Director, Campus Energy & Utilities

 

Job Title: Director, Campus Energy & Utilities

Department: Purchased Utilities

Campus Location: Main Campus

FLSA Status: Exempt/ Salaried

Position Type/ Work Schedule

• 2080 Hours per year
• 12 Months per year
• 40 Hours per week (Estimated)

About Us

At Colorado College, 2,300 students learn and live on our beautiful 99-acre campus in downtown Colorado Springs. We attract top students seeking new perspectives with an array of experiential learning opportunities possible only in an immersive learning environment. Here students take only one class at a time to facilitate deep exploration of a topic. We call this the Block Plan. This unique approach allows members of our campus community to share a rhythm of experience as we work together to fulfill our mission. 

Job Summary

Serving as a strategic partner with the Associate Vice President (AVP) and leadership team, this role involves planning, directing, and organizing departmental operations. It includes representing the AVP in college-wide activities and within the department as needed. The position acts as the primary liaison with local and national municipal utilities providers to ensure reliable and sustainable service delivery to the campus. This role also includes overseeing mechanical equipment specifications on capital projects, energy management, the energy management system, and building automation systems. Additionally, it involves managing the daily operations of the Central Plant, low voltage, and MEP trade shops (HVAC, Electrical, Plumbing).

Responsibilities

• Provide operational leadership, administration, and decision-making, which includes planning, budgeting, process improvement recommendations, and personnel management for all MEP and energy management staff and operations.
• Work with the AVP on planning for the strategic renewal of equipment, while also setting and achieving operational goals.
• Advise college personnel on the feasibility, serviceability, building performance criteria, paybacks, and costs of energy-related capital improvement projects, in accordance with sound engineering, financial principles, and governing codes.
• Oversee MEP technical teams, ensuring that capital equipment renewals and projects are integrated with operations and maintenance.
• Provide technical guidance to professional consultants serving Facilities Services, provide direction and expertise to enhance project commissioning and quality control efforts, and prepare estimates for financial payback and return on investment.
• Lead campus strategies aimed at conserving resources, improving building performance, and reducing greenhouse gas emissions on campus. Ensure that operational outcomes align with the college's energy and carbon goals, working towards a net reduction in both campus energy intensity and carbon footprint from energy consumption. Act as a principal advocate and advisor for energy conservation and efficiency on campus, and prepare, implement, and analyze projects related to energy use.
• Prepare annual reports on energy consumption, carbon emissions, energy use intensity and pricing forecasts for all utility commodities. Track and measure performance expectations, results, and key performance indicators related to campus energy usage and carbon reduction efforts. Ensure the completion of all regulatory compliance reports required by government agencies.
• Work closely with the Campus Sustainability Office on strategic energy conservation communications and annual reports. Lead the Campus Sustainability Committee in their efforts to develop an Energy Master Plan and continued implementation.
• Engage proactively with local and national municipal utility providers to effectively minimize service interruptions and ensure continuous operations are met.

Minimum Qualifications

Bachelor’s degree in mechanical, electrical or other engineering field plus a minimum of 7 years of related experience, or comparable combination of education and experience in roles of increasing responsibility of leadership and supervisory requirements; thorough understanding of and experience in renewable energy, building automations systems, technologies. Experience analyzing building and system energy consumption patterns to identify energy conservation and efficiency improvement opportunities; experience in leading and supporting both large and small construction projects. Ability to read, analyze, and interpret plans, specifications, contract documents, control drawings, service bulletins, technical procedure manuals, equipment specifications, and government regulations. Understanding utility tariff languag