial and industrial (C&I) energy systems, technologies, and building operations. Analyzing load profiles, peak demand impacts, and savings potential from efficiency and DR measures.

- Program design, implementation, and evaluation best practices. Problem-solving and decision-making in complex, dynamic environments.

- Measurement and Verification (M&V) methods and custom project savings estimation. Technical review and quality assurance to ensure program accuracy and audit readiness. Communication and presentation skills for diverse technical and non-technical audiences.

- Budget development, financial management, and cost-effectiveness analysis. Financial oversight, including incentive administration and program performance monitoring. Customer engagement, trade ally networks, and regional collaboration strategies. .

- Workforce planning and resource allocation methods. Leadership and team management, including coaching, mentoring, and performance development.

Selection Process & Supplemental Information

Compensation & Benefits

Pay Details:

Hourly Rate: $81.81 - $115.19

Salary Rate: $170,164.80 - $239,595.20

Employee Benefits | City of Tacoma

This recruitment is being managed by Elise Drennen, if you would like to be notified of similar opportunities or stay connected with things going on at Tacoma Public Utilities and the City of Tacoma, connect with me on LinkedIn!

City of Tacoma’s Commitment to Diversity, Equity and Inclusion:

At the City of Tacoma, we're on a mission to make our workforce as diverse and inclusive as the community we serve. We're committed to eliminating racial and other disparities, and we actively seek out candidates from a wide range of backgrounds and cultures. Join our team at the City of Tacoma and help us build a more vibrant, inclusive, and equitable community for all.

The City of Tacoma believes that diversity of thought, background, and experience contributes to our success and innovation. If you’re passionate about this role and our mission, we encourage you to apply. If you have a less traditional background, we want to hear about your transferrable skills and experience. We value a variety of perspectives and are excited to see what you bring to the table.

The Community

Tacoma is centrally located just 32 miles south of the city of Seattle and 31 miles north of the state capital, Olympia. The City of Tacoma is also home to the Port of Tacoma, which is among the largest container ports in the United States. Like most cities in the northwest, Tacoma is surrounded by beautiful nature, offering residents many opportunities for outdoor adventures.

Largely suburban in nature with a small, but dense, urban core, Tacoma is home to numerous institutes of higher learning that attract students from across the country. The University of Washington Tacoma, Pacific Lutheran University, University of Puget Sound, a satellite campus of the Evergreen State College, three community/technical colleges, and several trade and business schools are within Tacoma's geographic area. Downtown's Cultural District is the site of the Washington State History Museum, Museum of Glass, the Tacoma Art Museum, and America's Car Museum.

With its affordable housing and distinctive neighborhoods and business districts, the city has been recognized numerous times as a best city to live in the nation. To see a few of the great things Tacoma has to offer, view this YouTube Video! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2n5MWl8KFvI

Application Process

Interested individuals should apply online by completing the application and attaching a resume and cover letter by the closing date and time listed on the job announcement. Applications received without attaching the required materials may not progress in the selection process.

If you are a veteran and would like to be considered for veteran's preference points, please attach a copy of your DD214 to your application.

(Other items that may need to be referenced – writing assignment, drivers abstract, etc.)

Get Assistance

For assistance with the application process or questions regarding this job announcement please contact the Human Resources office at (253) 591-5400 by 4:00 p.m. of the closing date of the job announcement.

For technical difficulties using the Neogov system, call the applicant support line at 1-855-524-5627 between 6:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. Pacific Standard Time. This will allow us to assist you before the job announcement closes.

Communication with the City of Tacoma

We primarily communicate via email during the application process. Emails from Tacoma.gov and/or governmentjobs.com should be placed on your safe domain list to ensure that you receive notifications in a timely manner. As a precaution, you may also want to check your junk email folders.