Director of Strategic Energy Programs

MARYLAND ENERGY ADVISORS•Baltimore, MD

15h•Hybrid

About The Position

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.

Requirements

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
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

Nice To Haves

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

Responsibilities

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
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
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
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
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