crew leader

The Industry

Homes and buildings account for around 40% of all energy used in the U.S. and they generate a similar proportion of greenhouse gas emissions.[1]  In the race to drive down energy use and reduce emissions, the home performance industry deploys a wide range of strategies: applying highly-efficient building and home designs; advanced construction and retrofitting techniques; and using energy efficient technology and systems to reduce energy consumption and decrease costs to home owners and renters.

In the U.S. more than 2.3 million people work some or all of their time on building energy efficiency technologies and services.[2] In Washington, there are around 65 thousand efficiency jobs, and the sector is slated to grow by 2,300 jobs in 2022 (4.1%).[3]  More than half of all energy efficiency jobs are in construction, where one in every five jobs deal with products and services proven to save energy.

Home performance and efficiency also addresses the need for greater social and economic justice. Providing direct services to improve livability and reduce energy burden for low-income occupants, communities of color and other underserved populations helps reduce the costs to these individuals and families, who typically spend a disproportionate amount of their incomes on home energy. By reducing harmful emissions and improving air quality, home performance projects can also enhance occupant health and safety, and contribute to overall comfort.

The Job

Crew Leaders are responsible for overseeing each job from start to finish and they monitor progress to ensure efficiency and quality. Prior to arriving at a site, a Building Performance Crew Leader reviews a job proposal, establishes the work plan, assigns installers to the crew, and assembles necessary equipment, tools, and materials. Once onsite, the Crew Leader coordinates with the customer, observes safety hazards and establishes safety protocol, maintains accurate inventory of materials and tools, and tracks the crew’s work hours.

Crew Leaders ensure the quality of work performed by team members, and they make sure that material and equipment are installed following state and local codes and to manufacturers’ specifications. Building Performance Crew Leaders usually drive the company work vehicles and are responsible for their care and upkeep. Crew Leaders also provide direct on-the-job training and mentorship to their installers and technicians. They train on the proper handling and installation of materials, how to safely use hand tools, power tools, and equipment, and they model and encourage excellent customer service skills.

In addition to requiring solid leadership skills, technical knowledge and experience, crew leaders interact frequently with others individually and in teams. This may include collaborating on projects with colleagues, energy efficiency contractors and tradespeople such as electricians, plumbers and HVAC specialists. Crew leaders are also a primary contact for building and home-owners and occupants, which means that they must also have good social, listening and problem-solving skills as well as being customer-focused.