Director of Building Systems and Engineering

Overview

The mission of the City of Boston Property Management Department (PMD) is to manage, maintain, repair, and provide security for the City's municipal buildings, including City Hall and Faneuil Hall; to preserve the useful life of City facilities and reduce operating costs through effective reactive and preventative maintenance measures and the replacement of equipment.

Under the direction of the Deputy Commissioner of Operations, the Director of Building Systems and Engineering programs, performs, and supervises reactive maintenance, preventative maintenance, inspections, the replacement of deficient or defunct equipment and systems, and consults on major renovations or capital improvements for Fire and Life Safety systems, HVAC systems, electrical systems, elevators and other vertical transportation systems, building automation technology and controls, emergency power generation and distribution, steam plant, utilities and other critical building systems. This position performs difficult and complex professional engineering work in connection with the operation, maintenance, and improvement of various municipal buildings; prepares reports and recommendations for Department Leadership, and does related work as required.

Responsibilities

• Leads, develops, monitors, and adjusts all practices related to the reactive and preventative maintenance of critical building systems, including but not limited to fire alarm systems, sprinkler systems, HVAC systems, electrical systems, elevators, wheelchair lifts, and other vertical transportation systems, building control systems, emergency power generators, and distribution systems, as well as utilities, and utility connections such as power, water, and steam.
• Develops specifications for and monitors the execution of service contracts related to the preventative and reactive maintenance of building systems and equipment, and provides direction to contractors on the service, replacement, or enhancement of equipment as required.
• Visits all sites within the Building Systems Portfolio at regular intervals to inspect equipment, monitor the work of department staff and contractors, discuss planned preventative maintenance, and develop corrective action plans to address deficiencies.
• Actively monitors the condition of building systems and assets, and designs and monitors the implementation of a clear and robust maintenance and replacement schedule for all assets in the building systems portfolio.
• Monitors invoices for compliance with contract terms, approves scopes of work related to the repair or replacement of equipment, and provides information to support the development and submission of the Department’s Capital and Operating Budget proposals.
• Supports and provides technical direction and expertise to members of the Public Facilities Department and Property Management Department engaged in capital construction or renovation projects, ensuring that equipment and systems selected are sufficient to meet the needs of buildings and are compatible with existing systems and procedures.
• Develops procedures and training materials for all existing facilities, and upon the addition of new buildings and equipment to the portfolio, ensures that all technicians, contractors, and staff are familiar with the equipment and properly engaged in its regular maintenance and testing.
• Monitors the commissioning of new or renovated buildings and coordinates project handover for building systems and relevant equipment, including the review of all manuals, warranties, training materials, and punch list items.
• Diagnoses technical problems with equipment or systems, including legacy hydraulic and pneumatic systems, and provides hands-on direction, assistance, and troubleshooting in their repair or replacement.
• Implements, maintains, and supports the replacement of various building technology systems and facility management technologies, including, but not limited to, HVAC and lighting controls, building models, energy monitoring tools, electronic building plans, and CMMS.
• Coordinates the response to building emergencies such as the activation of a Building’s fire alarm system or an elevator entrapment, and provides critical information to responding Public Safety Officials.
• Assumes the role of “Fire Safety Director” during a fire alarm activation, taking command until the Boston Fire Department arrives, and using the Building Systems to inform the Fire Department of the location and extent of the emergency.
• Creates and maintains emergency evacuation plans and procedures for all buildings within the Department’s portfolio.
• Directly supervises, oversees, evaluates, coordinates, and directs the daily work and activities of all supervisors and technicians engaged in the maintenance and operation of, or any trade work related to, bu