Smart Buildings Program Lead (GSA Public Buildings Service)

Smart Buildings Program Lead (GSA Public Buildings Service)
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 with the GSA Public Building Service, 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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