Senior Director, Energy and Utilities

Job Summary

Reporting to the Senior Associate Vice President and in collaboration within the Department and colleagues across the campus, the Senior Director of Energy & Utilities is responsible for the leadership, administration, management, and supervisory oversight of all services and functions of the Energy & Utilities unit within Facilities Development & Operations. The unit ensures maintenance and operation of campus utility systems and infrastructure and fire/life safety and security systems and is also focused on operational resiliency, efficiency, and ongoing efforts to achieve carbon neutrality. 

As part of this role, the Senior Director manages and oversees all activities associated with maintenance and operation of these critical infrastructure systems. The Energy & Utilities unit administers an assigned budget associated with recharge of its services to the campus designed to address annual operational needs as well as necessary funding for future capital investments to maintain operational resiliency and capacity. The Senior Director plays a pivotal role in the development and execution of operational priorities while also strategically planning for a future and steering the campus toward carbon neutrality. This includes establishing strong relationships with campus clientele and outside agencies and driving forward a sustainability vision that also considers the operational needs of the overall University with services delivered in a customer focused manner. Additionally, the Senior Director is responsible for the campus strategic energy conservation plan and works collaboratively with other leaders within Facilities Development & Operations to establish multi-year capital investment plans and utility master plans to support University goals and objectives. The Senior Director also participates with other senior managers to develop, establish, and implement Department strategic and operational plans and initiatives.

The Energy & Utilities unit of Facilities Development & Operations provides services to a University campus spread across five sites comprised of +170 acres, 52 buildings, and more than six million gross square feet. Primary responsibilities are associated with operation of the Main Campus and its central energy plant and utility infrastructure. The Main Campus utility infrastructure consists of a 5.5MW natural gas fired co-generation plant with large capacity chillers, thermal energy storage system, auxiliary boilers, high voltage substation and medium voltage switchgear and electrical distribution infrastructure at 33 building substations. Utilities infrastructure also includes steam, condensate and distributed chilled water pumping systems, up to and including the interface to the connections in the campus buildings. Additionally, the unit is responsible for the fire/life safety and security system for the Main Campus and all other off campus sites. The Energy & Utilities unit employs approximately 18 full time permanent staff. 

Key Responsibilities

• Ensure full utilization of a computerized maintenance management system to prioritize, schedule, assign, track, and manage resources, properly steward physical assets, ensure safety, and maintain responsiveness to campus needs
• Oversees analysis of existing system performance and advises and directs improvements to achieve greater overall operating efficiency
• Develops scopes of work and specifications associated with efforts required by consultants or contractors in alignment with University business practices
• Ensures efficient management of resources including development of appropriate business protocols and internal controls to ensure compliance, efficiency, transparency, and accountability
• Coordinates with subordinate managers concerning resource availability to determine work to be accomplished with in-house forces or via contracted services
• Conducts analysis and research necessary to prepare reports which provide for an in-depth understanding of the Unit’s performance as well as that of the physical assets for which the Department is responsible
• In collaboration with the Senior AVP and Planning, Design & Construction unit within Facilities Development & Operations, leads efforts associated with development of a utilities master plan
• In partnership with colleagues in the Business & Administrative Services unit and Budget Office, develops utility rate recharge methodology and systems necessary for establishment of utility rates, outside utility invoice review, customer billing preparation, tracking, and reporting purposes
• In collaboration with the Planning, Design & Construction unit within Facilities Development & Operations, lead and participate in efforts to establish campus design, engin