Program Manager - Smart Buildings (GSA)

Program Manager - Smart Buildings (GSA)
The Position:

Censeo is seeking a Program Manager to lead and scale a federal Smart Buildings program that uses building analytics and operational technology (OT) data to improve performance, reliability, and customer experience across a growing portfolio of sites. This role owns the day-to-day program leadership, stakeholder engagement, governance, and outcomes delivery—translating platform outputs (e.g., fault detection insights) into measurable operational and financial impact.

You will serve as a primary lead for program execution and client outcomes, coordinating across technical teams (software development, analytics, integration) and operational stakeholders (regional/field teams, facility managers, headquarters leadership). A key near-term priority is supporting the transition from legacy smart building analytics (e.g., “engineers for engineers”) to a modern, user-friendly platform designed to broaden adoption, enable stronger reporting, and integrate additional capabilities like work orders, project planning, and advanced metering.

Key Responsibilities: 

Program Leadership & Delivery

• Lead end-to-end program execution for a multi-site Smart Buildings portfolio, ensuring schedule, scope, and outcomes remain on track as the program scales.
• Manage program planning, backlog prioritization, and delivery cadence across releases, pilots, and broad deployment waves (e.g., piloting new sites and scaling through the next year).
• Own program governance routines including weekly/biweekly engagement calls, quarterly business reviews, and ad hoc executive updates.

Platform-to-Outcomes Translation (Value Realization)

• Translate analytics outputs (e.g., fault detection signals, trending anomalies, performance drift) into actionable operational recommendations for facility teams and leadership.
• Define and manage KPIs, objectives, and ROI narratives, demonstrating how smart building insights reduce downtime, improve occupant/tenant satisfaction, and enhance energy performance.

Change Management & Field Enablement

• Lead change management for the transition of business routines to the field, addressing cultural concerns (e.g., perceptions of “big brother” monitoring) by emphasizing partnership, transparency, and value.
• Develop and maintain SOPs, playbooks, training materials, and communications that help field staff use insights confidently and consistently.
• Serve as a trusted advisor and “librarian” of best practices—helping regions and field offices apply a standard approach while respecting local realities.

Stakeholder Management & Executive Engagement

• Build strong working relationships with diverse stakeholders: federal program leadership, regional facility teams, technical developers, analytics partners, and operational SMEs.
• Prepare and deliver briefings and presentations to senior stakeholders (including conference participation and executive-level speaking roles as needed).
• Align priorities across the program ecosystem, balancing technical roadmaps, operational constraints, and leadership expectations for efficiency.

Product/Technical Coordination (Without Needing to Code)

• Partner closely with the development team delivering the next-generation platform to ensure requirements reflect Smart Buildings operational realities.
• Help navigate differences between legacy and modern solutions (e.g., ease of device discovery, visualization, analytics usability, report-building constraints) to ensure user-friendly outcomes.
• Support integration strategy for a unified interface that may include:
  • Fault detection and diagnostics
  • Work order system integration
  • Project management system alignment
  • Advanced metering and utility/billing insights
  • BI/Tableau-style dashboards usable by everyday end users

Governance, Compliance & Vendor/Partner Management

• Maintain strong program governance, documentation, and compliance alignment (including SLAs, client management expectations, and performance reporting).
• Coordinate across internal and external partners to ensure consistent delivery quality, customer service, and technical performance.

• Bachelor’s degree (or equivalent experience).
• 10+ years of experience in program/project management, facilities management, building operations, energy management, or smart buildings/PropTech/OT analytics (experience scaling multi-site programs strongly preferred).
• 7 + years of experience supporting federal clients, preferably within the GSA PBS or similar role.
• Demonstrated success leading complex stakeholder environments and influencing without direct authority.
• Experience translating technical outputs into operational decisions and executive-ready insights (KPIs, dashboards, QBRs, ROI cases).
• Strong change management capability—able to guide field teams through new workflows and tools with empathy and clarity.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including executive presentations and facilitation

• The salary range for this role is $120,000 - $150,000 depending on experience
• This is an exempt, full-time position
• This role is subject to a hybrid work schedule in Washington, D.C. with the possibility for remote work if approved by the client.
• Essential Physical Functions
  • Sitting: Particularly for sustained periods of time
  • Light Carrying: Physically transporting items weighing less than 15 pounds from one location to another

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