Hydronics Systems Operations Manager

About the role

This position is directly responsible for the operation, maintenance, and strategic planning of the geothermal, chilled water, and heating hot water production and distribution systems on the Oxford and regional campuses. The Hydronics Systems Operations Manager is responsible for the management of involved personnel, annual budgets, and maintenance activities. The purpose of this position is to monitor both budget and operations to provide reliable and cost-effective utility service to the university community, serving as the university's primary technical authority for thermal utility systems.

Responsibilities

• System Operations & Maintenance: Develops, implements, and documents preventative and predictive maintenance programs for chillers, pumps, process controls, and piping within the plant and throughout the distribution system. Provides continual automated monitoring of all equipment to ensure reliable operation. Purchases and maintains parts inventories.
• Supervision & Leadership: Provides direct supervision and technical leadership to university hydronics systems technicians. Oversees unit operations, sets priorities, reviews completed jobs, and manages the annual operating and capital improvement budgets for the thermal utility systems.
• Emergency Response & System Integrity: Provides expert technical support during any campus emergency and/or power failure event as needed on a 24-hour, 7-day-a-week basis. Schedules routine equipment and system shutdowns and develops written standard operating procedures for production, storage, distribution, and emergency recovery situations.
• Project Management & Design Review: Reviews the design and installation of thermal distribution equipment and revenue metering in new construction and renovated buildings. Develops and maintains written standards for new equipment and installation requirements. Coordinates with project managers and regional campus staff on new service installations and utility shutdowns.
• Strategic Planning & Financial Management: Drives campus energy efficiency goals by predicting and monitoring fluctuating customer demands and electric utility pricing. Sets operating schedules for plant operations and thermal water storage to reduce energy consumption and control peak demand. Develops short- and long-term plans for campus-wide thermal distribution service to achieve cost savings while meeting future campus needs.
• Safety & Compliance: Monitors the use of personal protective equipment and procedures to ensure all maintenance and testing operations are conducted in a safe manner. Coordinates and documents safety training for key university employees to maintain high operational standards.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in a related field plus a minimum of five (5) years of full-time experience managing, installing, maintaining, and/or operating a complex hydronic system; (OR) Related associate’s degree plus a minimum of eight (8) years of full-time experience managing, installing, maintaining, and/or operating a complex hydronic system; (OR) A minimum of ten (10) years of full-time, verifiable experience managing, installing, maintaining, and/or operating a complex hydronic system.
• Requires a valid driver's license and the ability to be a qualified driver under the Universities MVR policy.

Qualifications

• Deep working knowledge of large-scale thermal water production and distribution systems, including centrifugal chillers, cooling towers, pumps, heat exchangers, and geothermal well fields.
• Strong understanding of water treatment principles for closed and open-loop systems.
• Proven ability to read and interpret complex piping and instrumentation diagrams (P&IDs), mechanical drawings, and control schematics for planning and troubleshooting purposes.
• Demonstrated ability to communicate effectively, both written and orally, at all levels within the organization and with third-party vendors. Must be able to lead a technical team and respond quickly and effectively during time-sensitive situations.
• Strong budgeting, administrative, and long-range capital planning abilities are required.

SkillsSpecific Knowledge: Deep working knowledge of large-scale thermal water production and distribution systems, including centrifugal chillers, cooling towers, pumps, heat exchangers, and geothermal well fields.

Technical Understanding: Proven ability to read and interpret complex piping and instrumentation diagrams (P&IDs), mechanical drawings, and control schematics for planning and troubleshooting purposes.

Leadership & Communication: Demonstrated ability to communicate effectively, both written and orally, at all levels within the organization and with third-party vendors. Must be able to lead a technical team and respond quickly and effectively during time-sensitive situations.

Managerial Complexity: Must be able to successfully handle a wide range of complex technical and managerial tasks with frequent independent interpretation and decision-making.

Benefits

Benefit Eligible Yes

Pay

Position Salary Minimum 85,000 Position Salary Maximum 115,000 Salary will be commensurate with the level of the position, education, and experience.

Schedule

Scheduled Weekly Hours 40