Residential Contractor Engagement Manager

Location

- Hybrid – In office or on jobs sites 2 days/week. Most residential staff work from our Roseville office. CEE also has a Minneapolis office. Work will involve MN based travel to meet with contractors and to review projects at jobsites.

Join Our Dynamic Residential Team

We are looking for a Contractor Engagement Manger to join our Residential team! This role will report to the Sr. Program Manager of Residential Decarbonization. The Decarbonization team is responsible for implementing weatherization and decarbonization programs across Minnesota, often in partnership with external funders. As a Contractor Engagement Manager, you will play a key role in creating contractor standards and networks related to these programs and to Minnesota’s Inflation Reduction Act rebate programs. You will be responsible for expanding and improving existing CEE based contractor networks, onboarding new contractors, developing and enforcing the network’s stated standards. Initially this role will have no direct reports, but this may change as the team develops.

Who We Are

Center for Energy and Environment (CEE) is a clean energy nonprofit with offices in North Loop of Minneapolis and St. Paul. We provide practical energy solutions for homes, businesses, and communities to cut energy waste and harmful emissions. We collaborate regularly with field peers and partners, and we employ curious people who enjoy learning and contributing to the Midwest’s quality of life and economy. Recognized as one of Minnesota's top 200 workplaces by the Star Tribune, CEE is known for its open communication, respect for diverse perspectives, and commitment to work-life balance.

What We Offer

Insurance Coverage Options: To ensure you and your family are well protected, we have got you covered with Medical Insurance, Dental Insurance, Health Saving Account, and Flexible Spending Accounts. Please see our 2025 Benefit Summary.

Impact: We want to make the world a better and more energy efficient place. Our work and the decisions we make are rooted in this foundational desire.

Future Planning: To help you secure your financial future, benefit from our retirement saving program. Reach your goal sooner with our immediate vesting and company contribution.

Work/Life Balance: We recognize the importance of maintaining a healthy work-life balance and are dedicated to supporting our team members in various aspects of their lives. Our benefits include generous Paid Time Off (PTO), paid parental leave, and salary continuation for major medical events, ensuring that you have the support you need during significant life moments and personal challenges.

Holidays: Our company provides nine paid holidays each year, offering you ample time to observe important occasions and enjoy personal time.

Growth: We want everyone to grow and learn within their roles. We offer professional development opportunities and education assistance.

Championing DEI: Our committed DEI Committee promotes a diverse and inclusive work environment by establishing clear goals and assessing progress throughout the organization.

What You’ll Do

Maintain and grow existing Contractor Networks

- Manage, grow, and evolve the Minnesota Air Source Heat Pump Collaborative Preferred Contractor Network

- In coordination with the QA Manager, manage, grow, and evolve CEE's Insulation Contractor network

- Provide internal training and ongoing support to CEE's Quality Assurance staff who conduct site verifications to evaluate the quality installation of air source heat pumps, heat pump water heaters, other HVAC installations, and insulation and air sealing measures

- Mitigate issues with contractors and take corrective action when needed (e.g., from customer complaints or site verification findings)

- Iterate and improve the processes with the networks to improve program efficiency

- Iterate and improve program requirements that ensure installation quality while lower barriers to participation for contractors

- Provide training and presentations to groups of contractors around program requirements as well as technical aspects of project work in coordination with training team and subject matter experts

Develop, and Maintain new Home Energy Contractor Networks

- Evaluate existing networks and the opportunity to expand into federal, state, and utility funded rebate programs

- Recruit HVAC, Plumbing, Electrical, and Insulation contractors statewide to participate in rebate eligible programs

- Develop and grow Home Performance Contractor network

- Develop criteria for contractor participation in various programs, and align work specifications with existing MN energy programs as much as possible

- Collaborate with CEE’s Training and Education department leadership and external partners to develop and deploy necessary training to contractor networks

- Solicit feedback from and communicate with contractors to ensure network membership adds value to customers and participating contractors

- Coordinate with the Quality Assurance Manager to ensure quality of work standards are being met and effectively communicated to participating and potential contractors

Cross-functional collaboration

- Work cross-functionally with project teams utilizing contractor networks

- Contribute to holistic program strategy and business development goals related to contractor networks and program alignment

- Coordinate with Workforce Development team to recruit contracting companies to host interns

- Work with contracts team to streamline contractor MOUs, contracts, and project-based procurement processes

Other Duties

- Other duties as assigned or apparent.

Skills & Knowledge We’re Looking For

- Experience with residential building science, weatherization, home energy audits and/or HVAC design and installations

- Experience training residential building trades including training HVAC contractors

- Experience effectively managing networks, QA/QC principals, and efforts to improve quality installations

- Comfort and experience training and presenting to groups of contractors

- Experience with Microsoft applications (Word, Excel, PowerPoint)

- Highly organized and detail oriented

- Strong communication, interpersonal, and conflict resolution skills (active listening, providing productive feedback, etc.)

- Experience with Salesforce or other database software

Preferred Qualifications

- 3 years’ technical experience in residential HVAC training or sales in a related industry

- 3 years' experience at HVAC installer, distributor or manufacturer company preferred

- Proven track record of presentation delivery and meeting facilitation

- Excellent verbal and written communication skills

- Experience with utility efficiency and rebate programs

- Experience with ACCA design principles (Manual J, S, and D)

- Familiarity with ACCA Standard 5 (HVAC Quality Installation Specification)

- Familiarity with ANSI/RESNET/ACCA 310-2020 (Standard for Grading the Installation of HVAC Systems) or other relevant home performance or HVAC mechanical system quality control and quality assurance techniques.

- Degree from an HVAC trade school in HVAC & Refrigeration or equivalent experience

- Certification in one or more of the following:

- BPI (Building Science Principles, Building Analyst Technician, or Building Analyst Professional, Air Leakage Control Installer, Quality Control Inspector, Energy Auditor)

- EPA 608 Technician Certification (refrigerant management)

- North American Technician Excellence (NATE) Certification

Compensation

- Dependent on qualifications and experience, we expect the pay range upon hire for this position will be $84,000-88,000/year.

Equal Opportunity Employer/Protected Veterans/Individuals with Disabilities

This employer is required to notify all applicants of their rights pursuant to federal employment laws. For further information, please review the Know Your Rights notice from the Department of Labor.