Senior Product Segment Manager

About NEEA

The Northwest Energy Efficiency Alliance (NEEA) is an alliance of more than 140 electric and natural gas utilities and energy efficiency organizations working on behalf of Northwest energy consumers to increase the adoption of energy-efficient products services and practices. Since 1997, the region has achieved the equivalent to enough energy to power more than 700,000 Northwest homes each year.

The alliance is powered by harnessing the energy, brainpower, and innovative thinking of motivated professionals like you. NEEA places a high value on diversity, and welcomes individuals from all backgrounds, identities and fields of expertise, with or without previous experience in the energy industry. Are you talented, committed, and motivated? If the answer is yes, we encourage you to apply to help us create a vibrant future for all Northwest communities.

Follow this link to our website and learn more about the organization.

This position is based in the Portland, OR metro area, with a hybrid work location. We are looking for candidates who can meet the requirement of working at least 2 days per week onsite at NEEA’s office location. Finalists must have eligibility to work in the US as NEEA is not able to provide VISA sponsorship or have remote work outside of the US.

Position Summary

The Senior Product Segment Manager - Commercial Buildings contributes to NEEA’s strategic goal of filling the program “pipeline” with new resource efficient products, practices, and services in collaboration with both internal and external stakeholders. This position requires effective planning for the evolution of products through the full lifecycle stages of identification, assessment, confirmation and product readiness for deployment in a full-scale market transformation effort. Working across a wide range of products that use electric power and / or natural gas requires Senior Product Managers to contract with testing labs, industry experts, engineering firms, and other market partners to support the full range of analysis and testing of products.

NEEA’s product management team serves as product experts on assigned product lines, as well as conducting research on emerging technologies and practices that could bring energy and carbon savings and/or grid flexibility benefits for Northwest consumers. They partner closely with NEEA’s Market Transformation Managers and Program Managers and work in cross-functional teams as a key contributor to new and existing Market Transformation Initiatives.

This role will have a focus on a new Commercial Whole Building Efficiency project aimed at motivating and equipping the commercial building sector to undertake deep energy efficiency and decarbonization retrofits. Working with regional stakeholders, the project will deliver tools and resources that address known barriers to commercial sector engagement and develop a new commercial whole building market transformation program.

The Senior Product Segment Manager will share our deep commitment to diversity and inclusion and advancing practices, strategies and policies that achieve equitable outcomes for all.

Salary range: $115,000 - $130,000, exempt

• Salary is based on the applicant's experience, knowledge, skills, and abilities.

The Typical Day May Include…

• Scanning: Scan the market, at a national level, for new innovative products, practices or services that support energy efficiency, grid flexibility, and/or decarbonization; and screen those opportunities for inclusion and prioritization within NEEA’s portfolio of emerging technologies.
  • Routinely scan industry publications
  • Track industry and technology trends
  • Share industry and technology data with team
• Product Definition and Management: Define the product plan for each assigned product/service/practice, evolving and maintaining this plan throughout the product lifecycle. Become a subject matter expert on the product, providing ongoing guidance and support to Market Transformation Managers, Program Managers, external contractors and other involved parties to ensure consistency in definition and implementation of market transformation objectives.
• Product Testing: Design and develop appropriate measurement and verification approaches that demonstrate products’ energy performance and fitness for use. Support Codes and Standards Engineers in recommending test method changes for state and federal standards development. Identify product performance and attributes that impact market transformation goals.
• Voluntary Product Standards: Coordinate with state, national and international organizations involved in voluntary standards to update test methods and performance specifications to promote products with greater efficiency and fitness for use.
• Market Transformation Strategy and Design: Become a key resource in developing market strategies and the design of full-scale market transformation efforts in collaboration with regional stakeholders under management by the Market Transformation Manager and Program Manager. Includes supporting development of product group strategy, theory of market transformation, logic model, market test plan, and other plans as needed.
• Market Engagement: Build and maintain relationships with manufacturers and other market actors to ensure that product development efforts are connected to appropriate market channels to deliver the technologies to the market.
• Utility Engagement: Build and maintain relationships with utilities - especially staff involved in emerging technologies to ensure that product development and market transformation efforts are complimentary, coordinated, and understood and valued by our utility partners.
• Internal Relationships and Teamwork: Build and maintain positive and productive relationships within NEEA and in particular with the program teams, collaborating and constructively contributing to team settings. Create a shared sense of purpose; thinking and acting as a team leader and involving the team to ensure buy-in for future execution.
• Contracting and Planning: Manage contracts and contractor work for testing, pilots and in-field product demonstrations, including creating RFPs, managing contractors, and handling crises that may arise as a result of new technology failures.
• Performance: Regularly review product and program performance to NEEA’s value delivery goals.

What Are You Good At?

A top performer in this position is someone who possesses a deep understanding of market dynamics, adeptly identifying market needs and leveraging points to drive strategic initiatives. They excel in developing and nurturing long-lasting business relationships, fostering trust and collaboration. In highly ambiguous circumstances, they co-create inspiring and clear visions, guiding teams with confidence. Their proficiency spans both technological and financial domains, enabling them to evaluate products, practices, and services comprehensively. They are exceptional communicators and collaborators, sharing knowledge and supporting the generation of innovative solutions to complex problems.

As subject matter experts, they conduct thorough research on emerging technologies, practices, and services, staying ahead of industry trends. They have a keen eye for recognizing market barriers and transforming them into opportunities, while adeptly predicting and tracking product lifecycles. By applying science, engineering, and business principles, they ensure products meet performance claims and evaluate their potential for the region.

Your Experience, Education, and Skills:

• BA or BS degree in Architecture, Engineering, Business or related field required.
• 7+ years of experience with increasing responsibility, preferably in commercial building science, new product development/introduction, and/or strategic product market management required.
• Prefer experience in product or service strategy development, including an understanding of market assessment, short and long-range forecasting, risk-assessment and management strategy
• Demonstrated complex project management experience required.
• Demonstrated experience with team leadership and facilitation required.
• Knowledge of commercial building energy efficiency, carbon reduction, and/or capital improvement financing preferred.
• Knowledgeable about business models, drivers, and trends. Exhibits natural and intuitive user empathy for how products will deliver value.
• Understands and familiar with new technology assessment; comfortable with acquiring appropriate understanding of complex technical and financial products.
• Understands how to identify and resolve complex problems, including skillful gathering, synthesis and analysis of complex or diverse information. Works well in group problem solving situations.
• Solid understanding of business processes in a matrixed organization.
• Possesses exceptional communication skills with the ability to speak and write clearly and persuasively in positive or negative situations. Listens and gets clarification and responds well to questions.
• An equivalent combination of education, experience and training that would provide the knowledge, skills and abilities required for the successful performance of the essential job duties will also be considered.

Highlights of NEEA’s Benefits:

• 90% of medical/dental premiums paid by NEEA, including for dependents
• Employer funded Health Savings Account
• 136 hours of PTO/year
• Automatic 6% retirement contribution with an additional 2% matching
• Flexible work environment, including hybrid work location and 9/80 schedule options
• Professional development opportunities

NEEA is an Equal Opportunity Employer