Join Our Team
Join the High Sierra Energy Foundation in advancing practical, community-focused solutions for a more sustainable and resilient Eastern Sierra, Central Valley, and Central Coast. Explore our current employment opportunities below and learn more about each position, qualifications, and how to apply.
PROGRAM MANAGER
California Energy Codes & Standards
High Sierra Energy Foundation
Help California Communities Build Better
California’s Energy Code is only as effective as its implementation. Local building departments are responsible for making sure projects meet the code, but many rural jurisdictions have limited staff capacity and lack access to timely, specialized energy code expertise. The Central California Rural Regional Energy Network’s Codes & Standards Program helps fill that gap.
As the Codes & Standards Program Manager, you will lead the program from strategy through implementation and reporting. In partnership with industry experts, you’ll deliver relevant training and technical assistance across 96 jurisdictions in the Central Coast, Central Valley, and Eastern Sierra.
Why This Role
Autonomy and ownership. As a leader of this program, you’ll have ownership over its success and will guide the program strategy, manage budgets and partners, oversee training activities, and define effective outreach. You’ll manage your time and approach to the work while also working with a team to ensure success.
Meaningful impact. Better code compliance means lower bills, healthier buildings, and less energy waste in communities that usually get overlooked. You’ll help building professionals in these communities get the support and training they need to implement the Energy Code and CALGreen effectively.
Technical work with a people side. You’ll need to understand the Energy Code and building science, but just as important is building relationships, communicating well, and helping people see the Energy Code as a tool for building better buildings rather than simply a box to check.
Statewide reach. You will support engagement with the California Energy Commission and the California Public Utilities Commission and other stakeholders. These opportunities provide a voice at the state level and the chance to bring the perspective of rural communities directly to the decision-makers shaping California’s building policies.
About the Organizations
The Central California Rural Regional Energy Network (CCR REN) supports an equitable and affordable clean energy transition across underserved communities in 14 counties spanning the Central Coast, Central Valley, and Eastern Sierra, through trusted partnerships and regional collaboration. CCR REN is administered by the County of San Luis Obispo. High Sierra Energy Foundation (HSEF) is a CCR REN partner organization and serves as the program lead for the Codes & Standards (C&S) Program. This position is employed by HSEF.
The C&S Program works with approximately 96 authorities having jurisdiction, local governments, and building professionals to improve implementation, compliance, and enforcement of California's Title 24 Energy Code and CALGreen. The program fills the gaps left by utility and statewide offerings with locally focused support: targeted training and continuing education, personalized code coaching, technical resources, and policy support.
What You Will Do
Lead the CCR REN Codes & Standards Program from planning and strategy through implementation, budget management, performance tracking, and reporting.
Work directly with local building departments across the CCR REN region to understand their needs and strengthen energy code and CALGreen implementation.
Shape and deliver training and technical assistance by working with staff, training partners, and industry experts to develop practical resources for building professionals.
Build strong regional relationships with building officials, planners, contractors, designers, local governments, state agencies, utilities, and other partners.
Lead quarterly Codes & Standards Forums and other regional workshops, trainings, and activities.
Represent CCR REN at the state level, supporting engagement with policy and regulatory stakeholders.
Manage consultants, contractors, and partner staff to ensure projects are well coordinated and deliverables are completed on time.
Monitor changes to energy codes, building standards, and related policy and help translate those changes into useful guidance for local building professionals.
Communicate complex technical information clearly through presentations, written resources, digital content, and other outreach.
Work with the Marketing team to successfully promote the program to expand uptake of program resources.
A full job description with the complete list of responsibilities is available on request.
What You Bring
Required:
A bachelor's degree in planning, civil engineering, energy, environmental science, sustainability, business or public administration, or a related field, and five years of progressively responsible experience managing programs or projects in energy, sustainability, local government, building performance, codes and standards, or public administration. Equivalent combinations of education, training, and experience will be considered.
Working knowledge of the CA Energy Code, CALGreen, and related energy efficiency & building standards.
Understanding of how state and local code adoption, implementation, and enforcement work, and how local government makes decisions.
Experience managing budgets, contracts, consultants, and program performance.
Excellent written and verbal communication, facilitation, and presentation skills, including the ability to make technical material clear to non-technical audiences.
Comfort working independently, managing multiple priorities, and adapting as regulations, funding, and community needs shift.
Proficiency with Microsoft Office and standard business technology.
Nice to have:
• Supervisory or staff management experience
• Certification in building science principles or energy code compliance
• Code inspection or enforcement experience
• Spanish language skills
Compensation and Benefits
$95,000 to $120,000 annually, depending on experience and location.
HSEF offers a competitive benefits package, including health, dental, and vision insurance. This is a remote position with regular travel to jurisdictions across the CCR REN service area.
The Details
Employment type: Full-time, exempt.
Location: Remote. Candidates must live in one of CCR REN's Central Valley counties: Fresno, Kern, Kings, Madera, Merced, San Joaquin, Stanislaus, or Tulare.
Travel: This position requires regular in-person travel to jurisdictions across the Central Valley and occasional travel to any of the 13 counties in the CCR REN C&S territory. The amount of travel will vary depending on the employee’s location. Reliable transportation to these locations is required, and the position is expected to involve driving.
Term: This position is funded through December 31, 2027, with the possibility of extension based on continued funding approval from the CPUC. Employment is at-will, and the December 31, 2027 date reflects the current funding period rather than a guarantee of employment through that date.
Posting date: September 15, 2026.
Apply before: Position open until filled.
How to Apply
Please send a cover letter and resume or questions to info@highsierraenergy.org. If you don’t meet every qualification listed above but feel your experience is a strong match for the work, we’d still like to hear from you. Tell us how your experience connects to the role.
Equal Employment Opportunity
High Sierra Energy Foundation is an equal opportunity employer. We consider all qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, ancestry, age, disability, medical condition, genetic information, marital status, military or veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local law.
This is a dynamic position. Duties and responsibilities may change or be added at any time in response to HSEF and CCR REN priorities, regulatory and funding requirements, participating jurisdiction needs, and the communities served by the program. This posting describes the general nature of the work and is not an exhaustive list of all responsibilities.