Assistant Director of Mechanical , Electrical and Plumbing Systems

Widener University is currently seeking an Assistant Director of Mechanical, Electrical and Plumbing Systems. Reporting to the Director of Maintenance, the Assistant Director is responsible for planning, organizing, directing, and supervising maintenance and repair activities for all university buildings and utility systems. The Assistant Director will lead and direct the work of contractors and a team of full-time skilled professionals including electricians, plumbers, HVAC technicians, and a controls engineer. The Assistant Director will ensure that all work is appropriately prioritized and coordinated with relevant stakeholders so that work is being executed as effectively and efficiently as possible.

In addition to maintenance and repair responsibilities, the Assistant Director will develop and manage the university's energy and water conservation plan with the goal of reducing utility expenses and the institution's carbon footprint. The Assistant Director will support the Director of Maintenance in the development of short and long-term capital planning.

The Facilities Management Department is responsible for maintaining the University campus to support Widener's academic mission and provide our students, faculty, staff, and visitors the best experience possible while on campus. This position will support, respect, and contribute to Widener University's ongoing commitment to diversity and inclusion.

Duties and Responsibilities (including but not limited to):

Management

• Plan, organize, oversee, and direct the maintenance and repair of all mechanical, electrical, and plumbing (MEP) equipment and systems.
• Hire, direct and manage contractors to supplement in-house forces as required to provide constituents levels of service consistent with department goals.
• Negotiate campus-wide contracts for services including electric supply, HVAC equipment maintenance, building automation system maintenance; elevator maintenance, water treatment, generator maintenance, and duct cleaning.
• Ensure Widener is in compliance with applicable laws related to maintenance, recordkeeping, and reporting requirements for facility systems within the purview of the Director

Supervisory

• Supervise staff including hiring, scheduling, and assigning work, reviewing performance, training and professional development, disciplining, and recommend and/or implement salary increases, promotions, transfers, demotions.
• Supervise outside contractors as required.
• Ensure priority and productivity is in line with relevant key performance indicators for higher education facilities maintenance;
• Ensure work complies with federal, state, and local regulations.

Administrative

• Perform frequent assessment of buildings and equipment to identify unsafe conditions or conditions in need of repair.
• Document and schedule repair and maintenance activities;
• Identify opportunities for improving department and procedures; implement improvements and conduct quality reviews periodically/as needed.
• Devise work methods and procedures for the safe and efficient maintenance and operation of building systems and utilities.
• Establish and define goals and objectives for maintenance and energy conservation programs.
• Analyze maintenance issues and establish standards for MEP systems that impact operations.
• Develop equipment and component inventory list for the purpose of scheduled maintenance, repair and replacement;
• Develop scopes-of-work, budgets, and schedules for maintenance specific projects.
• Ensure compliance with applicable federal, state, and local codes and regulations.

Secondary responsibilities

• Assist in developing scopes-of-work, designs and budgets for facilities' capital projects;
• Assist technicians in performance of maintenance work;
• Other duties as assigned.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS (education/training and experience):

Required

• Bachelor's degree in mechanical or electrical engineering preferred. A combination of training and experience may be considered in lieu of a degree.
• 7 years progressively responsible facilities management experience
• Demonstrated success in developing teams and leading others.
• Superior interpersonal skills; excellent oral and written communication skills.
• Demonstrated ability to identify problems and implement creative cost-effective solutions to complex problems.
• Demonstrated proficiency in managing the trades and systems for which this position supervises and is responsible.
• Demonstrated knowledge of fundamentals of energy and water conservation.
• Demonstrated ability in establishing and maintaining collaborative relationships with a full range of campus and external constituents.
• Demonstrated commitment to customer service.
• Experience in working with groups of diverse individuals.
• Knowledge of modern facilities management trends.
• Expertise in developing and executing preventive maintenance programs.
• Proficiency in developing and working with facility budgets.
• Demonstrated knowledge of all federal, state, and local ordinances applicable to the position
• Valid Driver's License

Preferred:

• Experience in leading a MEP team in higher education.

Physical Requirements and/or Unusual Work Hours:

• Position must be able to respond to maintenance/campus emergencies at any time
• Assigned responsibility for participation and supervision of maintenance effort during weekend or holiday periods.
• Must be able to move throughout assigned areas, as the work is performed primarily out-of-doors, year-round.
• Employees in this job classification are designated as essential employees and must report to work as scheduled when University offices are closed due to severe weather.
• Ability to walk up and down stairs, sit for prolonged periods of time, to stoop, bend, or twist.
• Must be able to climb ladders.
• Ability to be mobile between workstation and other locations on campus.
• Routine exposure to the outside environment and extremes in weather conditions; physical activity which may be demanding; routine periods of sitting, walking, standing, and climbing stairs; may be required to lift and/or drag weight in excess of 40 pounds. Occasional bending, twisting, stooping, or kneeling; occasional running and jumping

All qualified applicants are encouraged to apply and will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, religion, color, national origin, age, sex, sexual orientation, disability status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law. Widener University is committed to fostering an inclusive community in which faculty, staff, and students from a variety of backgrounds, cultures, and personal experiences are welcomed and can thrive. We are an equal opportunity employer and are committed to providing equal educational and employment opportunities for all persons without regard to age, color, national origin, race, religion, disability, veteran status, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information, or status as a protected veteran.

U.S. work authorization is required.

Widener University, an independent, metropolitan, doctoral-intensive university, connects curricula to social issues through civic engagement. Dynamic teaching, active scholarship, personal attention and experiential learning are key components of the Widener Experience. Located in Chester, PA, Widener's main campus is nestled between Philadelphia, PA and Wilmington, DE, with Law Schools located in both Harrisburg and Wilmington. For more information about the university, please visit our website at www.widener.edu.

EOE M/F/V/D