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Whether you’ve decided to hire an energy manager or are still looking for ideal energy management solutions for your company, you’ll want to know what an energy manager job description looks likes.

The U.S. government’s Energy Star program is among the leading sources on the implementation of energy management. 

For the uninitiated, energy terms can get confusing quickly. When your goal is to get a handle on your company’s energy use that can make it tricky to get started.

If your organization is ready to get serious about energy management, you may immediately leap to the idea of hiring a full-time energy manager or an energy consultant. But would you even know where to start?

What should an  energy manager know, and what skills do they need to be successful?

The Ideal Energy Manager…

...has a strong educational foundation

No one has a degree in strategic energy management specifically, but the ideal energy manager should have a strong educational background nonetheless. A bachelor’s degree is the minimum, but an MBA or other graduate degree is even better. A strong foundation is not only an indication of what this energy manager knows but also of the fact that they are open to new ideas and ultimately good at learning.

...has credentials

Energy management credentials are another good indicator of how invested an energy manager is in his job. Some of the most common energy management credentials are:

• Certified Energy Manager from Association of Energy Engineers
• Certified Energy Procurement Professional
• Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design Accredited Professional (LEED AP) from the Green Building Council Institute

An ideal energy manager needn’t have all these credentials, but at least one shows a dedication to continuing education.

...is a confident leader

Even when an energy manager is brought in as an outside consultant, it is critical that she be able to take charge of a team. Strategic energy management services cannot be delivered by one person alone. Rather, an energy manager should be able to lead energy management projects while also partnering with existing executive leadership to execute a comprehensive, and effective, strategy.

...has an analytical mind

Analysis is another critical piece of the energy management puzzle. Indeed, as soon as an organization engages with an energy manager, analysis will begin on current levels of energy use and where immediate efficiency improvements are possible. An ideal energy manager needs to be able to take raw data and make sense of it, then present it effectively to organizational stakeholders.

...is a visionary

Some might argue that an analytical mind is antithetical to being a visionary but the fact is that an ideal energy manager must play both of these roles. We are growing in our understanding of energy management each day, and an energy manager must be able to look forward to new technologies, suggest unique solutions and employ creative thinking to leverage all aspects of energy for the company.

...is in high demand

There is currently far more need for energy managers than there are ideal energy manager candidates. This high demand means not only that it is difficult to find people to fill this specialized role, but that when companies can find them, they come with a steep price tag attached. In too many instances, this means that companies eschew hiring a qualified energy manager, instead investing in other areas of their business.

Finding an ideal energy manager is no easy task. Fortunately, hiring one of these highly educated, experienced, credentialed professionals is no longer the only path towards effective energy management. An energy platform like Correlate’s can offer the same level of savings and strategic direction at a fraction of the cost. In fact, your initial engagement is completely free.


For a downloadable, easy to review version of the ideal energy manager job description, click here.

Ready to talk energy management with your CFO? Download our free eBook below.

Whether your company is brand new to strategic energy management or you want to build up your program even further, you cannot go it alone.

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If you’re even attempting to develop a comprehensive energy plan for your company, you’re ahead of the curve.

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This is the third in a series of posts from guest contributor George Belich with a focus on Progressive Energy Management. Today’s topic is the “Low Hanging Fruit” of energy saving programs and we welcome your input. George is  President of Energy ISA LLC and has 35 years of experience in the energy industry.