Latin American Regional Manager

AHRI • Arlington, VA

1d • $95,000 - $120,000 • Remote

About The Position

The Air-Conditioning, Heating, and Refrigeration Institute (AHRI) is one of the largest trade associations in the nation, representing more than 300 heating, ventilation, air-conditioning (HVAC), water heating, and commercial refrigeration manufacturers from all parts of the world. Ensuring human comfort, productivity, and safety while practicing environmental stewardship is the mission of AHRI. Through our certification program, standards, advocacy, and other activities, we strive to help save energy, improve productivity, and ensure a better environment.

AHRI has an opening for a Latin America Regional Manager. Work location is Remote. Expected travel is 20% (attending expos, conferences, and meetings with regulatory bodies).

The Latin America Regional Manager will spearhead AHRI’s strategic expansion in Latin America (LATAM), driving its mission to elevate industry standards and shift market competition from price to quality. The purpose of this role is to promote and drive the recognition and specification of AHRI certification programs and standards among Latin American manufacturers, consulting engineers, and regulators, helping increase awareness of AHRI’s offerings and the benefits of high-quality, energy-efficient heating, ventilation, air-conditioning, and refrigeration (HVACR) products. Acting as AHRI’s primary representative in LATAM region, the incumbent will implement regional strategies to drive a shift toward quality over cost in the marketplace through the adoption of AHRI’s standards, certification programs, and regulatory compliance tools.

Requirements

• Bachelor of Engineering (BEng or BE) or a Bachelor of Science in Engineering (BSE) in mechanical engineering or its international equivalent.
• Minimum of 5-plus years of professional experience in the HVACR industry, energy efficiency programs, or a related field involving product standards and certification.
• Native-level Spanish fluency is required, with excellent written and spoken communication skills.
• Strong English proficiency is also required for regular interaction with AHRI’s U.S. team and global members.

Nice To Haves

• Experience working with technical standards, certification processes, or energy efficiency compliance is highly desirable.
• Knowledge of Portuguese is a significant plus (to engage with Lusophone stakeholders).

Responsibilities

• Serve as AHRI’s on-the-ground representative in Latin America, managing local engagements with members, certification participants, energy efficiency regulators, and industry stakeholders to reinforce AHRI’s presence and credibility in the region.
• Promote AHRI Certification programs and standards to key regional audiences – including consulting engineers, manufacturers, end users, regulators, media and other industry influencers – with the goal of increasing recognition and specification of AHRI Certified products and shifting the market focus toward quality.
• Build relationships with national and regional regulatory bodies to advocate for the recognition of AHRI standards and certification in energy efficiency regulations. Work to gain official acceptance of AHRI Certified products as compliant with local regulatory energy efficiency requirements, positioning AHRI as a trusted partner in policy compliance.
• Support the implementation of AHRI’s global marketing strategies in LATAM by disseminating AHRI marketing materials and technical information to local audiences. Coordinate with AHRI’s marketing team to localize content and ensure consistent messaging in Spanish (and Portuguese as needed), reinforcing AHRI’s value propositions across the region.
• Organize and coordinate educational webinars, training workshops, and industry events (often in partnership with regional associations like ACAIRE, ABRAVA, ASHRAE, etc.) to highlight the benefits of AHRI standards and certification, and Directory. Develop bilingual training sessions for engineers and regulators on using AHRI tools and ensuring AHRI’s visibility at major trade shows and conferences.
• Build, expand, and maintain a comprehensive database of key contacts in the Latin American HVACR industry. Manage the LATAM email contact list of regulators, manufacturers, engineering firms, and other stakeholders. Regularly update the CRM with new leads and partnerships, and use it to drive targeted outreach (newsletters, updates, invitations) that keep stakeholders engaged.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Manager