Plant Utilities Manager (Steam Plant)

Position Description: The Central Energy Plant Manager manages all aspects, including all day-to-day operations and maintenance, of the University's Power Plant and complex, mission critical heating, power and chilled water production facilities via a staff of ~35 salaried and hourly union (IUOE) employees to provide safe, reliable and efficient steam, electric and chilled water to all Ithaca campus facilities. See below for a detailed description of the Central Energy Plant. Reporting to the Director of Utilities and Production, you will be one of two plant managers, with a staff of 30 technicians, operators, and support staff and three supervisors. Your key responsibilities will be:

• All day-to-day operations – leading, managing, and owning all aspects of safety, operations, and maintenance – essentially running the Plant like you were running a ship. (Typically, ~80% of the job!)

• Managing all complex systems with technical/engineering knowledge/experience and having a hands-on approach – being out with and supporting the mechanics & operators for all power plant operations.

• All environmental, health, and safety regulations.

• Advising and guiding your operations manager – using your engineer acumen to ask the right questions and make the right decisions as the senior leader and decision maker.

• The $40M Operations & Maintenance (O&M) budget – creating, executing, and all results.

• The Capital Budget – prioritizing & executing yearly and long-term projects – guiding, overseeing, reviewing, challenging assumptions, and leveraging your technical/engineering knowledge/experience for all decision making and results.

• All personnel – training plans and programs, succession plans, and all hiring, performance reviews, and any necessary disciplinary or performance improvement requirements of both union & non-union staff.

Requirements:

• Bachelor of Science in Engineering or related field.

• Plant manager experience and desire to mentor to other engineers.

• NYS Professional Engineering license (PE) or commitment to achieve this credential upon hire.

• Utility energy experience in a decision-making, operational leadership, and problem-solving role.

• Project Management skills

• Independence, autonomy and resourcefulness.

• A leadership approach or style where accountability is important with focus on performance and results, including having hard/tough conversations with some excellent soft skills, empathy, respect and listening to needs. Outstanding collaboration and emotional intelligence with excellent communication as a “people person” who can hold the line while also being an outstanding person.

• No visa sponsorship is provided for this position.