Assistant Vice President for Carbon Strategy

Reporting to Shana S. Weber, Ph.D., Associate Vice President for Campus Sustainability and Innovation, this senior leader within U-M's Business & Finance (B&F) organization provides strategic and technical leadership across multiple concurrent initiatives. The role facilitates leadership decision-making regarding project prioritization, sequencing, and funding strategies, connecting strategic projects and capital planning with financial strategies, governance processes, stakeholder engagement, and energy resilience goals.

About the role

The Assistant Vice President for Carbon Strategy leads the Office of Campus Sustainability and Innovation (OCSI) engineering and data analytics teams while coordinating closely with the OCSI lead team, the Utilities group within Facilities & Operations, the B&F Finance team, the Office of Planning and Strategic Initiatives, and other executive and operational stakeholders. The AVP builds investment cases for major initiatives and establishes the performance framework used to manage delivery and verify outcomes.

This position is based primarily in Ann Arbor, Michigan, with system-wide coordination including Flint and Dearborn campuses. A meaningful on-site presence is expected, though flexible hybrid arrangements are available based on role needs. Periodic local travel is required for partner and stakeholder meetings.

The role reports to the Associate Vice President for Campus Sustainability and Innovation and leads a team of 12.5 FTE with two direct reports.

Responsibilities

• Lead U-M's portfolio roadmap to eliminate campus carbon emissions, including electrification, building efficiency modernization, and the steam-to-heating-hot-water transition, in close partnership with campus Utilities.
• Convert energy and carbon pathways into decision-grade recommendations and capital-ready business cases for executive leadership, integrating lifecycle cost, emissions impact, sequencing, and risk.
• Lead a 12.5 FTE implementation team and energy management portfolio, with direct accountability for program performance and outcomes.
• Manage external partnerships with utilities, municipalities (including the City of Ann Arbor), state partners, and peer institutions, and coordinate alignment across the Ann Arbor, Dearborn, and Flint campuses.
• Lead enterprise strategic initiatives that connect sustainability priorities with large-scale financial and capital planning.
• Oversee portfolio performance tracking and Scope 1, 2, and 3 emissions accounting, and advise the AVPCSI and CFO leadership team on carbon neutrality implementation.

Qualifications

• Proven track record of directly leading large-scale energy transition or decarbonization programs.
• Hands-on experience driving the modernization of complex energy infrastructure systems, including but not limited to:
  • District Energy System Modernization (e.g., steam to hot water)
  • Campus or Portfolio Electrification (large-scale or organization-wide programs)
  • Thermal Infrastructure Modernization (geoexchange, thermal storage, heat recovery)
  • Building Portfolio Energy Efficiency Improvements (at an institutional or municipal scale)
• Bachelor's degree in a relevant field (such as engineering, sustainable systems, urban planning, etc.), or an equivalent combination of relevant education and experience.
• Demonstrated experience leading cross-functional capital and operational initiatives involving technical, financial, and operational stakeholders.
• Demonstrated experience building investment cases for capital projects integrating lifecycle cost, emissions outcomes, and short- and long-term risk tradeoffs.
• Demonstrated experience leading staff and managing budgets, including direct supervision and accountability for program performance and outcomes.

Benefits

• Generous time off
• A retirement plan that provides two-for-one matching contributions with immediate vesting
• Many choices for comprehensive health insurance
• Life insurance
• Long-term disability coverage
• Flexible spending accounts for healthcare and dependent care expenses

Pay

$200,000 - $230,000, commensurate with qualifications and experience.