Central Plant Manager (Inst)

Central Plant Manager (Inst)

The Central Plant Manager oversees multiple campus utility plants and is responsible for both strategic and daily operations. Reporting to the Associate Director of Facility Services, this position manages the state-owned centralized heating and cooling plant serving the UWMilwaukee Kenwood Campus, as well as six satellite plants. Key responsibilities include but are not limited to: prioritizing and scheduling plant activities; directing heating and cooling production; coordinating equipment availability, chemical treatment along with supervising plant staff. Responsible for compliance with multiple entities for data reporting, maintenance requirements and standard procedures are being followed. Create effective relationships across all of UW System, state agencies, vendors and our students.

The Manager also performs a full range of duties in a 24/7/365 operation, ensuring the safe and efficient operation, monitoring, and maintenance of four high-pressure steam boilers (natural gas and #2 ultra-low sulfur oil) and three chillers supplying all major campus buildings. Additional duties include operating Programmable Logic Controllers, and associated Man Machine Interface devices, and Variable Frequency Drive; maintaining underground fuel oil tank records in compliance with U.S. EPA and Wisconsin Department of Safety and Professional Services regulations; maintaining emissions and operational records; and preparing project requests for small projects and all-agency submissions. The role also requires fostering effective relationships with university personnel, Department of Administration staff, contractors, vendors, and students.

Key Job Responsibilities:

• Confers with plant staff on a daily basis to establish steam and compressed air production, chilling priorities, electricity generation, and to discuss equipment availability, chemical treatment operation, work scheduling, and personnel problems
• Oversees maintenance and capital projects in progress
• Develops, plans, and participates in startup and commissioning activities
• Develops and implements policies and procedures to ensure safe, reliable, and efficient use of the central plants
• Exercises supervisory authority, including hiring, transferring, suspending, promoting, managing conduct and performance, discharging, assigning, rewarding, disciplining, and/or approving hours worked of at least 2.0 full-time equivalent (FTE) employees

Required Qualifications:

• Bachelor of Science in Engineering or related field or a combination of related education and experience
• Minimum of five (5) years of utility or plant utilities system leadership experience
• Minimum of five (5) years of work experience in the maintenance and operation of utility or industrial plant utilities production systems.
• Demonstrated experience working with engineering plans and specifications
• Evidence of technical and project management skills to design and execute projects
• Demonstrated experience with operating and maintaining plant equipment both individually and interconnected systems.
• Demonstrated experience analyzing plant performance and implementing energy optimization strategies.
• Experience creating and managing budgets in an operations environment.
• Prior experience operating PLC based control systems, including operations and troubleshooting of input/output devices and related equipment.

Preferred Qualifications:

• WI Professional Engineering license (PE)
• Ten or more years of progressive utility system supervisory experience.
• Possession of an American Society of Power Engineers (ASOPE) 2nd Class Power Plant Operators License or equivalent.
• Project Management Professional (PMP)
• Direct experience managing any construction projects
• Knowledge of the Heating Plant Section of the Division of Facilities Development
• Evidence of thorough understanding of plant equipment, operations, steam and chilled water distribution, high pressure boiler maintenance and operation, and large tonnage chiller operation.

How to Apply:

Interested applicants are required to apply online and provide a cover letter and resume addressing your professional level work experience as it relates to all required and preferred qualifications.

Note: Applicants must complete all required fields and attach all required documents prior to submitting the online application. Applications missing any of the required documents listed prior to the application deadline will be marked as incomplete and will not be considered.

This is a continuous recruitment with an initial review date of 6/15/2026. To ensure consideration, applications must be submitted by 6/14/2026. Applications submitted after 6/14/2026 may not be reviewed.

In instances where the Search and Screen Committee is unable to ascertain from the candidates' application materials whether they meet any of the qualifications, they will be evaluated as not meeting such qualifications. Additional documents submitted aside from a cover letter and resume will not be reviewed.

This position does not offer visa sponsorship. Applicants must be legally authorized to work in the United States at the time of hire. Selected candidates will be required to verify eligibility to work in the United States by completing the required I-9 form upon hire.

Finalist candidate(s) being considered for hire will be required to provide three professional/supervisor references through an external reference checking tool. References will not be contacted prior to candidates being notified.

Contact Information:

Emily Jensen

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