Energy Project Manager - Community Resilience & Electrification

About EcoWorks

EcoWorks is a Detroit-based environmental justice nonprofit working at the intersection of climate, community resilience, and equitable electrification. We partner with neighborhoods, houses of worship, food pantries, community centers, and mission-driven organizations to reduce energy burden, improve building performance, and build resilience in the communities most impacted by climate change.

Our work includes:

• Developing and supporting Community Resilience Hubs across Detroit and Southeast Michigan
• Advancing residential and small-commercial decarbonization in low-income and BIPOC communities
• Managing solar, battery storage, electrification, and energy-efficiency upgrades for community-serving spaces
• Providing technical assistance, project management, and community education to help organizations shape and own their clean energy future

If you’re looking to use your project management skills to advance real climate justice and community resilience, this role is a strong fit.

Your Role

EcoWorks is seeking an Energy Project Manager who can move clean energy, efficiency, and resilience projects from concept to completion with strong planning skills, clear communication, and a community-centered mindset.

You’ll help manage and implement projects such as resilience hubs, solar + storage systems, energy audits, electrification pilots, building upgrades, and other decarbonization initiatives. You will work closely with internal staff, contractors, engineers, and community partners to deliver high-impact, equity-driven projects that reduce energy burden and strengthen neighborhood resilience.

Key Responsibilities

Project Planning & Execution

• Lead project scoping, scheduling, and implementation for: Community Resilience Hubs, energy efficiency and building electrification upgrades, Solar PV and battery storage projects, and climate resilience and decarbonization pilots.
• Develop and maintain detailed project schedules (Gantt charts or similar tools) across multiple active sites
• Adjust project timelines based on input from engineers, permitting authorities, utility partners, and construction teams
• Oversee contractor coordination across multiple projects, including solar installers, HVAC and mechanical contractors, electricians, weatherization teams, energy auditors, or other technical vendors
• Ensure alignment between scopes of work, construction schedules, and community needs
• Coordinate permitting, interconnection, and compliance steps across all project sites

 

Partner Collaboration & Coordination

• Serve as the primary liaison between EcoWorks, engineering firms, contractors, community organizations, and key stakeholders
• Manage relationships with contractors across multiple projects, ensuring clarity of deliverables, timelines, quality expectations, and communication pathways
• Facilitate weekly or bi-weekly project check-ins with contractors, EPC partners, hub teams, and EcoWorks staff
• Support communication and engagement with congregations, nonprofits, neighborhood groups, and other community-based partners
• Consolidate updates into clear, concise internal and external status reports (board, funders, partners)

 

Tracking, Documentation, & Reporting

• Track project budgets, milestones, timelines, KPIs, and deliverables
• Maintain real-time documentation and follow up on action items and task assignments
• Support accurate and timely reporting for grant-funded projects, including progress summaries, compliance documentation, and performance metrics
• Document lessons learned to support continuous improvement and strengthen EcoWorks’ project delivery model

Proactive Problem-Solving & Risk Management

• Identify risks related to project scope, schedule, contractor performance, permitting, and community alignment
• Flag misalignments early and work with technical partners to resolve issues before they impact timeline or budget
• Provide structured feedback on engineering deliverables, contractor proposals, and construction schedules (with support from EcoWorks’ technical staff as needed)
• Help refine internal processes, templates, and workflows to improve efficiency and consistency across projects

Pilot Implementation & Scalability

• Support launch and refinement of pilot programs for community resilience, electrification, and building decarbonization
• Participate in knowledge-management efforts to improve documentation and build a replicable model
• Contribute to long-term strategies for expanding resilience hub work and equitable electrification
• Other duties as assigned

Qualifications

Required

• 3–6 years of experience in project management, preferably involving: Clean energy, construction, electrification, or energy-efficiency projects; Managing multiple contractors or technical vendors at once; Community-facing infrastructure or building projects
• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Environmental Science, Urban Planning, Construction Management or equivalent relevant experience
• Strong organizational, communication, and stakeholder management skills
• Experience working in or alongside historically marginalized communities, with a strong commitment to equitable engagement
• Ability to manage multiple projects, deadlines, and contractors simultaneously
• Proficiency in project management tools (Smartsheet, Asana, MS Project, or similar)

Preferred

• Experience coordinating solar installers, HVAC/mechanical teams, electrical contractors, energy auditors, or similar technical trades
• Familiarity with grant-funded or publicly funded infrastructure projects
• Experience working with houses of worship or community-based institutions
• Understanding of incentives, rebates, financing, or tax-credit–related project structures
• PMP certification or similar credential

Personal Attributes 

• Strong community empathy and relationship-centered approach
• Able to balance technical detail with mission-driven purpose
• Comfortable navigating shifting priorities and evolving scopes
• Proactive, reliable, and solutions-oriented
• Values collaboration, transparency, and shared learning

 

Compensation & Benefits

EcoWorks offers a competitive salary commensurate with experience and a comprehensive benefits package. Details will be provided during the interview process.

At the time of application please send a copy of your current resume and a cover letter that details the following information:

1. Shares why EcoWorks’ mission and community-driven clean energy work resonates with you

2. Describes a project you’ve managed and how you contributed to its success