Company Overview:
Founded in 2000, Walker-Miller Energy Services is a core-values driven company committed to changing lives through energy efficiency. We create and manage customized energy waste reduction programs that assist electric and gas utilities meet mandated energy savings goals.
Our experience driven philosophy of energy efficiency as economic development helps families and businesses save energy and save money. Through innovative, inclusive initiatives, we help build communities by creating local jobs, producing equitable energy savings for all rate payers, and spurring the growth of diverse local businesses.
Our operating philosophy is reflected in our core values. We refer to them as BEHIVE:
B - Boldly Go
E-Embracing Equity
H - Humble Confidence
I - Inclusive Stewardship
V - Value Reputation
E - Extraordinary Experience
Job Overview:
The Senior Program Manager works directly with the assigned utility client and serves as the senior portfolio lead accountable for delivery across multiple workforce and industry-development programs. The role is responsible for ensuring client commitments are delivered within scope, schedule, and budget; leading program staff; coordinating internal and external partners; managing risks and issues; and driving performance and continuous improvement across the portfolio. The ideal candidate is a dynamic, client-facing leader with strong program, financial, and people management experience and a passion for advancing equity and opportunity in sustainability-focused careers.
Essential Responsibilities: This list of duties and responsibilities is not all-inclusive and may be expanded to include other duties and responsibilities, based on operational needs.
- Embrace, operate and lead within our core values.
- Oversee multiple concurrent programs and cohorts within the assigned MDI utility portfolio, with accountability for scope, schedule, budget, performance, client commitments, and, when applicable, grant or philanthropic funding.
- Serves as the senior program lead for assigned utility program delivery, balancing timelines, staffing capacity, budget, risks, and cross-program dependencies.
- Manages full suite of program elements across the assigned portfolio:
- Recruitment, onboarding, training, placement, and follow-up for multiple cohorts and program pathways within the assigned utility portfolio.
- Integration of reporting across programs, ensuring data alignment for leadership dashboards.
- Coordinates larger partner networks (10-20+ active relationships with partners/vendors).
- Leads strategic employer, contractor, and partner engagement across the assigned utility portfolio.
- Designs or refines processes for efficiency and consistency across programs.
- Ensures compliance and performance tracking across diverse funding requirements.
- Serves as escalation point for Program Managers and other delivery staff.
- Partners with the Director of MDI and Finance to develop annual staffing and financial plans and monitor budget-to-actual performance, labor utilization, program expenses, and forecasted portfolio needs.
- Leads portfolio staffing and capacity planning, including hiring, onboarding, workload allocation, and performance management across Program Manager and Coordinator roles.
- Owns portfolio-level risk and issue management and escalates scope, schedule, budget, or performance concerns with recommended corrective actions.
Leadership & Program Management:
- Manage direct reports and oversee the portfolio delivery team. This includes workforce planning, interviewing, onboarding, assigning work, completing performance evaluations, coaching, mentoring, succession planning, and directing work.
- Complete and manage quarterly program performance evaluations with staff and client.
- Provide ongoing leadership to program staff, aligning priorities, client commitments, workload, communications, and cross-program dependencies to achieve portfolio goals.
- Lead and develop team members based on core values-driven culture that encourages top performance with compassion.
- Develop and implement strategies to meet participant, employer, contractor/service-provider, and other pipeline goals based on assigned program objectives.
- Develop a comprehensive understanding of the program’s strategic direction regarding energy efficiency and the business activities of its customers.
- Develop and oversee the processing of program paperwork through designated tracking systems.
- Coordinate with program evaluators to understand evaluation plans and communicate program procedures to staff.
- Be a member of several working groups that will coordinate the program with other organizations working in the program.
- Own portfolio-level KPI reporting and performance reviews, ensuring timely, accurate, and actionable reporting to the client and Walker-Miller leadership.
- Incorporate “best practice” methods of energy efficiency program implementation.
- Provide a professional appearance appropriate to represent both Walker-Miller and the client.
- Lead and attend relevant presentations promoting energy efficiency programs.
- Practice effective project management skills in leading the program.
- Serve as the primary day-to-day relationship lead for the assigned utility client, proactively managing expectations, priorities, risks, and opportunities while representing Walker-Miller’s interests.
- Own the review and coordination of monthly invoices, financial forecasts, budget variance reporting, and activity reports for the client and Walker-Miller management.
Program Recruitment & Engagement:
- Oversee development and execution of client-approved marketing, outreach, and recruitment strategies that support participation and program goals.
- Lead and attend relevant presentations promoting energy efficiency programs.
- Oversee participant onboarding, setting clear expectations and goals for program engagement and success.
- Ensure program teams maintain a consistent participant-support model that promotes engagement, professional growth, retention, and successful outcomes.
Stakeholder Collaboration:
- Build partnerships with community organizations, educational institutions, and industry leaders to support participant recruitment, training, and placement.
- Collaborate with internal teams, including Operations, HR, Finance, Marketing, and Data/IT, to align portfolio objectives, staffing, reporting, and financial performance with organizational goals.
- Represent Walker-Miller Energy Services at industry events and workforce development forums.
Continuous Improvement:
- Stay informed on industry developments, workforce trends, and best practices in workforce development.
- Incorporate participant and stakeholder feedback to enhance program delivery and outcomes.
- Develop strategies to expand the program’s reach and impact in alignment with organizational objectives.
- Establish and maintain client reporting processes, operating rhythms, and portfolio governance tools.
- Drive year-over-year continuous improvement in program operations, delivery quality, client experience, and resource efficiency.
Minimum Requirements:
- Bachelors degree required in any field of study; equivalent work experience may be considered.
- 5+ years of program or portfolio management experience, including workforce development, , contractor/industry development training, or comparable client-facing implementation work.
- 3+ years of direct and/or indirect people leadership experience required.
- Proven leadership abilities in a rapidly changing environment.
- Demonstrated experience managing program budgets, forecasts, invoices, and resource plans in addition to project delivery.
- Experience in workforce development, community/economic development, energy efficiency, utility programs, or public-sector program management.
- Client relationship management and/or business development experience.
- Demonstrated experience leading multiple programs, cohorts, or workstreams in a fast-paced environment.
- Detail-oriented and able to prioritize workload and delegate appropriate work assignments to staff.
- Must be flexible to handle a wide variety of tasks and complete work in a timely fashion in a fast-paced environment.
- Proficient in Microsoft Office, specifically Word, Excel and Outlook.
- Experience using CRM, program management, and reporting systems to maintain accurate portfolio data and performance reporting.
- Ability to communicate effectively, both verbally and in writing with customers, clients and employees.
- Ability to analyze and interpret data and solve practical problems.
- Ability to interpret financial and operational data, including budgets, percentages, ratios, KPIs, and trends.
- Ability to translate data into actionable program decisions and clear client-facing reporting.
- Reliable transportation.
Desired Qualifications:
- Master’s Degree, preferred.
- Degree in Community Relations, Marketing, Supply Chain, Logistics, Business Management, or a discipline in energy or related field from an accredited University.
- Familiarity with Monday.com or similar project management software.
- Prior experience leading utility-sponsored workforce development, energy-efficiency, or other complex client-funded programs, preferred.
Licenses & Certifications:
- PMP Certification preferred but not required.
- CEM Certification preferred but not required.
- Valid driver’s license.
Required Skills:
- Action Orientated Execution: Can align execution with strategic goals and objectives. Can identify and implement innovative approaches to execution. Can effectively manage and mitigate risks.
- Collaboration: Achieves shared goals through effective teamwork and collaboration, demonstrating a strong ability to coordinate efforts and resolve conflicts. Leads cross-functional teams to achieve objectives.
- Communication: Builds strong relationships through exceptional communication skills, influencing stakeholders and driving consensus. Effectively manages communication in ambiguous situations.
- Data Analysis: Uses data to inform project improvements and decision-making.
- Decision Making and Problem Solving: Makes strategic decisions that consider long-term implications and align with organizational goals. Identifies potential and non-apparent pros and cons associated with decision options. Anticipates potential challenges, conducts root cause analysis, and implements sustainable solutions that drive improvement.
- Entrepreneurial Business Development: Identifies opportunities to expand impact within an existing client portfolio, develops scalable program approaches, and translates client needs, performance data, and ecosystem changes into sustainable growth opportunities.
- Financial Management: Analyzes program budgets, forecasts, invoices, resource plans, and financial performance; identifies variances and corrective actions; and partners with Finance and program leadership to maintain delivery within approved scope and budget.
- Industry Domain Knowledge: Has a deep understanding of industry and domain specific tools and methodologies in relevant areas of expertise (e.g., expertise in areas such as program management, regulatory compliance, energy efficiency, etc.) Can apply industry and domain knowledge to solve problems.
- Leadership & People Management: Leads and manages complex teams effectively. Develops and implements strategies to create a high-performance team culture. Mentors and coaches team members to develop their skills. Helps attract, develop, and retain talent for both internal and external stakeholders.
- Partnership Development: Develops strategic partnerships aligned with organizational goals. Identifies and cultivates high-impact partnerships. Leads partnership initiatives and projects. Builds strong relationships with key stakeholders.
- Program Development: Oversees complex program portfolios and ensures consistent implementation across multiple pathways and cohorts. Uses KPIs, client feedback, and program data to evaluate performance and identify improvements. Develops and implements evidence-based strategies for program improvement. Mentors and develops others in making data-driven program changes.
- Project Management: Leads and manages multiple interrelated projects within a program. Develops program strategies and plans. Allocates resources and manages program budgets. Ensures alignment of projects with organizational goals.
- Stakeholder Engagement: Manages stakeholder expectations, resolves conflicts, and consults with stakeholders to address their concerns proactively. Can influence stakeholders and clients to support initiatives.
- Technology Skills: Effectively utilizes a range of technology tools and software to produce desired outputs
Travel Requirements:
- Ability to travel up to 60% within assigned markets/service territory.
Physical Demands and Work Environment
- Frequent sitting, standing and walking.
- Must also be comfortable speaking in front of large or small groups.
- Ability to lift up to 10 pounds.
The above information describes the general duties and requirements necessary to perform the principle functions of the position. This shall not be construed as a detailed description of all the duties and requirements that may be necessary in this position.
Walker-Miller Energy Services is an Equal Opportunity Employer.
At Walker-Miller Energy Services, we Embrace Equity by encouraging qualified candidates from all backgrounds and identities to apply for open positions! We have several optional questions about candidates’ demographics, but they do not impact hiring decisions. In fact, all candidate demographic data is anonymized for compliance purposes and to reduce unconscious bias in the hiring process, so none of the information collected here will be attached to your individual application. We ask for this information because Walker-Miller is committed to inclusive recruitment practices, so we hold ourselves to a high standard in developing a candidate pool that is diverse in background, experience, and perspective.
Walker-Miller Energy Services participates in E-Verify. Which confirms employment authorization of all newly hired employees and most existing employees through an electronic database maintained by the Social Security Administration and Department of Homeland Security. For new hires, the E-Verify process is completed in conjunction with the Form I-9 Employment Eligibility Verification on or before the first day of work. E-Verify is not used as a tool to pre-screen candidates. For up-to-date information on E-Verify, go to and click on 'E-Verify' located near the bottom of the page.
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