Associate Director - Central Power Plant

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.

Job Summary

The Associate Director - Central Power Plant is a key member of the Utilities Department Lead Team responsible for all aspects of operating and maintaining the University's mission-critical Central Power Plant (CPP). The CPP includes seven boilers totaling 1,000,000 pounds of steaming capacity and 46 megawatts of electric generation capacity, comprising two steam backpressure turbines and three combustion turbines with heat recovery steam generators. The Associate Director oversees the annual CPP operating and capital budget, plays a key role in identifying long-term capital needs, and guides the operations and maintenance teams by providing engineering expertise and coordination. This position ensures all operations and maintenance activities comply with environmental, health, and safety regulations, while fostering a management framework that promotes a collaborative team environment focused on safety, reliability, and efficiency.

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.

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.

Responsibilities*

Overall Plant Management

• Provide direct supervision to the CPP Lead Team along with overall management support for all CPP plant staff including a team of approximately 31 hourly unionized employees who operate and maintain all facilities.
• Oversee performance management, professional development, safety initiatives, overtime balancing, attendance, and disciplinary actions.
• Participate in union activities, including contract interpretation, grievance resolution, and negotiations.
• Provide direction for hiring within the CPP.
• Collaborate with campus partners including the Division of Public Safety and Security (DPSS) and Facilities and Operations Information Services (FOIS) to ensure plant physical and cyber security.
   

Plant Operations and Maintenance

• Coordinate all maintenance and operational activities associated with steam and electricity production for over 100 campus facilities, including hospitals and research buildings.
• Ensure procurement of fuels and electricity aligns with operational plans.
• Develop and implement operational procedures and policies that promote safety, reliability, efficiency, and a positive work environment.
• Oversee comprehensive maintenance programs, including preventive and corrective maintenance, water treatment, and instrumentation controls.
• Ensure proper documentation and use of the CMMS system for all activities.
• Maintain compliance with environmental and safety regulations, including preparation of regulatory reports in collaboration with the Environment, Health and Safety (EHS) department.
• Track and improve plant performance metrics, and stay current with new environmental regulations and compliance requirements.
   

Plant Strategic Planning

• Serve as a key member of the Utilities department leadership team.
• Participate in long-range planning, considering capital growth, operating costs, environmental compliance, campus usage, and demand.
• Advise the Assistant Vice President of Utilities on plant operations and strategy.
• Coordinate electrical system objectives with other university stakeholders and departments.
• Work with project managers, contractors, and regulatory agencies to protect and advance university interests.
• Provide presentations and tours to internal and external groups.
• Support departmental and university sustainability efforts.
   

Plant Safety and Training

• Oversee safety, skills development, and emergency response programs, including documentation and staff training.
• Lead the preparation and delivery of training programs related to plant projects and systems.
• Direct the development and maintenance of operations and maintenance manuals for plant systems.
   

Project Coordination

• Manage multiple plant maintenance and renewal projects.
• Provide technical and operational guidance to ensure the successful implementation of new or renewed systems.
   

Financial Management

• Forecast, prepare, monitor, and report on budgets exceeding $70 million per year.
• Ensure plant compliance with U-M and Facilities and Operations guidelines and rules on purchasing and financial controls, competitive bid process, sole source process, and practice sound fiscal responsibility
• Perform additional duties as assigned.

Required Qualifications*

• Bachelor of Science in engineering or related field.
• More than five (5) years of utility system leadership experience.  
• Proven experience in leading and building high functioning teams with high morale.
• Excellent communication and conflict resolution skills. 
• Experience in the maintenance and operation of utility or industrial power production systems. Understanding of steam, electric, cogeneration and chilled water production systems, and related equipment such as combustion turbines, heat recovery steam generators (HRSG), gas/oil fueled boilers, chillers, power piping, boiler codes, air pollution controls, utility/process controls, rotating equipment, and electric generation.
• Ability to analyze the performance and operating efficiency of the systems to optimize energy use and production. 
• Advanced analytical skills necessary to dispatch and optimize equipment operation and create and track budgets. 
• Project management skills for conceiving of new projects and the ability to execute projects within the Energy Plant while maintaining operations without interruption.
• Demonstrated ability to develop and maintain positive relationships with internal and external stakeholders at all levels.
• Act in accordance with the Facilities and Operations' guiding principles: collaboration, respect, proactive, solutions-based, and responsibility to the environment. 

Desired Qualifications*

• Master's degree or similar in a technical area or engineering.
• Professional Engineering license (PE).
• More than ten (10) years of progressive utility system supervisory experience.
• Experience in a union environment.

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.

Application Deadline

Job openings are posted for a minimum of seven calendar days.  The review and selection process may begin as early as the eighth day after posting. This opening may be removed from posting boards and filled anytime after the minimum posting period has ended.

U-M EEO Statement

The University of Michigan is an equal employment opportunity employer.