Description

Smith Engineering is seeking a Vice President, Energy Group to join our Executive Leadership Team in the New York Metro area. You will split your time between our Manhattan office and various customer sites.

At Smith Engineering, our vision is to create a sustainable future by improving operations and increasing efficiency in critical facilities. For more than a dozen years, we have been a leader in central plant design and optimization, building a reputation for discovering and solving facility mysteries, and improving central plant operations. By uniting expertise in design, energy, controls, and workforce development, we empower industry-leading clients to meet their operational and sustainability goals.

Your Role
We are seeking a Vice President, Energy Group. This is a crucial executive leadership role responsible for the overall strategic direction, operational excellence, and financial performance of the entire Energy Group. Reporting to the Managing Director, you will be expected to faithfully execute the business plan, achieving or exceeding planned P&L objectives. You will champion the company's vision of creating a sustainable future by driving growth, innovation, and the delivery of high-quality energy engineering and retro-commissioning solutions for complex commercial and institutional facilities.

You must be comfortable engaging with executive leadership, as well as presenting findings and strategies to a wide range of stakeholders, including Chief Engineers, building managers, and senior management.

Responsibilities

1. Group Strategy and P&L Leadership:
   1. Own the Energy Group's Profit & Loss (P&L): Develop and execute a comprehensive business plan and achieve or exceed all financial and operational targets, ensuring the group is efficient, productive, and effective.
   2. Drive Strategic Growth: Identify, develop, and lead new strategic initiatives, market penetration efforts, and service line expansion opportunities to grow the business and enhance market presence.
   3. Executive Oversight: Provide high-level direction and accountability for all group activities, including energy conservation, retro-commissioning (retro-Cx), and performance testing projects, ensuring successful execution from conception through construction phases.
   4. Forecasting and Budget Management: Manage the entire group budget, resource allocation, and long-term financial forecasting.
2. Team Leadership and Management:
   1. Lead and Develop Talent: Provide direct management and mentorship for the Sr. Managers, leading and managing the entire Energy Group, fostering a positive, collaborative, and high-performance work culture that prioritizes accountability and continuous improvement.
   2. Process and Standards: Establish, review, and formalize best-in-class processes and behavioral expectations for project execution, quality assurance, and accountability throughout the group.
      Recruitment and Succession: Oversee the hiring, professional development, and long-term talent strategy for all energy engineers.
3. Project and Technical Governance:
   1. Quality Assurance: Define and ensure adherence to technical standards and best practices for all energy engineering solutions, including ASHRAE Level 1, 2, and 3 Audits, and LL87 retro-commissioning.
   2. High-Level Coordination: Coordinate communications and project delivery between Energy Engineering, Design Engineering, Building Controls, Rebate/Incentive Agencies, and the customer.
   3. Risk and Troubleshooting: Apply expert-level troubleshooting and problem-solving skills to diagnose complex system issues quickly and foresee potential problems, intervening as necessary on high-risk projects.
   4. Regulatory Compliance: Ensure the team stays current on and complies with ASHRAE Standards and NYC/NYS Energy Code.
4. Client and Stakeholder Engagement:
   1. Client Relations: Maintain relationships with key customers, manage expectations, and participate in business development activities and client presentations to secure new projects and ensure high customer satisfaction.
   2. Public Representation: Represent Smith Engineering in industry forums, professional organizations, and with public officials and regulators to promote the company's brand and influence industry trends.
   3. Contract Negotiation: Lead the negotiation and approval of high-value contracts and agreements with clients, suppliers, and strategic partners.

Requirements

• Experience: 15+ years of progressive experience in energy engineering and retro-commissioning, including a proven track record of successfully managing a diverse and highly specialized technical team.
• Leadership: 8+ years of direct experience managing a large team of engineers in a leadership capacity.
• P&L Acumen: Demonstrable business acumen and experience with P&L management, financial analysis, and strategic goal setting.
• Education: Bachelor’s or master’s degree in mechanical engineering or a related field is required.
• Technical Proficiency: Required proficiency with energy modeling software such as eQuest, IESVE, or Trane Trace 700.
• Professional Certification: A Professional Engineer (PE) license is strongly preferred.