Sustainability Project Manager

dbHMS is seeking a Sustainability Project Manager for its Chicago office. The role involves analyzing sustainability needs, conducting assessments, and leading design workshops. Candidates should have a strong understanding of sustainability in architectural design and construction. The position requires collaboration with clients and mentoring junior staff. dbHMS offers a supportive work environment with flexible schedules and a comprehensive benefits package. Local field visits and occasional travel may be required.
Firm Overview

Do more than just build! At dbHMS, we are a collection of doers and thinkers. We combine our passion for engineering with our client’s vision to realize successful construction projects in our community and worldwide. Together with our clients, we are dedicated to leaving a legacy of stewardship and innovation through our impact on the built environment. Our staff of talented individuals and unique characters is united in their dedication to deliver high-performance, efficient, and sustainable buildings worldwide.

Our Data Based+ Studio team, in our Chicago office is seeking a Sustainability Project Manager.

Our dynamic work environment provides the perfect opportunity to advance your career while developing and fine-tuning your skills along with offering a supportive office culture, diverse workforce, flexible work schedules, and regular social events. At dbHMS, you will find everything you need for an exciting, challenging, and rewarding career.

dbHMS is committed to a diverse workforce and to providing a safe, accessible workplace. Most duties will be performed in an office environment. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit and walk. The work typically requires the use of hands to type, handle or feel; reach hands and arms; and talk or hear. The typical week consists of five, eight-hour shifts.

Occasional overnight travel may be required depending on the employee’s home location. Local field visits in the office metro area will be necessary. A valid and clean driver's license is required.

dbHMS offers a competitive benefits package* that includes:
• 401(k)
• 401(k) matching
• Insurance - Health, Dental, Vision and Life
• Paid Time Off
• Professional Trade Organization Dues Re-Imbursement
• Waiting period may apply.

Position Overview

The DataBased+ studio within dbHMS delivers data-based, human-centered design support services to clients with a vision for industry-leading performance across sustainability, resilience, human health and wellness, and operating cost. This person plays a critical role in facilitating cross-disciplinary collaboration and translating sustainability goals into actionable design and construction strategies.

The ideal candidate will have a strong understanding of how sustainability intersects with architectural design, engineering systems, and construction practices. Additionally, the person in this role will take the lead in mentoring junior team members while also building and maintaining client relationships.

Essential Job Functions
• Analyze sustainability needs and identify opportunities for implementation.
• Perform calculations, review drawings, and analyses related to sustainable certifications.
• Conduct life cycle assessments, embodied carbon studies, energy and daylight modeling, and water reduction strategies from early concept through construction.
• Co-ordinate and deliver sustainable and environmental design input to projects within the public and private sector, with special focus on building energy performance.
• Prepare for and lead sustainability charrettes and integrated design workshops on projects.
• Stay current on evolving energy codes, material standards, and carbon disclosure requirements. Collaborate with other teams to integrate passive and active sustainability strategies into building design and performance.
• Translate technical analyses into compelling narratives and visuals for reports, submittals, and presentations.
• Manage client relationships.
• Manage junior staff effectively across simultaneous projects.
• Support business development by identifying new opportunities and client relationships.
• Liaise with client, architect and other members of the internal & external design team with clarity and confidence.

Requirements
• Minimum Education: B.S. degree in Engineering, Architecture, Environmental Design, or M.S. degree in a related field.
• 8+ years of relevant experience within the AEC industry.
• Must have one or more of the following skills and/or accreditations: LEED AP, WELL AP, Fitwel Ambassador, LFA, LEED for Homes Green Rater, CPHC. Candidates with multiple credentials are preferred.
• Experience leading design and construction teams through certification under sustainable rating systems (LEED, Enterprise Green Communities, Living Building Challenge, Passive House, WELL, Fitwel, etc.).
• Ability to read and understand construction documents, floor plans, specifications, and details.
• Excellent communication, presentation, and team-building skills.
• Strong writing skills for producing written reports
• Strong software and computer skills (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Bluebeam, etc.).
• Requires a minimum of 2 to 3 days per week of in-office work.

Additional Preferred Qualifications
• Experience using one of the following building performance analysis software:
• OneClick LCA, Athena, EC3, Tally, or other LCA software
• LightStanza, ClimateStudio, or similar daylighting software
• Grasshopper plug-in and associated programs
• Sketchup
• REVIT, BIM360, or similar building information modeling software
• AutoCase
• Active membership in local chapters of ILFI, USGBC, PHIUS, etc.
• AIA / P.E. license.
• Experience with business development.

Personal Qualities, Other Skills/Abilities
• Motivated self-starter and fast learner.
• Ability to work collaboratively in a team environment.
• Ability to communicate novel or complex concepts and related facts in a clear, concise, organized, and convincing manner in any format (e.g. written, oral, presentation).
• Strong critical and innovative thinking skills with a passion for pushing the boundaries of sustainable design.
• Strong time-management skills and experience managing multiple priorities at once.