Energy Modelling Specialist

Job Responsibility:

The Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM) is the national voice of municipal governments, representing the interests of cities and communities with the federal government.

Position Energy Modelling Specialist Department Growth & Development - Green Municipal Fund Classification Level 6 Salary

Our salaries generally range from $80,500 - $91,500, and are based on qualifications and experience

Languages Bilingual English required, French is an asset Term Permanent Full-Time Location Hybrid (Ottawa) Why GMF is the place for you

At GMF, we empower our people to create change where it has the most impact - municipalities. GMF is a $1.6 billion permanent endowment from the Government of Canada, managed at arm's length, making it nimble and available for higher-risk, higher-impact initiatives. A further $530M investment into GMF to support the National Adaptation Strategy was announced in November 2022. Our team is committed to helping local governments switch to sustainable practices faster. GMF is the cornerstone program of the Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM).

Our unique mix of funding, resources, and training gives municipalities the tools they need to build resiliency — and create better lives for Canadians. Through GMF, municipalities have reduced carbon emissions; built better transportation assets; constructed efficient and resilient buildings; diverted waste from landfill; made previously unusable land available for development; and improved soil and water quality.

You in this role

As an active member of the Impact and Verification team, the Energy Modelling Specialist validates the energy performance of proposed pilots and capital projects and verifies and supports the ongoing performance of capital projects post-construction. The Specialist will also take a leadership role in building the capacity both within GMF and the broader municipal sectors to develop, validate and verify energy models and engineering savings calculations, and in doing so ensure the construction and operation of high-performance buildings across Canadian municipalities.

This role may be right for you if you align with the following:

• You are driven to improve municipal sustainability by ensuring that GMF-funded projects and capacity-building activities are designed and implemented to ensure maximum environmental outcomes.

• You are constantly seeking personal, professional, and organizational improvement.

• You are a self-learner who is inspired to keep building your own expertise as the need and opportunity arise.

• You thrive in a team environment working collaboratively to achieve results.

• You can balance professionalism with passion and humour.

• You are willing to take smart risks and fail and learn from the process.

The work at FCM includes FCM becoming an even more member-driven organization that balances the realization of its goals with a people-centered approach. The incumbent embodies FCM's commitment to being a healthy, diverse, inclusive, and anti-racist organization. As a member of the team, the specialist works in a manner that embraces these values, the corporate culture and the passion for FCM's mandate.

What you'll be doing

Leading the Impact and Verification team support of the Direct Funding unit of GMF: perform energy modelling and analysis of funding proposals for new and existing building to validate and verify the anticipated and actual energy performance of GMF pilots, studies and capital projects. Tasks include:

• Validating energy savings projections based on the defined project size and scope.

• Performing and evaluating detailed building energy modelling using applicable software (e.g. HOT2000, eQuest/CAN-Quest, EnergyPlus, etc.).

• Reviewing and interpreting architectural, mechanical, and electrical design drawings.

• Evaluating proposed and referenced case energy models as per modelling procedures and rules from applicable reference guidelines, standards, and codes.

• Evaluating modelling and engineering assumptions, including engineering calculations, drawings, equipment specifications, and operating parameters to support energy efficiency savings calculations and modelling results.

• Evaluating and analyzing various building energy measures by performing iterative modelling.

• Working with the Direct Funding unit to provide innovative and cost-effective design recommendations to improve energy efficiency of buildings.

• Leading project reporting verifications and results assessments, enhancing the process when needed.

Further develop the capacity inside GMF and outside in the broader municipal sectors to design, monitor and evaluate high performance buildings. Tasks include:

• Continually improve GMF's methodologies and criteria for validating and verifying building energy models across a range of building complexity and risk tolerance.

• Implementing automated data tracking and reporting tools for GMF and its clients, and supporting the enhancement and quality control of the project database.

• Supporting the validation and scoping of GMF studies to promote best practices in energy modelling and energy efficiency savings calculations.

• Partnering with Outreach Advisors to equip clients on how to successfully evaluate anticipated energy performance.

• Designing and implementing internal and external energy modelling and energy efficiency savings calculations courses and training material.

• Providing technical coaching, mentorship, and development of GMF staff

• Providing recommendations on the industry's best practices for energy models and engineering calculations to be suggested to clients.

• Maintain a high level of knowledge of industry innovation and leading-edge energy modelling and engineering calculations methods.

Your skills make us better

You bring:

• Bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering, building sciences, or related fields required. Strong fundamentals in energy transfer of building systems preferred.

• Minimum 5 years of demonstrated proficiency in building performance analysis/energy modelling (e.g. HOT2000, IESVE, eQuest/CAN-Quest, EnergyPlus or TRNSYS). Including experience with new building energy modelling (NECB) and retrofit energy modelling (e.g., ASHRAE)

• Experience with Building Sciences, Lighting, Electrical systems, Renewable and Residual Energy, and Envelope;

• Experience with energy audits, commissioning, recommissioning,energy efficiency savings calculations and designing HVAC systems.

• Specific experience working with multi-unit residential buildings is considered an asset.

• Fundamental understanding of mechanical systems and HVAC equipment;

• Understanding and knowledge of Architectural, Electrical / Mechanical Drawings;

• Possess one or more of the following certifications considered an asset: ASHRAE's Building Energy Modelling Professional (BEMP) Certification; The Association of Energy Engineers (AEE)'s Building Energy Simulation Analyst (BESA) certification.

• Listed on one of the following lists considered an asset: Canada Green Building Council (CaGBC)'s Experienced Modellers List; BC Hydro approved Energy Modeller; USGBC energy model reviewer.

• Technical understanding of applicable codes and standards (ie. NECB, NBC, AHRAE 90.1, 62.1, 189.1) as well as energy performance metrics (TEDI, TEUI, GHGi).

• Experience in other sectors such as sustainable transportation and organic waste-to-energy projects is considered an asset.

• Experience designing and delivering training programs an asset.

• Experience in fostering a client-centered approach.

• Ability to compile and present data to a lay audience.

• Proven ability to work effectively in a team-oriented environment and independently.

• Demonstrated ability to meet deadlines.

• Effective communication skills including verbal, written and presentation skills.

• Strong multitasking and organizational skills.

• Proficiency in both official languages an asset.

We prioritize work-life balance with our flexible model:

• When we say flexible work model, we mean that in collaboration with your manager and based on what your team needs, you have the flexibility to determine when you work so that you can enjoy a healthy balance between work and personal demands.
• While you do need to live in Canada for this role, you can primarily work from home. Travel may be required to Head Office in Ottawa periodically. The majority of the GMF team operates from the National Capital Region.
• We do like to visit the areas we are impacting and it allows us to see unique and wonderful parts of our country. You may find yourself traveling nationally 10-15% of the time.

We don't just talk about employee wellness, we live it:

• Summer hours between July 1 and Labour Day:
  • 7-hour workdays rather than 7.5
  • Every Friday off in the summer
• Flexible work arrangements to support productivity and well-being
• Commitment to employee development
• Competitive range of employee benefits and services
• Office facilities located in the Byward Market and Ottawa's downtown core

We're committed to fostering an organizational culture that embraces equity, diversity, inclusion and belonging , where individuals from diverse racial and ethnic identities, nationalities, social economic status, sexual orientation, gender identity/expression and physical and mental abilities can thrive and be fully engaged at their best level.

We welcome and encourage applications from people with disabilities. Accommodations are available on request for candidates taking part in all aspects of the recruitment and selection process.

How to apply

If this role speaks to you and the impact you want to make, we'd love to hear from you! Apply today.

The deadline to apply is July 1st, 2024.

The future of work here includes a hybrid work model; therefore, this role will be a combination of virtual and on-site work.

The successful candidate is required to live in and be authorized to work in Canada. They are also required to be able to work from home/remotely, from within Canada. All in-office work and in-person meetings for work that take place inside and/or outside of the offices located in Ottawa will be subject to FCM's Safe Workplace Vaccination Policy, as well as its health and safety procedures.

For additional information on this posting, or for further information on FCM, access our website at Learn more about the Green Municipal Fund at