Sustainability Data Optimization Manager

JLL•San Jose, CA

1d•Onsite

About The Position

JLL empowers you to shape a brighter way. Our people at JLL are shaping the future of real estate for a better world by combining world class services, advisory and technology for our clients. We are committed to hiring the best, most talented people and empowering them to thrive, grow meaningful careers and to find a place where they belong. Whether you’ve got deep experience in commercial real estate, skilled trades or technology, or you’re looking to apply your relevant experience to a new industry, join our team as we help shape a brighter way forward. At JLL, we are driving sustainability through everything that we do, across all service lines and job positions. Specifically, we are growing our Sustainability practice to drive end-to-end sustainability solutions in real estate data optimization. The Sustainability Data Optimization Manager serves as the organization's central authority for utility cost management, consumption data governance, and sustainability reporting integrity. This role is accountable for the timely and accurate payment of utility invoices across the United States and Canada, the collection and integration of global utility cost and consumption data into enterprise systems, and the execution of a rigorous client-facing data verification process. The position bridges the disciplines of energy management, financial operations, and data integration, making it a critical enabler of both operational efficiency and corporate sustainability goals. The ideal candidate brings a combination of certified energy management expertise, accounts payable process knowledge, and proficiency in data integration tools and platforms. This individual will collaborate daily with Finance, Sustainability, Facilities, IT, and external clients to ensure that energy and utility data are accurate, timely, audit-ready, and actionable.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree required in Energy Management, Environmental Science, Engineering, Accounting, Finance, Sustainability, or a closely related field.
5+ years of progressive experience in energy management, utility data management, sustainability reporting, or a closely related role.
Demonstrated experience managing utility bill payment processes and/or accounts payable workflows in a multi-site, corporate environment.
Hands-on experience with utility bill management or energy management software platforms (e.g., ExpenseSmart, SAP, Ariba, EnVizi or equivalent).
Experience developing or managing data integrations between energy management systems and enterprise platforms (ERP, BI tools, or sustainability platforms).
Experience with client-facing data verification, audit support, or assurance processes related to sustainability or financial data.
Proficiency in Microsoft Excel (advanced), Power BI, or other data analysis and visualization tools.
Candidates must be authorized to work in the United States without sponsorship.
Utility rate analysis & tariff interpretation
Energy management software administration
GHG Protocol Scope 1, 2, & 3 accounting
Data integration & ETL pipeline management
Advanced Excel, Power BI, or Tableau
Accounts payable workflow & GL coding
Variance analysis & financial reporting
Client relationship & stakeholder management
Cross-functional collaboration (Finance, IT, Ops)
Strong written & verbal communication
Attention to detail & data accuracy discipline
Problem-solving & root cause analysis
Project & process management
Ability to manage multiple priorities globally
Continuous improvement mindset
Experience with, or demonstrated ability to quickly learn, Utility Bill Management systems: ExpenseSmart, SAP, Ariba, EnVizi or equivalent
Experience with, or demonstrated ability to quickly learn, ERP / Accounts Payable systems: SAP, Oracle, Microsoft Dynamics, or equivalent
Experience with, or demonstrated ability to quickly learn, Data Visualization systems: Power BI, Tableau, or similar BI platforms
Experience with, or demonstrated ability to quickly learn, Productivity & Collaboration systems: Microsoft 365 (Excel, SharePoint, Teams), Box

Nice To Haves

Master's degree in a related discipline is a plus.
Experience supporting utility bill management across both the United States and Canada.
Familiarity with US and Canadian utility market structures, provincial rate regulations, and energy reporting requirements.
Experience with ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager administration, including API data integrations and municipal benchmarking submissions.
Background in corporate real estate, facility management, or outsourced energy/sustainability services.
Knowledge of ESG and sustainability reporting frameworks: CDP, GRI, TCFD, ISSB, CSRD, GRESB.
Experience with ETL pipeline development, SQL, or scripting languages (Python, R) for data management.
Experience with GHG accounting frameworks (GHG Protocol Scope 1, 2, and 3), including preparation of emissions inventories and regulatory or voluntary disclosures.
Certified Energy Manager (CEM) — AEE
LEED AP or Green Associate — USGBC
Certified Sustainability Professional (CSP)
Project Management Professional (PMP)

Responsibilities

Oversee the end-to-end utility invoice payment process through client’s payment systems for all US and Canadian accounts, ensuring accurate coding, timely payment, and elimination of late fees.
Review and audit all assigned utility invoices (electricity, natural gas, water/sewer, steam, and other commodities) against applicable rates, tariffs, and contracted terms.
Serve as the primary liaison between the Energy & Sustainability team and client Accounts Payable (AP) and Procurement teams to facilitate seamless invoice approval workflows and general ledger coding.
Identify and resolve billing discrepancies, duplicate charges, rate misapplications, and missing invoices in collaboration with utility vendors.
Maintain complete, accurate vendor account records and ensure that account transfers, new accounts, and disconnections are reflected promptly in bill management systems.
Monitor and manage utility payment exceptions; escalate unresolved issues and track resolution to closure.
Support the development and maintenance of utility payment procedures, internal controls, and compliance documentation aligned with AP policy.
Lead the collection, validation, and centralized management of utility cost and consumption data (examples include: electricity, natural gas, water, fuel, steam, and waste) across the client’s portfolio.
Administer and optimize the enterprise utility bill management platform (e.g., SmartExpense, SAP/Ariba, or equivalent), ensuring data completeness, integrity, and timeliness across all regions.
Establish and enforce standardized data quality protocols, including unit normalization, currency conversion, time-period alignment, and standard data entry processes.
Develop and maintain automated data pipelines and integration frameworks that facilitate the timely ingestion of utility data from multiple sources — including electronic data interchange (EDI), utility portals, manual entry, and third-party providers.
Coordinate with regional energy managers, facility teams, and country-level contacts to obtain missing data, resolve gaps, and ensure global data coverage.
Maintain and manage accounts within EnVizi and other benchmarking platforms, ensuring data is current and accurate for performance benchmarking and regulatory reporting.
Prepare monthly, quarterly, and annual utility cost and consumption reports with variance analysis and commentary for senior leadership, finance, and client stakeholders.
Support the development and tracking of energy budgets, accruals, and forecasts by providing accurate historical consumption and cost data.
Lead the client’s quarterly and annual data verification process for assigned portfolio location.
Design, implement, and manage integrations between the utility bill management platform and enterprise systems including ERP/financial systems (e.g., SAP, Ariba), sustainability reporting platforms, and BI/visualization tools (e.g., EnVizi, Power BI, Tableau).
Collaborate with IT and third-party software vendors to develop API connections, ETL pipelines, and automated data flows that reduce manual entry and improve data reliability.
Troubleshoot and resolve data integration issues, platform errors, and feed failures; maintain integration documentation and version control.
Evaluate and recommend new technologies, platforms, and tools to enhance data integration capabilities and reporting efficiency.
Support the rollout and adoption of new data management capabilities, including training internal staff and client teams on platform use and data processes.
Execute and continuously improve the client-facing data verification process, ensuring that all reported utility cost, consumption, and emissions data are accurate, complete, traceable, and audit-ready.
Serve as the primary point of contact for external assurance providers, auditors, and client representatives during data verification and assurance engagements.
Prepare documentation, source data evidence, audit trails, and data dictionaries required for limited or reasonable assurance reviews.
Investigate and communicate significant data variances to clients, providing root cause analysis and corrective action recommendations.
Develop and maintain standardized data verification templates, checklists, and procedures to ensure consistency across the global portfolio.
Respond to client inquiries regarding data methodology, platform outputs, and sustainability reporting, translating technical findings into clear, non-technical summaries.