Central Power Plant Mechanical Maintenance Supervisor

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How to Apply

A cover letter is required for consideration for this position and should be attached as the first page of your resume. The cover letter should address your specific interest in the position and outline skills and experience that directly relate to this position.

Who We Are

Utilities is a division of Facilities and Operations, made up of 135 dedicated employees responsible for providing utilities services for the university 24 hours per day, 365 days per year. Services include campus-wide utilities purchasing, generation, and distribution, as well as metering and billing energy consumption for all university buildings. Distribution includes the operations and maintenance of 300 miles of underground utility systems from outdoor lighting and high voltage circuits to water mains to tunnel piping. The division also provides a wide range of engineering services primarily dedicated to energy management, the operations and maintenance of university facilities, and the utilities infrastructure.

Job Summary

The University of Michigan Ann Arbor Utilities Department operates a Combined Cycle Cogeneration Central Power Plant (CPP). The CPP supplies much of campus and the University hospital system with electricity, compressed air, domestic hot water, and high and low pressure steam. The Central Power Plant has boilers, heat recovery steam generators (HRSGs), steam turbines, air compressors, combustion turbines, and many other associated Systems.

This position is primarily responsible for supervision of the plant Mechanical Maintenance Technicians. This individual will plan and guide the work of these employees, administer the union contracts, and provide coaching, corrective feedback and discipline as needed. This individual will be a member of the CPP management team, and will report directly to the Central Power Plant Manager. This person is expected to work with a variety of individuals at many levels of the organization, working both independently and as part of a team. The successful candidate will be self-directed, and is expected to provide insights into plant operation while enacting proactive improvements to processes and programs.

The staff of the CPP hope to achieve excellence in all we do, striving for the utmost reliability for our customers, complying with environmental regulations, maintaining fiscal responsibility, and ensuring a safe work environment for everyone, while maintaining a positive work environment.

Responsibilities*

Responsibilities of this position include but are not limited to:

• Provide expertise, leadership, and supervision for the work of Central Power Plant Mechanical Maintenance technicians, as well as the assigned plant insulator.
• Maintain a thorough and detailed knowledge and understanding of all CPP power production systems and their components.
• Maintain, organize and order supplies, spare parts and equipment for projects and inventory.
• Manage contracted services as required, to assist in repairs of CPP systems, so that 100% reliability to campus can be maintained.
• Oversee, support, and plan the maintenance for all mechanical devices within the powerhouse, including gas turbines, steam turbines, high and low pressure steam piping, steam traps, air compressors and dryers, plant and instrument air systems, steam and water heat exchangers, cooling systems, cooling towers, pumps, gearboxes, gas compressors, valves, fans, HVAC units and water treatment systems such as condensate polishers, water softeners, reverse osmosis units and chemical injection systems. This includes responsibility for repairs to all piping systems within the facility, including fuel oil, natural gas, water, condensate, wastewater, as well as 400 psi, 60 psi and 12.5 psi steam piping.
• Plan and supervise all mechanical maintenance related tasks during unit outages and overhauls to ensure completion within specified schedule.
• Work with University Environment Health and Safety (EHS) staff and plant Operations team to ensure all permit required preventative maintenance tasks are completed as required, including SPCC and underground storage tank inspections.
• Responsible for boiler permits for the power plant, including ensuring that all code requirements are met during maintenance intervals, overseeing licensed code repair of high pressure boilers, as well as interfacing with, and ensuring compliance with state boiler code inspections.
• Responsible for maintaining all code weld documentation, as required by boiler code.
• Responsible for ensuring that safety and relief valves are tested and maintained appropriately and in a timely manner, including those required by boiler code.
• Plant subject matter expert on mechanical repair processes, including alignment, rigging, welding, material selection, piping, etc. Provide guidance and help technicians locate and repair malfunctions and defects.
• Responsible for rotating equipment vibration analysis program within the Central Power Plant.
• Responsible for ensuring that all fire systems within the central power plant are maintained appropriately, interfacing with contracted vendors.
• Responsible for interfacing with University of Michigan groups for plant maintenance needs, including the Fire Shop, Elevator shop, trash and metal removal, as well as groups responsible for backflow preventer maintenance and testing.
• Responsible for building structural repair, including roofs, ceilings, floors, tiles, door, windows, louvers, restrooms, ladders, platforms, chimneys etc.
• Assist and oversee rigging and offloading of parts, as required.
• Manage plant lubrication program, including oil and grease selection, ordering, and testing.
• Ensure that specialized mechanical maintenance tools are tested and replaced as needed.
• Assist with troubleshooting of issues that arise in the facility, including finding root causes of failures; investigate new technologies and solutions to prevent recurrence of failures.
• Ensure P&ID drawings, equipment manuals, work orders and PMs, specification sheets, plant equipment repair and testing records, and other data are stored, updated and maintained accurately.
• Provide support and participate in Capital Project planning and design, including the review and approval of drawings, blueprints, specifications and other related documents.
• Participate in Root Cause Analysis investigations.
• Manage the training program for the mechanical maintenance technicians.
• Ensure mechanical maintenance staff and contractors comply with plant safety programs, such as completing job safety analysis, right to know training, obtaining hot work permits, complying with confined space programs, and wearing proper PPE.
• Develop and write maintenance procedures, tracking spreadsheets and databases as required.
• Temporarily fill in for supervisors of the instrumentation, controls and electrical group or operations group during periods of leave and vacation.
• Coordinate preventative and corrective work activities with plant planner, instrumentation controls and electrical supervisor, and operations group.
• This position will also require good personal communication skills with both hourly and salaried positions as well as outside contractors and engineering firms.
• Basic familiarity and experience working with and around medium voltage switchgear (2.4 KV & 13.2 KV), as well as 110 volt, 220 volt, and 480 volt electrical and control systems.
• Exhibit a good knowledge of working in a Computerized Maintenance Management System (CMMS).
• Proficient in general construction techniques and materials.
• Act in accordance with the Facilities and Operations' guiding principles: collaboration, respect, proactive, solutions-based, and responsibility to the environment.

Required Qualifications*

• BS Degree in Mechanical Engineering plus four years minimum working experience in a Power Plant or Industrial workplace; or Military Training and eight years of powerhouse maintenance working experience; or technical A0AS Degree at an Accredited Trade School and eight years working experience; or graduation from High School or GED with ten years of applicable working experience in a Power Plant, Heavy Industry, or Marine Environment.
• Practical knowledge of and experience with the maintenance and repair of power generation systems, including boilers and turbines.
• Good troubleshooting skills and the ability to think of creative solutions for technical issues.
• Ability to proficiently use Microsoft Excel, Word, PowerPoint and Google software.

Desired Qualifications*

• Bachelor of Science Degree in Mechanical Engineering
• Power Plant or Industrial work experience.
• Knowledge of code repair and methodologies for repair of boilers and pressure vessels.
• Previous supervisory experience.
• Previous experience working in a union environment.
• Ten (10) + years of experience in a Power Plant, refinery or petrochemical facility.
• Ability to develop and manage financial budgets.

Why Work at Michigan?

Being part of something greater, of serving a larger mission of discovery and care that's the heart of what drives people to work at Michigan. In some way, great or small, every person here helps to advance this world-class institution. It's adding a purpose to your profession. Work at Michigan and become a victor for the greater good.

Background Screening

The University of Michigan conducts background checks on all job candidates upon acceptance of a contingent offer and may use a third party administrator to conduct background checks. Background checks are performed in compliance with the Fair Credit Reporting Act.

U-M EEO Statement

The University of Michigan is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We are committed to providing an environment of mutual respect where equal employment opportunities are available to all applicants, including protected veterans and individuals with disabilities.