Sustainability Specialist (Built Environment)

Sustainability Specialist (Built Environment)

We are seeking a motivated Sustainability Specialist with expertise in the Built Environment who can contribute to both the development of our Climate4Buildings platform and provide adjacent consultant services. As we are a startup, roles and responsibilities can change frequently, with every team member expected to "flex" their role as needed to help fulfill the needs of our team at any given moment. That said, we are generally looking for someone who can. Full‑time, indefinite contract, with flexible home/office work policy, based in Barcelona, Spain.

Responsibilities

• Work closely with the Project Lead to provide technical direction to the Software Developer(s) and review their work.
• Research and provide direction regarding the implementation of future climate predictions (Business and Usual; Paris Aligned; Emissions Peak in 2040; other) in our platform. Provide direction in developing this data into a format which is digestible and usable by designers.
• Help to develop libraries of sustainable design suggestions and rules‑of‑thumb.
• Develop methodologies for providing early‑phase design advice related to embodied and operational carbon.
• Suggest and develop studies validating the reduction in operational carbon use as related to building siting and orientation.
• Develop and complete algorithmic shoe‑box modelling of buildings in varying climate zones.
• Help to develop an approach to providing design suggestions as related to climate risks such as flooding, hurricanes, typhoons, wildfires, etc.
• Develop relationships with educational institutions and researchers to remain as up‐to‑date as possible on climate science and associated building design methodologies and technologies.

Requirements

• A degree in Architecture, Mechanical Engineering, Sustainability Engineering, or related field.
• Experience with full Life Cycle Analysis and use of EPDs.
• Familiarity with passive design principles and passive house construction techniques.
• Familiarity with ESG framework, UNSDGs, CSRD reporting, ESRS, etc.
• Familiarity with Green Building Standards such as VEREDE, NZEB, LEED, DGNB, BREEAM, LBC, etc.
• Experience and proficiency in Rhino/Grasshopper/Ladybug/Honeybee, and an understanding of parametric design.
• Strong teamwork and interpersonal skills.
• The ability to take initiative and work independently, following general direction from managers, other engineers, and architects/clients.
• Strong organizational skills.
• Open to a variety of levels of experience, from new graduates to 15+ years.
• Excellent English and Spanish communication skills (C1) required. Catalan desirable.
• Permission to live/work in Spain (we are not able to offer visa sponsorship at this time).

Valuable Skills

• Experience with programming (C++, Python, etc.)
• Interest in the use of AI and other technologies for optimizing workflows.
• Knowledge and skillsets regarding implementation of water and wastewater management strategies.

About the Company

We are an early‑stage ClimateTech startup working on lowering the emissions footprint of the built environment by making data regarding climate more easily available and interpretable to design and development professionals (architects, building developers, building owners, engineers, etc.). How a building or project responds to local climatic conditions can have a major impact on energy use and user comfort, and we believe that data regarding local climate and associated design suggestions as based on these conditions should be available to designers internationally. Pending the success of our Climate + Energy platform, we have an eye on developing additional tools and/or platforms which can make the design industry more efficient and/or sustainable.

We are funding our early‑stage startup work via consulting work in structural engineering, with an interest in also providing sustainability consulting services for building projects. All of our consulting work is founded on a strong commitment to sustainability, and we assess greenhouse gas emissions and other environmental impacts when making decisions regarding materiality, construction techniques, and so on. We think principles of circularity in building design and construction should be the basis for as many projects as possible.

As we are a small and new startup, this role will provide ample opportunity for growth, along with the ability to influence the direction of the company.