Senior Sustainability Project Manager

Salas O'Brien•Atlanta, GA

3d•Hybrid

About The Position

Salas O’Brien is 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.

Requirements

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
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
Ability to read, understand, and interpret building floor plans, sections, site plans, construction specifications, mechanical schedules, commissioning reports, and operational policies required

Nice To Haves

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
Experience managing or mentoring a small team of professionals a plus
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

Responsibilities

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