Rocky Mountain Institute is an independent, entrepreneurial nonprofit think-and-do tank™ that drives the efficient and restorative use of resources. Established in 1982 by Amory and Hunter Lovins, what began as a small group of colleagues focusing on energy solutions has since grown into a broad-based Institute with approximately 90 full-time staff, an annual budget of nearly $15 million, and a global reach.
RMI is engaged in research that addresses pragmatic designs, practices, and policies, not social theories or laboratory experiments. We work on all parts of the solution process—idea, strategy, and implementation—in the high impact areas of energy, mobility and vehicle efficiency, energy resource use, security, and the built environment.
RMI has two locations — in Boulder and in Snowmass, Colorado.
We currently have the following openings:
Building Energy Consultant
Our building sector consultants work directly with engineers, architects, and other real-estate professionals to integrate resource-efficient and environmentally responsive design into specific projects. RMI's work on hundreds of successful buildings of different types in different climates dispels the notion that increasing energy efficiency or taking steps to reduce emissions negatively affects economics, comfort, or aesthetics.
RMI is currently seeking a full-time Building Energy Consultant to join our team. This position is located in Boulder, CO and is available immediately.
Job Description
This position will focus on building energy analysis and energy efficient building design. The energy consultant will engage closely with an RMI project manager, as well as the project design team, to manage and complete energy models, life cycle cost analysis, and other technical research and models during the design of retrofit and new construction projects. The candidate must be comfortable with thermodynamic principles and be ready to take on the challenges of simulating cutting edge technologies and effectively communicating and discussing results with clients. In the long-term, there will be research, teaching, and consulting components to this position, some of which will focus on developing and disseminating useful tools to the energy analysis community to facilitate higher quality, faster, and more effective energy analysis.
Objectives
After one year in this position, it is expected that the selected Building Energy Consultant will have completed numerous building models and analyses that will have successfully impacted clients to make decisions that lead to substantially more energy efficient design and operations. In addition, the Building Energy Consultant will have trained and mentored others in energy analysis. After one year, the Building Energy Consultant will begin to contribute to research in the building energy analysis field as well as begin to grow their skill sets beyond modeling and engineering to project management and other areas of interest.
Mandatory Qualifications
- Organized and hard working
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills
- Bachelor’s degree in engineering
- Two years HVAC design experience
- Mastery of eQUEST or EnergyPlus
- Well-versed in word processing and design software (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, AutoCad)
Desired Qualifications
- Masters degree from building engineering or building systems program
- Analysis experience with other thermal or CFD modeling programs
- Experience with LEED rating system and documentation
- Economic background and ability to perform life cycle cost analysis
- Consulting experience
- Energy auditing or commissioning experience
Please email your application to Siu Chan, HR Manager, schan@rmi.org, with a subject line of "Building Energy Consultant Position."
Director of Human Resources
The Director of Human Resources is responsible for the human resources programs for 85+ employees. The director’s goal is to enable RMI to implement its commitment to value human capital as well as other resources, as expressed in its mission.
Responsibilities
The Director of Human Resources plans, guides and manages the overall provision of human resources services, policies and programs for RMI.
Primary Areas of responsibility include:
- Employee recruiting and retention systems
- Employee on-boarding, development and training systems
- Employee safety, welfare, wellness and health
- Compensation and benefits administration
- Employee performance management, evaluation and improvement systems
- Compliance to labor regulatory issues
- Employee and alumni relationship programs
- Employment related policy development and documentation
- Employment related community communications and branding
- Communications, committees and event facilitation for organization wide activities
- Organizational Development
- Space planning
- Facilities management, security & upkeep
Primary Objectives
- Development of the human resources function
- Development of an employee-oriented organizational culture that emphasizes quality, continuous improvement and high performance
- Development of a superior workforce
Organizational Relationships
As a member of RMI’s management team, the Director of Human Resources reports directly to the Chief Operating Officer, collaborates with the Executive Director/General Counsel on compliance, compensation, and employment issues, and collaborates directly with department heads as necessary, including the Program Directors and Research and Consulting (R&C) Principals in effectively managing R&C staffing, resource deployment and project performance management systems.
Location and Travel
The Director of Human Resources will be based in RMI's office in Boulder, Colorado and will need to travel to the Snowmass, Colorado office on a regular basis.
Job Requirements
Background and Managerial Experience
The HR Director must have a minimum of 10 years experience in an organization or company similar to RMI, with a consulting firm or professional services firm. Ideally, the HR Director should have specific management experience in project-based organizations and developing HR systems appropriate for a project oriented workforce.
Education and Training
The HR Director must have a graduate degree or equivalent advanced education related to human capital management, preferably in a field that offers an opportunity to gain a well-rounded human resources background, with seven+ years experience in managing HR personnel and activities. Additional class work in management courses and benefits administration is helpful; SPHR (Senior Professional in Human Resources) preferred.
Application Submission Requirements
- Resume (maximum of three pages)
- Writing Sample (Provide an original 500-word writing sample describing a human resources plan for RMI.)
- List of references (and/ or two letters of reference)
- Salary requirements
Please email your application to Siu Chan, HR Manager, schan@rmi.org
Senior-Level HVAC Engineer - Full Time
RMI is catalyzing large initiatives in the realm of green development. This pursuit of environmental excellence produces fundamentally better buildings and communities - more comfortable, more efficient, more appealing, and ultimately more profitable.
Our consultants work directly with developers, architects, and other real-estate professionals to integrate resource-efficient and environmentally responsive design. The team juggles dozens of assignments, ranging from large scale, mixed-use developments to educational outreach videos and publications to cutting edge lab and manufacturing facilities. Complementing these activities, our staff also researches new policies, technologies, and techniques for improving the performance of buildings. Team members lecture widely, conduct seminars on green development, and author both popular and specialized publications.
The title and salary of this position is commensurate with experience. This position is located in Boulder, CO and is available immediately.
Role and Responsibilities
This Mechanical Engineer must have extensive experience with energy efficient HVAC design and controls, and be familiar with energy analysis of these systems. This position will serve as the in-house expert in the field of building level mechanical systems and must possess a proven track record of innovation and leadership within this field.
Responsibilities:
- Provide content expertise, thought leadership and guidance on all mechanical system issues
- Advise mechanical design professionals on innovative energy efficient HVAC system design and controls
- Contribute to the development of Institute wide initiatives that will reduce fossil fuel consumption
- Lead building and community level initiatives focused on HVAC technologies and strategies
- Conduct energy audits on existing mechanical systems and train staff in these skills
- Provide in-house training sessions and educational seminars related to energy efficient mechanical system design and controls
- Author relevant publications and conduct speaking engagements
- Provides oversight for quality assurance of technical deliverables
Skills and Qualifications
Mandatory Qualifications:
- Excellent ability to work creatively in an interdisciplinary collaborative environment
- Innovative and strategic thinking
- Bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering
- Professional Engineering license in mechanical engineering
- 6 years experience in HVAC design and controls
- 4 years project related management experience
- 2 years energy auditing experience
- Published contributions to the fields of HVAC and energy efficiency
- Excellent writing and presentation skills
- Well versed in word processing and design software (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, AutoCad)
Desired Qualifications:
- 10+ years experience in HVAC design/controls
- Experience with LEED rating system
- Commissioning experience
- Experience with whole building energy simulation tools (i.e. DOE-2, EnergyPlus)
- Masters or PhD degree
- Proven track record of involvement in professional societies
Please provide a resume, cover letter, and work sample to:
Siu Chan, HR Manager, schan@rmi.org
Web Applications Developer
One-year term position
The duties of the Web Applications Developer are to manage and administer all the technical operations of RMI’s family of external and internal web sites. He/she reports to the Communications Director and is a shared resource between Communications and IT. This position plays a central role in maintaining and evolving all external and internal web applications and systems, and will research and track new web technologies and service applications in order to keep abreast of the best way to deliver information to various constituents.
The ideal candidate is a focused self-starter who can juggle multiple projects, and one who takes a holistic approach to solving challenges across systems and requirements.
Responsibilities
- Develop and maintain internal and external web applications on one or more platforms
- Works at the API level to evolve/streamline intersecting data points
- Performs requirements analysis, functional and technical design, application development, unit and system testing, and production deployment
- Evaluates systems specifications for web site requirements and determines and implements the most efficient and cost-effective solutions.
- Work closely with Online Editor to implement new projects and applications for the external facing company website
- Effectively manage and interface with external web development and hosting vendors to build and manage website projects
- Works closely with Development to manage and evolve integration with the database and its interface, and on new web application projects
- Maintains ecommerce functionality
- Ensures privacy and security standards are met
- Help create and maintain technical documentation
Qualifications
- At least four years of experience in Object Oriented Programming concepts
- Basic software programming experience in C#/ASP.NET, including coding, compiling, and debugging
- Comfortable in PHP/CGI, HTML/ XHTML, JavaScript (AJAX, DHTML), CSS, and MySQL
- Experience managing multiple .NET and LAMP based CMSs
- Experience with Microsoft SharePoint a plus
- Strong organizational and project management skills
- Attention to detail
- Experience in a multi-player, fast-paced creative environment
- B.S. in Computer Science and/or Engineering preferred
Location: Boulder, Colorado
Please provide a resume and cover letter to Siu Chan, HR Manager, schan@rmi.org.
Internships
RMI offers three-month to one-year internships at any time during the year, depending on project needs and funding availability. Competition for these positions is intense. In most cases, candidates have at least a BA or BS, show broad interest in environmental and resource issues, and have a desire to apply these interests to practical, real-life situations. Related work experience is a plus. Applicants must be literate and numerate, possess strong team and interpersonal skills, and demonstrate effective communications skills. Interns are expected to be self-motivated and require minimal supervision.
In order to apply for an RMI internship, please send a resume, cover letter and writing sample to Siu Chan, HR Manager, schan@rmi.org.