How to apply for Senior Specialist, Building Science & Analysis

About Institute for Market Transformation

The Institute for Market Transformation (IMT) is a national 501(c)(3) nonprofit on a mission to equitably decarbonize buildings this decade, working at the intersection of policy, market transformation, and community impact. Unlike many environmental nonprofits, IMT partners directly with local governments, utilities, and building owners to turn ambitious climate goals into practical, implementable solutions. Employees are drawn to IMT's collaborative, mission-driven culture, fully remote setup, and the chance to shape building performance policy at scale.

About the role

As the Senior Specialist, Building Science & Analysis, you will be the technical lead on building science, energy performance, and analytical methods that underpin IMT's policy, utility, and market-facing work. You'll conduct research on retrofit strategies, energy and cost impacts, and technical feasibility, then translate complex findings into actionable recommendations for governments, building owners, and advocates. This role directly influences how cities and states design building performance standards, making it a high-impact position for someone who wants to bridge technical analysis and real-world decarbonization policy.

A typical day

A typical day might involve analyzing building energy data to assess retrofit impacts for a city's performance standard, drafting a technical memo summarizing findings for policymakers, and meeting with internal teams to align on project goals. You might also consult with external partners, review emerging research, or contribute to a proposal for a new utility program—all while managing your schedule in a flexible, remote environment.

Who Institute for Market Transformation is looking for

• 5+ years of experience in building science, energy modeling, or building performance analysis, with a strong grasp of retrofit strategies and energy/cost impact assessment.
• Proven ability to translate technical data into clear, practical guidance for non-technical audiences such as policymakers, advocates, and building owners.
• Familiarity with building performance standards, benchmarking, or utility program design, ideally gained in a policy, nonprofit, or consulting environment.
• Self-directed and collaborative, comfortable working remotely across teams and occasionally traveling to engage with partners and stakeholders.

Tips for this application

• Highlight specific projects where you conducted building energy analysis or retrofit feasibility studies and explain how those findings influenced policy or program decisions.
• Demonstrate familiarity with IMT's flagship initiatives like the Building Performance Standards (BPS) framework or the Building Energy Performance Standards (BEPS) toolkit—mention them in your cover letter or resume.
• Quantify your impact: use metrics such as energy savings, cost reductions, or number of buildings/communities affected to show the scale of your work.
• Show you can communicate across technical and non-technical audiences by including examples of reports, presentations, or policy briefs you authored for diverse stakeholders.
• Because IMT is fully remote and mission-driven, emphasize your ability to work independently, manage projects, and collaborate virtually—and express genuine passion for equitable decarbonization.

What to cover in your cover letter

["Your technical expertise in building science and energy analysis, specifically how you've applied it to policy or program development.", 'Experience translating complex technical concepts into actionable recommendations for governments, utilities, or building owners.', "Alignment with IMT's mission of equitable building decarbonization and a demonstrated commitment to equity in your past work.", 'Your ability to lead research and analysis projects independently while contributing to a collaborative, remote team.']

Research before applying

• IMT's Building Performance Standards (BPS) resources and their work with cities like Washington, D.C., New York City, and St. Louis.
• Recent IMT reports, blog posts, or policy briefs on building decarbonization, especially those related to technical analysis or retrofit strategies.
• IMT's partnerships with utilities and local governments, and how their Policy Engagement team fits into the broader organization.
• The backgrounds of the Associate Director of Building Decarbonization and other team members to understand their technical focus and priorities.

Likely interview topics

Based on the job description, expect questions about:

• How you would approach setting building performance targets for a mid-sized city with diverse building stock and equity considerations.
• A time you translated a complex building science analysis into a policy recommendation that was adopted or influenced decision-makers.
• Your experience with energy modeling tools (e.g., EnergyPlus, OpenStudio) and how you ensure analytical rigor in real-world applications.
• How you stay current with emerging building decarbonization technologies and policies, and how you evaluate their feasibility.
• Your approach to collaborating with remote teams and managing multiple projects with competing deadlines.

Common mistakes to avoid

• Submitting a generic resume that doesn't explicitly connect your building science skills to policy or market transformation outcomes.
• Focusing only on technical tools and metrics without demonstrating how your work has influenced decisions or benefited communities.
• Ignoring IMT's equity mission—failing to address how your work would advance equitable decarbonization could signal a poor cultural fit.