Director of Strategic Energy Programs (Federal & Higher Education)
Job Posting
Mid Atlantic Preferred/Hybrid
MD Energy Advisors (MDEA)
is a rapidly growing energy advisory and program management firm that partners with utilities, institutions, and large commercial clients to deliver complex energy and infrastructure solutions. We support utility- and federally funded programs across the United States and work closely with real estate owners, higher-education institutions, manufacturers, and other large energy users to design and execute impactful energy initiatives.As we continue to scale our federal and institutional work, we are seeking a Director of Strategic Energy Programs (Federal & Higher Education) to lead high-impact programs, manage senior external relationships, and help build repeatable, enterprise-value-driven delivery models.This role will initially focus on managing MDEA’s relationship with a utility under its Utility Energy Service Contract (UESC) program, while also expanding and overseeing MDEA’s ESCO-supported work with colleges and universities.This is a senior, externally facing role that blends program leadership, relationship management, and strategic growth.
The Director will serve as MDEA’s day-to-day lead for utility- and ESCO-driven programs, ensuring disciplined execution while helping build repeatable, scalable delivery models.As part of MDEA’s broader higher-education portfolio, this role will also support continued work with Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) alongside other public and private institutions, reflecting MDEA’s long-standing commitment to mission-aligned, high-quality energy solutions.
PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES
Federal & Utility Program Leadership (UESC)
- Serve as the primary relationship manager for MDEA’s UESC work with the utility and other utility partners
- Coordinate closely with utility stakeholders to support opportunity development, project execution, reporting, and issue resolution
- Oversee UESC projects from early development through Task Order execution, construction, and closeout
- Ensure alignment with federal requirements, utility processes, and MDEA quality standards
- Support required governance, performance tracking, and executive-level reporting under utility agreements
Higher Education & ESCO Program Leadership
- Lead MDEA’s ESCO-supported work for colleges and universities, including commissioning, retro-commissioning, audits, and related services
- Serve as the primary interface between MDEA, ESCO partners, and institutional stakeholders
- Coordinate internal engineering, project management, and utility incentive teams to deliver consistent outcomes
- Support repeatable delivery models across multiple campuses and portfolios
Strategic Growth & Program Development
- Help identify, shape, and prioritize new UESC and ESCO opportunities in federal and higher-education markets
- Support proposal development, scopes of work, and pricing strategies for utility- and ESCO-led pursuits
- Work with MDEA leadership to standardize workflows, templates, and playbooks for federal and higher-education program delivery
- Contribute to strategic planning related to utilities, ESCO partners, and institutional clients
Cross-Portfolio Support (Strategic Overlay Only)
- During periods of variable workload within federal and higher-education programs, provide strategic oversight and support to select Commercial Solutions initiatives where appropriate
- Support may include process improvement, quality control, escalation management, or system design—particularly where work intersects with ESCOs, utilities, or institutional clients
Internal Coordination & Quality Control
- Serve as the internal “quarterback” across business development, engineering, and operations for assigned programs
- Track schedules, risks, budgets, and milestones at the program and portfolio level
- Proactively surface issues and recommend mitigation strategies
- Ensure delivery aligns with MDEA’s values and reputation for professionalism, clarity, and trust
QUALIFICATIONS
Required:
- Bachelor’s degree is required, preferably in engineering, energy management, sustainability, public policy, business, or a related field. Advanced degrees (MBA, MPA, MS, or similar) preferred but not required.
- 8–15+ years of experience in federal energy programs, UESC/ESPC, ESCO delivery, or higher-education energy projects
- Direct experience working with utilities, federal agencies, and/or ESCOs
Strong understanding of:
- UESC and ESPC contracting structures
- ESCO delivery and partner coordination models
- Federal and institutional procurement and decision-making processes
- Proven ability to manage complex, multi-stakeholder programs
- Comfortable in senior, client-facing roles
Preferred (but not required):
- Experience working with colleges and universities, including large or portfolio-based campuses
- Experience working with Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) or other mission-driven institutions
- Familiarity with energy, infrastructure, and sustainability projects in legacy campus environments
BENEFITS:
MD Energy Advisors offers competitive salaries and benefits. We put a premium on work-life balance, offering flexibility with our remote team. We also offer:
- Medical, dental and vision health insurance
- 401k
- Paid time off and paid holidays
- Wellness Reimbursement
- Professional Development Reimbursement
- Regular team meetings and in-person gatherings
Maryland Energy Advisors is an Equal Opportunity Employer/M/F/Disability/Vet.
155000.00 To 175000.00 (USD) Annually
