Manager – Chilled Water Plant Operations

The posting is intended to describe the general content and requirements of this position and is not intended to be an exhaustive statement of duties.

Position Summary

The “Manager – Chilled Water Plant Operations” is a key leadership role responsible for the safe, reliable, and efficient 24/7/365 operation of the University’s three Central Utilities chilled water plants and the campus‑wide chilled water distribution system, which jointly provide mission‑critical chilled water service to all campus buildings and hospital facilities. The Manager sets and drives a culture of safety and operational and reliability performance targets—including OEE, MTTR, MTBF, PM completion rate, staffing levels, and Skills Index—while leading a skilled workforce in executing best‑practice plant operations, maintenance, SOP/EOP governance, asset and cost management, and continuous improvement. The role ensures regulatory compliance, system resiliency, and seamless service delivery to support academic, research, and healthcare operations.

Key Responsibilities

Plant & Distribution Operations Leadership

· Lead all aspects of 24/7 chilled water generation and distribution operations, including centrifugal/screw chillers, cooling towers, pumps/VFDs, heat exchangers, controls/BAS/SCADA, and campus/hospital water treatment programs.

· Ensure capacity, stability, and responsiveness to seasonal and peak demands.

· Direct daily rounds, trend reviews, and set‑point optimization to meet campus and hospital loads.

· Manages the operation and maintenance of the Enterprise Chill Water Central System plants and related chill water distribution and return systems throughout the campus. Manages the operation and maintenance of multiple De-centralized Chill Water Central System plants and related chill water distribution and return systems throughout the campus.

· Directs water treatment vendor and oversees campus-wide water treatment program for chilled water systems.

· Oversee safety and maintenance practices in distribution vaults and other confined spaces (permits, atmospheric testing, ventilation, rescue readiness).

· Maintain seasonal readiness procedures (cooling‑season prep, freeze protection for towers/piping, weather‑event response for chilled water reliability).

Reliability Engineering & Performance Management

· Establish annual performance targets (OEE, MTTR, MTBF, PM completion, kW/ton, cycles of concentration) and lead reliability programs (CBM/PM, failure elimination, energy/water optimization).

· Chair Root Cause Analysis (RCA) for chilled water system failures; ensure corrective actions are implemented, verified, and embedded in SOPs/PMs.

· Maintain a reliability dashboard cadence: monthly KPI reports, quarterly performance reviews, and annual health system summaries.

People Leadership, Staffing & Skill Development

· Keep approved organization positions filled.

· Lead recruiting, onboarding, training, coaching, performance management, and retention across multiple shifts.

· Establish Skills Index targets for Operators, Mechanics, Repairers, and Supervisors; maintain documented training pathways and certification plans (e.g., EPA 608, OSHA 30, BOC).

SOP/EOP Governance, PM Optimization & CMMS Accuracy

· Develop, maintain, and audit SOPs, EOPs, LOTO procedures, PM strategies, and PM routes (vibration analysis, IR thermography, water chemistry).

· Enforce 5S workplace organization standards within plants, cooling tower areas, and distribution vaults.

· Drive CMMS governance KPIs: PM Library Coverage %, Failure Code Adoption %, Work Order Closure Quality Score, Asset Data Completeness Index; conduct quarterly audits and updates.

Safety, Compliance & Risk Management

· Promote a safety culture and compliance with OSHA, EPA/ADEM, NFPA, ASHRAE, and University EH&S standards.

· Conduct hazard assessments, incident reviews, and program audits.

· Ensure cooling‑tower hygiene and water‑treatment compliance including legionella risk management and inspection readiness.

· Govern safe work practices: LOTO, confined space, hot work, chemical handling, fall protection, and PPE usage.

Asset, Materials & Operating Cost Management

· Capture and analyze asset operating costs (labor, energy, water/chemicals, parts); manage O&M budgets and cost‑reduction initiatives without compromising reliability.

· Maintain min/max levels for critical spares (e.g., chiller seals, tower gear reducers, VFD drives/boards, sensors/instrumentation, control modules).

· Sustain a lead‑time risk register for long‑procurement items and single‑source dependencies; review quarterly and align with outage/seasonal plans.

Engineering, Capital Projects & System Modernization

· Partner with Planning, Design & Construction and Energy Management on plant upgrades, equipment replacements, and distribution improvements; review designs for operability, maintainability, and reliability.

· Own the Chilled Water Commissioning Readiness Checklist (alarm/point verification, SOP availability, equipment functionality, operator training, spares staging, CMMS job‑plan readiness, turnover documentation).

· Coordinate outages/commissioning with stakeholders while protecting hospital and critical campus operations.

Monitoring, Controls, Reporting & Stakeholder Communication

· Utilize BAS/SCADA and metering for real‑time monitoring, alarming, trending, and optimization.

· Ensure alarm management discipline and rapid response.

· Maintain standardized outage communication templates and notification protocols for campus customers and hospital operations leadership (advance‑notice thresholds, content standards, cadence).

· Establish a reporting schedule: daily operational summaries (from MSS roles), weekly status rollups, monthly leadership reports, and quarterly reliability reviews.

Perform other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

• BS in Mechanical or Electrical Engineering from an ABET‑accredited engineering program (required).

• Equivalent combination of technical education, relevant certifications, and directly related experience will be considered (e.g., engineering technology degrees, accredited vocational/technical programs, extensive utility operations background).

• 5+ years of progressively responsible experience in central utilities, chilled water plant operations, or industrial HVAC/utility plant environments, including supervisory leadership.

Certifications/Licenses

• Professional Engineer (PE) license preferred.

• Preferred: C.E.M. (Certified Energy Manager), CWEP, BOC (Building Operator Certification), EPA Section 608 – Universal, OSHA 30‑Hour, or equivalent technical/reliability credentials.

• Valid driver’s license required.

The driving record should meet University underwriting guidelines to drive vehicles in performance of university business. Current underwriting guidelines include possession a valid driver's license, issued in the United States; at least 21 years of age; at least three years of driving experience; maintain an acceptable Motor Vehicle Record (MVR).

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

Technical Proficiency

· Expert knowledge of chilled water systems: centrifugal/screw chillers, cooling towers, pumps/VFDs, distribution hydraulics, water chemistry, and BAS/SCADA controls.

· Ability to read/interpret P&IDs, mechanical/electrical schematics, specifications; proficiency in diagnostics (vibration analysis, IR thermography, precision alignment, flow/pressure balancing).

· Working knowledge of distribution vault maintenance practices and hazards, including confined‑space atmospheric testing and structural/equipment risk awareness.

Safety & Compliance

· Strong command of LOTO, confined space, hot work, chemical safety, fall protection, hazard communication, and cooling‑tower hygiene/legionella risk management.

· Demonstrated ability to lead audits, corrective actions, and maintain inspection readiness with OSHA, EPA/ADEM, NFPA, ASHRAE, and University EH&S.

Problem Solving & Critical Thinking

· Skilled in troubleshooting complex mechanical, electrical, and control systems; applies RCA, risk assessment, and predictive analytics to improve reliability and eliminate repeat failures.

Technology & Tools

· Advanced use of CMMS (asset hierarchy, PM library, work orders, failure coding), BAS/SCADA, historian/trend tools, and data dashboards.

· Proficiency with Microsoft Office and digital maintenance workflows.

Communication & Collaboration

· Clear written and verbal communication; strong stakeholder engagement with hospital facilities leadership and campus customers for outage planning, redundancy strategies, and seasonal transition management.

Organizational & Leadership Abilities

· Proven leadership across rotating shifts; coaching, mentoring, performance management, and team‑building.

· Ability to manage multiple supervisory lines (Generation, Distribution, Maintenance) and harmonize cross‑team workflows to sustain consistent operational and reliability standards.

Project & Time Management

· Effective planning and prioritization for outages, commissioning, and capital projects; resource and schedule management to meet performance targets and customer needs.

Physical Requirements

• Standing/Walking: Frequently

• Sitting: Occasionally

• Carrying/Lifting: Up to 20 lbs. frequently; 20–50 lbs. occasionally

• Climbing/Reaching/Grasping/Push–Pull: Occasionally

• Environment: Exposure to machinery noise, humid/damp areas, temperature fluctuations, dust/dirt, pinch points, and outdoor elements; use of PPE as required

• Ability to work in small/confined spaces and around energized equipment under strict safety protocols

• Must meet physical demands with or without reasonable accommodation.

Compensation and Benefits

· This position is not eligible for OT pay.

· Benefits include Multiple Health Care Plan options, Dental, Vision, Pre-tax Flexible Spending Account, Health Savings Account, Participate in the RSA Pension plan, 403(b) and 457(b) Retirement savings plans, Accident Insurance, Identity Theft Protection, Pet Benefits, Life/AD&D & Disability Insurance, UAB Employee Wellness, Employee Assistance and Counseling, Vacation, Sick Leave, 9 Paid Holidays/Year, 3 Personal Holidays Year, Educational Assistance for Employees and Families.

Work Schedule

· Standard Hours: Monday–Friday, 7:00 AM – 4:00 PM

· Must be able to work a flexible work schedule, including on-call, as required to support 24/7 operations.

For full consideration, please apply, resume and cover letter by the posted deadline. The submitted documents should highlight qualifications and experience relevant to the position as described in the posting. Incomplete applications will not be considered.

For more information about UAB Facilities, please visit: http://www.uab.edu/facilities/.

UAB is an Equal Employment/Equal Educational Opportunity Institution dedicated to providing equal opportunities and equal access to all individuals regardless of race, color, religion, ethnic or national origin, sex (including pregnancy), genetic information, age, disability, and veteran's status. As required by Title IX, UAB prohibits sex discrimination in any education program or activity that it operates. Individuals may report concerns or questions to UAB's Assistant Vice President and Senior Title IX Coordinator. The Title IX notice of nondiscrimination is located at uab.edu/titleix.