Senior Director, Energy & Utilities

About the role

The Senior Director of Energy and Utilities provides campuswide leadership, administration, and supervisory oversight for the Energy and Utilities unit within Facilities Development & Operations. The role directs the reliable, safe, and efficient operation and maintenance of the central energy plant, utility infrastructure, and fire/life safety and security systems serving five university sites, more than 170 acres, 52 buildings, and over six million gross square feet.

Responsibilities

• Lead the administration, operations, and strategic direction of the Energy and Utilities unit in alignment with departmental and university priorities.
• Direct maintenance and operation of the central plant, co-generation system, and campus utility distribution infrastructure to ensure reliable and efficient service.
• Oversee fire/life safety and campus security systems, establishing standards and processes that support a safe and secure environment.
• Manage preventive, routine, and emergency maintenance programs through effective work processes, computerized maintenance management systems, and prioritized resource deployment.
• Administer assigned operating budgets, utility recharge methodologies, resource forecasts, internal controls, and performance reporting to ensure accountability and long-term financial sustainability.
• Lead strategic energy planning, utilities master planning, capital renewal, deferred maintenance, and energy efficiency investment plans that strengthen resiliency and advance carbon neutrality.
• Establish unit policies, goals, service standards, performance metrics, and continuous-improvement initiatives that optimize asset management and customer service.
• Direct personnel management, including hiring, retention, performance management, labor relations, onboarding, training, professional development, and team engagement.
• Ensure compliance with applicable laws, codes, regulations, university policies, and safety requirements, and maintain business continuity and emergency response plans.
• Represent the unit with campus partners, utility companies, regulatory agencies, consultants, contractors, and professional associations, and advise senior leadership on complex or sensitive matters.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in engineering, environmental management, or a related field OR equivalent experience with a minimum of five years of senior leadership experience in utilities and infrastructure system maintenance, operation, and management including operation of a cogeneration plant, boilers, and chillers.
• Demonstrated management experience leading and overseeing technical operations and services common to the field of central plant, utilities, and infrastructure organizations.

Skills & Abilities

• Thorough knowledge of complex central plant, co-generation, utility distribution, facility automation, energy management, fire alarm, and security systems.
• Knowledge of building and energy codes, life-safety requirements, environmental and operational regulations, and public-sector policies applicable to utility infrastructure.
• Knowledge of utility rates, tariffs, commodity pricing, recharge methodologies, project economics, funding mechanisms, and risk mitigation strategies.
• Skill in preventive maintenance, asset lifecycle management, capital renewal planning, project management, contract development, and consultant or contractor oversight.
• Ability to plan and manage significant budgets, forecast resource needs, establish internal controls, analyze performance, and prepare decision-quality reports.
• Extensive personnel leadership skills, including performance management, labor relations, dispute resolution, staff development, team building, and inclusive workplace practices.
• Ability to analyze complex technical and organizational problems, balance competing priorities, exercise sound judgment, and develop practical strategic solutions independently.
• Strong written, verbal, presentation, consultation, and facilitation skills, with the ability to build effective relationships across diverse internal and external stakeholder groups.
• Ability to translate sustainability, resiliency, energy conservation, and carbon-neutrality objectives into operational plans, standards, projects, and measurable results.
• Ability to evaluate and responsibly integrate emerging technologies, including artificial intelligence, while addressing data privacy, bias, accessibility, ethics, and compliance considerations.