Central Energy Plant Operations Manager

The Facilities and Campus Services department is committed to providing the highest quality service to faculty, students, staff, alumni and visitors. With more than 260 major buildings on the Ithaca campus, approximately 1,000 highly talented and dedicated staff serve as stewards of campus resources and operations.

The Energy and Sustainability Utilities department operates the University energy infrastructure system on a continuous, 24-hour per day basis. Production facilities include a combined heat and power facility which provides steam and electricity to heat and power campus; a potable water filtration plant which provides all water for campus; a hydroelectric plant; two chilled water plants to provide campus cooling; and a university owned electric substation connected to the local utility. The Utilities department manages and maintains all distribution systems on campus, including steam, chilled water, electricity, potable water and wastewater, and administers energy management programs for campus buildings.

The Operations group within Utilities Production oversees the production of steam, chilled water, and electricity by operating the Central Energy Plant, Lake Source Cooling, Chilled Water Plant 3, and the Hydroelectric Plant.

   

Position Summary

While position responsibilities vary, all people leaders are expected to foster a culture of belonging and a psychologically healthy work environment by being trustworthy; respecting all individuals; being flexible; supporting work/life integration as well as healthy boundaries; inviting new ideas, alternatives, and perspectives; speaking up and taking action if others are being excluded or treated inappropriately; and recognizing the contributions of others. 

Manage the operations of the Central Energy Plant including mission critical production equipment for the generation of electricity, steam, and chilled water.  Specific responsibilities include:

• Supervise a staff of 15 IUOE union operators who work rotating shifts.

• Manage the operations shift rotation schedule ensuring 24/7 coverage.  Review and approve timecards. Approve vacation. Resolve payroll and union issues.

• Maintain operator training manuals and operator qualification program. Create and maintain accurate training drawings for plant systems.

• Lead regular operations meetings, conduct training, organize, and evaluate tabletop exercises and drills. 

• Develop staff succession plans, write job descriptions, post positions, interview candidates, and hire into vacant positions.

• Work closely with IUOE stewards to ensure that union contract is supported and enforced.

• Review, monitor and improve operating procedures, including standard operating procedures (SOPs), standardized tagouts, daily logs, and equipment reduced status and out-of-service logs.

• Work with Sr. Plant Engineer to direct, monitor and improve the CEP water chemistry program.  Manage chemical inventory and deliveries.

• Work with plant engineers to demolish obsolete equipment and modify existing systems to enhance safety, reliability, resiliency, and efficiency.

• Work with Industrial Controls System Engineer to improve HMI displays, alarm management, and operator control of plant equipment.

• Manage small capital projects and service agreements within his/her area of responsibility. 

• Troubleshoot operational problems as they occur.

• Assist the Plant Manager in activities such as economic/environmental dispatch of equipment, fuel purchasing and LFO inventory management, long range planning, budget preparation, financial analysis, and environmental compliance monitoring and reporting.  

• Maintain a clean work environment safe for operations.

• Provide support for emergency activities as required.  This will include working non-standard hours in support of plant needs on a 24/7 basis.

• Attends safety, environmental and technical training. Participate in cross-departmental activities and staff meetings. Perform other duties as assigned.

• Acts on behalf of the Plant Manager in his/her absence.  

Required Qualifications

• Technical degree or equivalent combination of education and experience required.

• At least 5 years’ direct experience in operating or maintaining large industrial or utility equipment, preferably in a leadership role.  

• Comprehensive experience in industrial / utility energy systems and equipment such as, steam package boilers, steam turbine generators, gas turbine generators, diesel engines, heat recovery steam generators, centrifugal chillers, electrical switchgear, air compressors, pumps, PLC based control systems, and related equipment.

• Knowledge of safety and environmental regulations associated with utility plant operations.

• Experience with Microsoft Office: Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint.  Experience with, or ability to learn, Excel Reporter and Vantage Point database software, and third-party web-based data portals such as Ecolab 3D and Solar Turbines Inc. Insight software. 

• Able to work under pressure managing multiple priorities.

• Must have and maintain a valid driver’s license; may be required to operate a motor vehicle (your own vehicle or Cornell-owned) to travel to/from job sites.

• Proven experience connecting diversity, inclusion, and wellbeing practices to business goals.

• Experience in and/or demonstrated commitment to supporting diversity, equity, access, inclusion, and wellbeing.

Preferred Qualifications

• Bachelor of Science in Mechanical, Chemical, or Electrical engineering.

• At least 5 years’ experience supervising others, preferably in a union environment.

• Experience in managing the operation of a combined heat & power facility utilizing combustion turbine technology in a union environment.

Working Environment

• Typically lifts 10 to 20 lbs

• Close concentration/ manual dexterity

• Chemicals/ safety precautions

  

University Job Title:

Mgr Facilities II

Job Family:

Facilities & Safety Services

Level:

G

Pay Rate Type:

Salary

Pay Range:

$93,713.00 - $114,538.00

Remote Option Availability:

Onsite

Company:

Endowed

Contact Name:

Tonya Eiklor

Job Titles and Pay Ranges:

Non-Union Positions

Noted pay ranges reflect the potential pay opportunity for each job profile. The hiring rate of pay for the successful candidate will be determined considering the following criteria:

• Prior relevant work or industry experience

• Education level to the extent education is relevant to the position

• Unique applicable skills

• Academic Discipline

To learn more about Cornell’s non-union staff job titles and pay ranges, see Career Navigator.

Union Positions

The hiring rate of pay for the successful candidate will be determined in accordance with the rates in the respective collective bargaining agreement. To learn more about Cornell’s union wages, see Union Pay Rates.

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2025-04-07