Principal Sustainability Specialist

The Principal Sustainability Specialist at The Port Authority of NY & NJ will coordinate sustainable design and construction for the Newark Liberty International Airport Redevelopment program. Responsibilities include compliance reviews, technical audits, project management, and collaboration with various stakeholders. The role requires in-office presence for the majority of workdays, emphasizing the importance of on-site engagement in sustainability initiatives and capital projects.
About the Role

Join one of the transportation sector's most diverse and innovative engineering teams. The Port Authority's airports, ports, ferries, tunnels, bridges, bus terminals and rail transportation systems are among the region's most important transportation facilities. As the first U.S. transportation agency to set a Net Zero goal for all greenhouse gas emissions, the Port Authority is pursuing a variety of ambitious decarbonization and climate resilience initiatives.

Reporting to the Senior Program Manager, Sustainable Design and Construction, the Principal Sustainability Specialist ("Specialist"), EWR Redevelopment (Sustainable Design & Construction) will serve as the primary Point of Contact for all RSE coordination with the ongoing Newark Liberty International Airport Redevelopment (EWRR) program.

The Specialist's duties will also encompass Tenant Alteration Application (TAA) reviews to ensure compliance with the Port Authority Sustainable Building Guidelines. Port Authority tenants cover a wide variety of occupancy types including retail, hospitality, commercial offices, airport terminals and lounges, aviation hangars, transportation terminals, warehouses, operations centers, and substations. The Specialist will also serve as Subject Matter Expert, task lead, or project manager for a portfolio of PA Capital Projects, initiatives, pilots, guideline/standard updates, and more.

Responsibilities

The Specialist's duties may include, but are not limited to:
• Meet the in-office compliance requirement (majority of the days in the office).
• Represent RSE in all matters pertaining to EWRR, including development of design requirements, review of multidisciplinary design packages and resolution of comments, technical collaboration with EWRR and business partner staff, and proactive communication between all parties.
• Perform deadline-driven technical audit and review services for sustainable design and construction, including analyzing and reviewing drawings, calculations, specifications, LEED documentation, reports and studies for compliance with PA standards, and preparation of review comments.
• Work with agency design teams, consultants, and tenants and their design teams (Architects/Engineers of Record) to successfully implement the agency's Sustainable Design Guidelines and related standards, which may include meeting with internal and external partners to provide project-specific guidance, discussing review comments, and resolving issues constructively and in a timely manner.
• Track project status and performance metrics; reporting out at bi-monthly meetings and contributing to unit performance reports.
• Support updates to the Authority's guidelines, manuals, bulletins, specifications, and implementation tools for sustainable and resilient design and construction.
• Coordinate with all PA Engineering Divisions, EWRR, Line Departments, facility Tenant Liaison Offices, Tenant Construction Alteration Process (TCAP) Central Office, Law, and Real Estate to ensure that PA standards are incorporated into the Tenant Construction Alteration Process and Tenant Construction Review Manual, with particular focus on:
• Successful integration into processes and workflows.
• Straightforward and robust documentation procedures.
• Reductions in administrative and procedural burdens.
• Development and implementation of tools, resources, reference guides, and job aids for design and/or construction engineers and architects to support successful implementation.
• Provide training, both internal and external, to support implementation of RSE Guidelines.
• Coordinating the development and deployment of training programs to increase the technical capacity of Port Authority staff to serve EWRR and related initiatives.
• Provide on-site support at EWR Airport, on weekly basis (minimum one day per week)
• Leading or participating in collaborations, initiatives, and/or pilots to advance EWRR, agency, and industry sustainability and resilience practices.

Minimum Qualifications
• Bachelor's degree in Architecture or relevant Engineering discipline from an accredited college or university.
• Minimum of ten (10) years of diverse experience in sustainable building design and construction, with a minimum five (5) years of experience applicable to aviation facilities.
• LEED Accredited Professional credential with specialty in either Building Design & Construction or Interior Design & Construction.
• Demonstrated knowledge of and experience with sustainability, building science, integrated design and 3rd party certification processes.
• Knowledge of New Jersey, New York State and/or New York City Building Codes.
• Demonstrated expertise in reading / interpreting drawings, notes and specifications.
• Ability to work collaboratively and constructively within multi-disciplinary teams, exhibit strong organization and communication skills (oral and written), provide outstanding quality control of all deliverables, and deliver all services on-time.
• Ability to travel to/work in the field at EWR, as needed to support EWRR.

Desired Qualifications
• Sustainable design experience with building types represented in the PA's current portfolio, especially aviation.
• Expertise with developing specifications to support sustainable design implementation.
• Expertise relating to energy and environmental performance, including energy modeling; daylight analysis; renewable energy systems and lifecycle analysis (LCA)
• Master's degree in a technical, policy, or administrative discipline relevant to the above-listed Responsibilities.
• Familiarity with facilities and transportation businesses applicable to the Port Authority, especially aviation.
• Relevant professional licensure (e.g., Registered Architect, Professional Engineer, or equivalent).
• Active ENV SP credential (other rating systems, such as WELL or WEDG, are considered pluses).
• Valid Driver's license.

Selection Process

The application process varies by position but typically includes an initial phone interview for qualified candidates, followed by a more in-depth interview(s) and/or assessment(s). Selected candidates who are made a conditional job offer will be asked to undergo a background check.

Compensation & Benefits

The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey offers a competitive benefits package, hybrid work options for many positions, and a professional environment that supports development and recognizes achievement.

Click here for more information about benefits, our culture, and career development opportunities.

Employment Type: Full-Time Regular