$89,030–$169,150 Per Year
Auburn University, Alabama
Reporting to the Director of Utilities & Energy, this position provides strategic leadership for the day-to-day operations, maintenance, and continuous improvement of the University’s Utilities & Energy systems, including district hot water, chilled water, and steam production systems. The Assistant Director ensures the safe, reliable, and efficient delivery of utilities to more than 250 campus facilities in support of the University’s academic, research, and outreach mission. This position oversees the Plant Operations and Energy Management teams, ensuring integrated planning, operational continuity, and leadership succession across Utilities & Energy functions.
Responsibilities:
- Portfolio Leadership: Provides strategic and operational leadership for assigned Utilities & Energy functional portfolios, ensuring safe, reliable, and efficient operation of campus utility systems and infrastructure; serves as a departmental representative in campus-wide initiatives, project teams, and cross-functional coordination efforts to support integrated planning and execution.
- Emergency Management & Continuity: Provides operational leadership during all utility emergencies, system failures, and service outages by ensuring Assistant Director-level situational awareness and involvement appropriate to the scope and severity of the incident; serving as a primary or supporting operational lead as needed; and coordinating response activities, repair efforts, and stakeholder communication in coordination with the Director of Utilities & Energy to ensure campus operational continuity and safety.
- System Lifecycle Management: Leads system lifecycle management for assigned utility infrastructure, including planning, condition assessment, preventative, predictive, and corrective maintenance, and reinvestment strategies; utilizes infrastructure condition assessments to prioritize repair, renewal, and long-term sustainability initiatives.
- Maintenance & Reliability Execution: Leads preventative, predictive, and corrective maintenance programs, including work planning, scheduling, contract management, and vendor performance oversight to ensure high levels of system reliability, efficiency, and resilience.
- Data-Driven Performance Management: Establishes, monitors, and reports key performance indicators (KPIs) related to system reliability, energy efficiency, safety, and staff performance; uses performance data to guide operational decisions, capital planning, reinvestment strategies, and continuous improvement initiatives.
- Capital Project & Design Integration: Provides Utilities & Energy leadership during the design development, construction administration, and commissioning of new construction and renovation projects; ensures compliance with utility standards, operational requirements, and effective integration into existing campus utility systems, in coordination with the Director of Utilities & Energy and Planning, Design, & Construction.
- People, Safety & Financial Stewardship: Leads and develops assigned staff through recruitment, coaching, performance management, and professional development; enforces departmental safety programs and regulatory compliance; fosters a culture of technical excellence, accountability, and inclusion; and manages assigned operating budgets for labor, materials, and contracted services within approved limits.
Qualifications:
- Bachelor's degree
- 7 years of experience in the operation, maintenance, and management of large-scale, complex utility production and/or distribution systems.
- 3 years of experience must be in a supervisory or management role within a mission-critical operating environment (e.g., higher education, healthcare, industrial, or similar facilities).
- Driver's license
Desired Qualifications:
Experience with district energy systems (chilled water, hot water, or steam) and campus energy management programs in a large institutional or campus environment.
Minimum Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:
- Advanced knowledge of central energy plant operations, thermal energy distribution, or high-voltage electrical systems.
- Proven ability to manage complex operating budgets and large-scale service contracts.
- Strong communication skills with the ability to translate technical system data for non-technical university stakeholders.
- Expertise in safety regulatory compliance and the implementation of departmental safety programs.
Why Work at Auburn:
- Life-Changing Impact: Our work changes lives through research, instruction, and outreach, making a lasting impact on our students, our communities, and the world.
- Culture of Excellence:We are committed to leveraging our strengths, resources, collaboration, and innovation as a top employer in higher education.
- We’re Here for You:Auburn offers generous benefits, educational opportunities, and a culture of support and work/life balance.
- Sweet Home Alabama:The Auburn/Opelika area offers southern charm, vibrant downtown scenes, top-ranked schools, and easy access to Atlanta, Birmingham, and the Gulf of Mexico beaches.
- A Place for Everyone: Auburn is committed to fostering an environment where all faculty, staff, and students are welcomed, valued, respected, and engaged.
- Ready to lead and shape the future of higher education? Apply today! War Eagle!
Equal Opportunity Compliance Statement:
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Auburn University
Welcome to Auburn University, a
comprehensive land, space and sea grant research institution blending arts and applied sciences. The University
continuously changes to accommodate today's needs, while still respecting the traditions and spirit of Auburn. As we grow and change, Auburn will always continue its tradition of excellence.
The main campus had an enrollment during fall of 2007 of 24,137. Auburn University offers degrees in 13 schools and colleges at the undergraduate,
graduate and professional levels.
Auburn University is known not only for its academic excellence, but for its impact on Alabama as well. A recent study
determined AU had nearly $ 4 billion
economic impact on the state of Alabama, including a $ 1.5 billion impact on the economy and a $ 2.4 billion impact in "human capital." AU's Technical Assistance Center, a collaborative Engineering / Business outreach unit, performs hundreds of projects annually for state industry, generating millions of dollars in increased efficiencies and saving or creating hundreds of jobs statewide.
Auburn University has developed into one of the largest universities in the South, remaining in the educational forefront with its traditional blend of arts and applied science, and changing with the needs of today while living with a respect for the traditions and spirit that are Auburn.