Senior Sustainability Project Manager

Senior Sustainability Project Manager

At Salas O’Brien we tell our clients that we’re engineered for impact. This passion for making a difference applies just as much to our team as it does to our projects. That’s why we’re committed to living our values every day: inspiring, achieving, and connecting as shared owners of our success with a focus on a sustainable future.

Building for the long-term means that all of our team members can expect to work on amazing projects with a people-first approach to problem solving. It also means that each member of our team has truly limitless potential to build a unique, meaningful, and high-impact career—and they’ll receive great total rewards along the way.

About Us:

Founded in 1975, Salas O’Brien is an employee-owned engineering and professional services firm focused on achieving impact for our clients, our team, and the world. We know that tomorrow’s requirements are today’s opportunities, and we are here to design lasting solutions for pressing challenges.

We work across a variety of industries providing integrated engineering and consulting services. Our specialized experience includes design for data centers, healthcare, science and technology, high-rise buildings, clean energy, education, and other building types as well as structural and building sciences, infrastructure asset management, advanced robotics, and more.

Our technical expertise is paired with an exceptional team of business development, human resources, finance and accounting, information technology, and marketing professionals, all of whom play a key role in bringing our commitments to life every day.

Job Summary: We pride ourselves on being a pioneer for sustainability in the built environment. Sustainability is in our DNA– it’s the right thing to do for future generations and the legacy we leave behind. We maintain the front-line of sustainability, spreading the word globally and investing locally. We are a JUST Label company with a focus on social equity in how we operate our business, as well as the health and well-being of our employees through our LEED, WELL, Fitwel, Living Building Challenge, and Just. certifications.

Industry pioneers to our core, we push the boundaries by walking many clients through their own firsts. Our services remain flexible to meet the growing demand for a sustainable, healthier future. Our team strives to create a global impact surrounding green initiatives and maintains a company culture that reflects this. We celebrate diversity, inclusion, and equity and have recruited top talent from all over the globe. With office flexibility and a work-life balance, we accommodate individual preferences, believing that freedom, respect, and creativity lead to happiness and prosperity.

We are seeking a full-time Senior Sustainability Project Manager to serve as a senior member of our Consulting Department, taking on a Manager-level role similar to our existing department leadership. This position requires a seasoned professional who can independently manage a portfolio of projects, lead and mentor a small team of Specialists, and actively contribute to business development. The ideal candidate brings deep technical expertise across multiple sustainability rating systems and is confident engaging clients, speaking to audiences, and representing our firm in the marketplace. We are looking for a driven, detail-oriented leader to join our growing company, ideally based in Atlanta, Georgia.

Responsibilities:

Essential Functions:

• Serve as Project Manager on a portfolio of projects pursuing third-party sustainability certifications, guiding teams through the full certification process from Strategic Development through Certification Award and, where applicable, Recertification
• Complete all necessary forms, annotations, and documentation required to demonstrate fulfillment of rating system requirements (Note: EGI Project Managers complete all documentation requirements for certifications, apart from a few engineering-related calculations. This candidate must have direct experience documenting compliance with rating systems.)
• Perform in-depth technical review and analysis of building design, construction, and operations for compliance with sustainability rating systems, delivering work on time and at a high quality standard
• Perform quality control (QC) and quality assurance (QA) review of work completed by other Specialists
• Lead and mentor a small group of Specialists, including reviewing project health, scheduling work, supporting career development, and conducting annual evaluations
• Demonstrate a genuine commitment to mentoring developing professionals on project management skills, best practices, and professional growth — fostering the next generation of Project Managers within the Consulting Department
• Train new employees and new Project Managers in consulting-related work, certification processes, and documentation requirements
• Work closely with Senior Managers and Managers across the Certifications, Consulting, Development, and ESG practices to balance workloads and ensure project delivery
• Work closely with the Energy Modeling, Decarbonization, Performance Testing, and Commissioning teams as projects require
• Actively participate in Business Development activities, including conference appearances, speaking engagements, networking events, written marketing content, and acquiring new clients
• Educate and engage the marketplace through written, verbal, and in-person communication with project teams and owners
• Contribute to the continued development and technical growth of fellow Specialists through collaborative teamwork
• Opportunity to work with ESG-related forms, calculations, and documentation for clients seeking third-party verification
• Participate in the Social or Wellness Committee for the Atlanta Office

Metrics for Success

Project Performance

• Meet individual and team project production metrics (budget, quality, proficiency, efficiency, and timeliness)
• Achieve customer service satisfaction consistent with department goals
• Maintain a high standard of documentation quality and certification outcomes across a managed portfolio of projects

People Management & Leadership

• Progress toward and ultimately achieve a Manager-level role overseeing a small group of 3–8 developing professionals within the Consulting Department
• Complete people management training and demonstrate growing proficiency in team scheduling, workload balancing, performance evaluation, and career development support
• Actively contribute to the retention and professional growth of direct reports through consistent mentorship and constructive feedback

Business Development

• Participate in a defined number of business development activities annually, including conferences, speaking engagements, and networking events
• Contribute to new client acquisition efforts and support proposal development
• Build and maintain a visible presence in the sustainability marketplace on behalf of Epsten Group
• Support growth of the Consulting Department's client base and revenue in collaboration with Senior Managers

Professional Growth

• Demonstrate advancement of both technical expertise and leadership competencies over time
• Pursue and maintain relevant professional accreditations across sustainability rating systems

Qualifications and Experience:

Education and Training Requirements/Preferences:

• Bachelor's degree or higher in a field related to one or more of the following: Architecture (architecture, construction, landscape architecture, interior design), Engineering (mechanical, civil, structural), Policy, or Environmental Studies
• Relevant professional training may be accepted in lieu of a formal degree
• LEED AP with Specialty required
• Professional accreditation in one or more additional rating systems strongly preferred: SITES AP, Fitwel Ambassador, LFA (Living Future Accreditation), TRUE Advisor, or Parksmart Advisor
• Bi-lingual fluency in Portuguese, Spanish, French, or German a plus

Other Required Skills and Qualifications:

• 5–10 years of direct project management experience in sustainability consulting or a closely related field required
• Demonstrated experience managing projects across multiple sustainability frameworks, including a strong working knowledge of LEED, WELL, SITES, Fitwel, Green Globes, Guiding Principles, Parksmart, and/or Living Building Challenge
• Proven track record of guiding project teams through full certification cycles, from Strategic Development through Certification Award
• Experience managing or mentoring a small team of professionals a plus
• Ability to read, understand, and interpret building floor plans, sections, site plans, construction specifications, mechanical schedules, commissioning reports, and operational policies required
• Detailed technical understanding of one or more building operations topics: common construction methods, materials specification, fenestration, HVAC systems, plumbing systems, electrical systems, landscape design, master planning, land use, zoning, or urban development preferred

Location: Atlanta, Georgia preferred; hybrid office/remote schedule available 

Travel: Minimal

Benefits:

This role is eligible for performance-based bonuses and a comprehensive U.S. based benefits package, including:

• Medical, dental, and vision insurance
• 401(k) with company match
• Paid time off and company holidays
• Wellness programs and employee assistance resources
• Professional development support

For more information, visit our full benefits overview here.

Equal Opportunity Employment Statement

Salas O’Brien provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, colour, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state/provincial, or local laws. Salas O’Brien will accommodate the disability-related needs of applicants as required by law.

Qualifications Education Required Bachelors or better. Experience Required 5–10 years of direct project management experience in sustainability consulting or a closely related field required Equal Opportunity Employer/Protected Veterans/Individuals with Disabilities
This employer is required to notify all applicants of their rights pursuant to federal employment laws. For further information, please review the Know Your Rights notice from the Department of Labor.