Job Details

Operations Utility Manager

Position Number: 6979267
Location: Philadelphia, PA
Position Type: Facilities Management

Operations Utility Manager

University Overview

The University of Pennsylvania, the largest private employer in Philadelphia, is a world-renowned leader in education, research, and innovation. This historic, Ivy League school consistently ranks among the top 10 universities in the annual U.S. News & World Report survey. Penn has 12 highly-regarded schools that provide opportunities for undergraduate, graduate and continuing education, all influenced by Penn's distinctive interdisciplinary approach to scholarship and learning. As an employer Penn has been ranked nationally on many occasions with the most recent award from Forbes who named Penn one of America's Best Large Employers in 2023.

Penn offers a unique working environment within the city of Philadelphia. The University is situated on a beautiful urban campus, with easy access to a range of educational, cultural, and recreational activities. With its historical significance and landmarks, lively cultural offerings, and wide variety of atmospheres, Philadelphia is the perfect place to call home for work and play.

The University offers a competitive benefits package that includes excellent healthcare and tuition benefits for employees and their families, generous retirement benefits, a wide variety of professional development opportunities, supportive work and family benefits, a wealth of health and wellness programs and resources, and much more.

Posted Job Title
Operations Utility Manager

Job Profile Title
Manager, Facilities

Job Description Summary
The Division of Facilities and Real Estate Services (FRES) provides the expertise, business process, policies and standards required to plan, design, construct, operate, maintain and renew the physical assets of the University, excluding the health system. In addition, the Division, comprised of approximately five Departments, is responsible for the strategic planning, management and operation of non-academic University property, and collaborating with the neighborhood to create a safe and economically vibrant destination. With close to 12M square feet of space, FRES maintains 186 buildings on a campus of 276 acres, completes over 60,000 maintenance requests per year, and starts approximately 250 projects a year. FRES is comprised of the following Departments: Administration, Office of the University Architect, Design and Construction, Real Estate, Operations, and Maintenance.

The University of Pennsylvania is implementing a campus transformation entitled Penn Connects (http://www.pennconnects.upenn.edu). This comprehensive, award winning effort is expanding the campus over the next 20 years, including the construction of new academic research and recreational facilities. In addition, the University has secured $300M in Century Bond funding and continues to upgrade existing facilities over the coming years. https://www.facilities.upenn.edu/

Job Description

The Operations Utility Manager is responsible for managing personnel including Operations Control Center team of 5 Supervisors, and MEP Operations and Repair team of 4 Supervisors- steam, plumbing, electrical operators, A/C and 1 chilled water plant supervisor who respond to, execute and complete pro-active maintenance work, customer service requests, and other requests for special work. They will ensure staff, contractors and vendors meet contractual requirements and industry standards/best practices while providing safe work environments for employees, visitors and customers.

These complex utilities infrastructure includes:

Chilled Water: 14 chillers at two central plants capable of producing over 53K tons of chilled water distributed through 16 miles of piping holding 5 million gallons of water.
Electricity: 13.2 KV electricity by PECO to 7 dual fed campus substations.
Steam: Supplied by Vicinity Energy thru ~9 miles of underground piping & 140 manholes capable of providing up to 400,000 lbs of steam per hour.
Water/ Sewer: Supplied by Philadelphia Water Department
Natural Gas: Supplied by Philadelphia Gas Works
Building Systems: MEP systems in 189 instructional, research, administrative, and residential buildings containing 14 million GSF of space

Job Responsibilities

Manage and lead multiple supervisors who lead utility trades teams, including steamfitters, A/C, electrical operators and plumbers.
In addition, manage trades staff including hiring, on-boarding, coaching, discipline, PTO approval, training, professional development, and performance review.
Management of the University's central chilled water production plants and physical infrastructures for distribution of steam; chilled water; high voltage electricity; and plumbing/sewer.
Coordinate with in-house engineering and management entities to plan and direct the activities of the in-house trades staff, contractors, and subject matter expert consultants to ensure proactive load analysis, planning, design, construction, funding, maintenance, preventative maintenance, code compliance and operations of the utility infrastructure.
Develop and recommend maintenance project priorities for equipment and operational strategies to improve operating efficiency.
Conserve energy and manage peak load management.
In collaboration with Executive Director and Director of Trades establish benchmarks for usage, develop and implement conservation measures using SCADA, BAS) and CMMS systems.
Procurement and oversight of work performed by Engineering, Utility and MEP consultants and contracted services in compliance with established standards and procedures.
Implement and enforce safety protocols and industry best practices to ensure a safe working environment.
Stay updated with local, state and federal regulations related to construction, safety and building codes.
Maintain long and short-term formal plans and strategies for each utility system, including five-year financial plans and budgets.
Collaborate with finance department to manage operational utility budget.
Coordinate activities with Design & Construction and 12 schools and centers and exemplifying excellent customer service
Oversee the supervision of union personnel and management union contracts. Participate in the grievance/discipline process.
Work collaboratively with union representatives to ensure smooth project operations and adherence to labor agreements.
This is a designated essential personnel position. Must be available to attend emergencies on-or off regular work hours.
Other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

Bachelor's & 5-7 years required. 10 plus years of progressively responsible experience in operations and maintenance utility infrastructure or facilities maintenance and operations preferred.
Demonstrated experience handling the operation and maintenance of major infrastructure on a campus serving higher education or medical/research initiative highly preferred.
Technical/Vocational or associate's degree or completed apprenticeship in a related field required and 10 + years of Building plant engineering operational experience and supervisory experience. BA/BS preferred in mechanical engineering or related field.
Proven experience (minimum 10 years) in operating and managing mechanical, electrical, plumbing and utility (generation and distribution) systems, preferably in large-scale projects or institutional settings.
Strong leadership and team management skills, with the ability to motivate and guide a diverse group of multi-skilled workers and multiple competing demands on resources.
Knowledge of control room operations SCADA, BAS systems and Computerized Management Maintenance System (CMMS)
The ideal candidate must have prior experience of overseeing the supervision of union personnel and managing union contracts.
They should have a strong understanding of labor union dynamics, collective bargaining agreements, and the ability to work collaboratively with union representatives to ensure smooth project operations and adherence to labor agreements.
Excellent project management abilities, including budgeting, scheduling, and resource allocation.
Thorough understanding of construction safety regulations and best practices.
Knowledge of city/state codes and ASHRE standards.
Exceptional communication skills, both written and verbal, with the ability to collaborate effectively with various stakeholders.
This position will require the individual to be on call 24/7 and designated as essential personnel.

Job Location - City, State
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Department / School
Facilities and Real Estate Services

Pay Range
$91,000.00 - $130,000.00 Annual Rate
Salary offers are made based on the candidate's qualifications, experience, skills, and education as they directly relate to the requirements of the position, and in alignment with salary ranges based on external market data for the job's level. Internal organization and peer data at Penn are also considered.

Equal Opportunity Statement

The University of Pennsylvania is an equal opportunity employer. Candidates are considered for employment without regard to race, color, sex, sexual orientation, religion, creed, national origin (including shared ancestry or ethnic characteristics), citizenship status, age, disability, veteran status or any class protected under applicable federal, state or local law.

Special Requirements
Background checks may be required after a conditional job offer is made. Consideration of the background check will be tailored to the requirements of the job.

University Benefits

Health, Life, and Flexible Spending Accounts: Penn offers comprehensive medical, prescription, behavioral health, dental, vision, and life insurance benefits to protect you and your family's health and welfare. You can also use flexible spending accounts to pay for eligible health care and dependent care expenses with pre-tax dollars.
Tuition: Take advantage of Penn's exceptional tuition benefits. You, your spouse, and your dependent children can get tuition assistance here at Penn. Your dependent children are also eligible for tuition assistance at other institutions.
Retirement: Penn offers generous retirement plans to help you save for your future. Penn's Basic, Matching, and Supplemental retirement plans allow you to save for retirement on a pre-tax or Roth basis. Choose from a wide variety of investment options through TIAA and Vanguard.
Time Away from Work: Penn provides you with a substantial amount of time away from work during the course of the year. This allows you to relax, take vacations, attend to personal affairs, recover from illness or injury, spend time with family-whatever your personal needs may be.
Long-Term Care Insurance: In partnership with Genworth Financial, Penn offers faculty and staff (and your eligible family members) long-term care insurance to help you cover some of the costs of long-term care services received at home, in the community or in a nursing facility. If you apply when you're newly hired, you won't have to provide proof of good health or be subject to underwriting requirements. Eligible family members must always provide proof of good health and are subject to underwriting.
Wellness and Work-life Resources: Penn is committed to supporting our faculty and staff as they balance the competing demands of work and personal life. That's why we offer a wide variety of programs and resources to help you care for your health, your family, and your work-life balance.
Professional and Personal Development: Penn provides an array of resources to help you advance yourself personally and professionally.
University Resources: As a member of the Penn community, you have access to a wide range of University resources as well as cultural and recreational activities. Take advantage of the University's libraries and athletic facilities, or visit our arboretum and art galleries. There's always something going on at Penn, whether it's a new exhibit at the Penn Museum, the latest music or theater presentation at the Annenberg Center, or the Penn Relays at Franklin Field to name just a few examples. As a member of the Penn community, you're right in the middle of the excitement-and you and your family can enjoy many of these activities for free.
Discounts and Special Services: From arts and entertainment to transportation and mortgages, you'll find great deals for University faculty and staff. Not only do Penn arts and cultural centers and museums offer free and discounted admission and memberships to faculty and staff. You can also enjoy substantial savings on other goods and services such as new cars from Ford and General Motors, cellular phone service plans, movie tickets, and admission to theme parks.
Flexible Work Hours: Flexible work options offer creative approaches for completing work while promoting balance between work and personal commitments. These approaches involve use of non-traditional work hours, locations, and/or job structures.
Penn Home Ownership Services: Penn offers a forgivable loan for eligible employees interested in buying a home or currently residing in West Philadelphia, which can be used for closing costs or home improvements.
Adoption Assistance: Penn will reimburse eligible employees on qualified expenses in connection with the legal adoption of an eligible child, such as travel or court fees, for up to two adoptions in your household.

To learn more, please visit: https://www.hr.upenn.edu/PennHR/benefits-pay

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement

The University of Pennsylvania is an equal opportunity employer. Candidates are considered for employment without regard to race, color, sex, sexual orientation, religion, creed, national origin (including shared ancestry or ethnic characteristics), citizenship status, age, disability, veteran status or any class protected under applicable federal, state, or local law.

To apply, visit https://wd1.myworkdaysite.com/en-US/recruiting/upenn/careers-at-penn/job/Left-Bank-Facilites--Real-Estate-Services/Operations-Utility-Manager_JR00117145