Manager, Plumbing Systems Operations

Occupational Summary

 

The Facility Operations Manager for Plumbing Systems Operations is responsible for planning, resourcing, coordinating, and supervising all activities required to install, operate, repair, service, and maintain all University plumbing systems. The Manager works effectively with the assigned Planner, shop mechanics, and other shops in delivering integrated Facility Operations services to the University. The Manager is responsible for the operation and maintenance of plumbing systems in critical buildings to meet life safety, reliability, and efficiency goals by implementing and executing operations, maintenance, and reliability best practices. The Manager reports to the Assistant Director for Building Systems.

 

Essential Job Functions:

 

• Oversee the installation, operation, maintenance, repair, and service of all plumbing system components for the University campus, which includes 6.1 million square feet of classrooms, research laboratories, vivariums, Medical Center and University data centers, athletic centers, performing arts auditoriums, lecture halls, administration offices, Duke Chapel, housing, auxiliary buildings, and parking decks.
• Plumbing systems and equipment operations include but are not limited to domestic and process water, reverse osmosis and deionized water, backflow preventers, hazardous and non-hazardous waste, roof and area drains, specialty compressed air for research laboratories and building system controls, gas distribution, laboratory instrument vacuum systems, boilers, chilled water, tanks, pumps, heat exchangers, fan coil units, steam converters, hot water converters, and piping distribution.
• Oversee the planning and execution of all work to ensure day-to-day compliance with work processes and key metrics. Direct the documentation, implementation, and execution of workflow processes (i.e., planning, scheduling, preventative maintenance, predictive maintenance, and work execution) to provide continuous improvement of maintenance and operational practices.
• Participate in the development of supplemental contract maintenance agreements with outside service providers to provide specialty services and additional labor in response to work volume changes and deadlines.
• Maintain all plumbing and building life safety systems regulatory compliance with local building system codes, safety codes, OSHA, AAALAC International (Association for Assessment and Accreditation of Laboratory Animal Care International), and University processes and procedures.
• Coordinate services provided by internal and external providers for system testing, certification, maintenance, and repairs. Support local municipal building inspectors and other regulatory audits and maintain plumbing system certifications.
• Maintain plumbing systems through the execution of the Plumbing Planned Maintenance (PM) Program and the EAM Work Order (WO) system for water quality testing, repairs, and other plumbing maintenance and operations requests.
• Follow the Reliability-Centered Maintenance (RCM) Program to establish safe minimum levels of maintenance for equipment, ensuring cost-effectiveness, equipment uptime, and risk management. Assist with root cause analysis of machine and system failures.
• Establish, maintain, and publish a work priority system for 24/7 emergency response and daily scheduled and unscheduled work activities.
• Integrate and coordinate work activities with HVAC, electrical, general maintenance, and structural trades shops, as well as the Customer Service Center and Duke Engineering & Utility Services (DUES).
• Support Building Coordinators and DUES Engineers on various capital and non-capital improvement projects.
• Develop new procedures and update existing ones to support Facility Operations and University Campus strategies.
• Regularly evaluate the work output of mechanics for quality, efficiency, and timeliness. Identify continuous quality improvement opportunities for each plumbing service and implement changes as needed.
• Analyze and identify equipment, tools, and processes to improve operating efficiency and workplace safety.
• Ensure adherence to SOPs (Standard Operating Procedures) for change-controlled critical systems, buildings, and processes.
• Provide technical guidance to mechanics, engineers, managers, and project managers.
• Support Office of Project Management (OPM) project teams during pre-construction planning activities and during construction projects that expand University infrastructure and facilities.
• Participate in Facility Operations Teams to ensure all OPM Capital Projects are turned over to facility teams in an operational state, including required turnover documentation and staff training.
• Develop strong working relationships with Local 465 leadershi