Career Center

Central Energy Plant Manager

Energy & Sustainability is comprised of three interactive teams: Campus Sustainability Office, Energy Management and Utilities Distribution and Production, which work together to achieve our obligations and seize opportunities to reduce our environmental footprint while providing vital utilities services to the Ithaca campus.

The Utilities section of Energy and Sustainability operates the University energy infrastructure system on a 24-hour, 365 day per year basis. Production facilities include a combined cycle gas turbine plant, a hydroelectric plant, a water filtration plant, and multiple chilled water plants.

This job provides the opportunity to work in a team environment with staff who take great pride in producing steam, electricity and chilled water for Cornell University. This position provides an opportunity to troubleshoot and repair state of the art utility equipment such as steam package boilers, steam turbines, air compressors, pumps, and centrifugal chillers, and an opportunity to do design of new systems. From combined heat and power to hydroelectric generation, the Central Energy Plant does it all. This is rewarding work that supports the university's mission of teaching, research, and outreach.

Job Description Summary

This position manages all aspects of the University's mission critical heating, power and chilled water production facilities via a staff of approximately 30 salaried and hourly union (IUOE) employees to provide safe, reliable and efficient steam, electric and chilled water to all Ithaca campus facilities.

Responsible for leading the central plants in a positive, proactive way to ensure excellent morale of all staff. The operation is comprised of three separate enterprise units, combined heat and power, chilled water and hydroelectric. The combined heat and power facility includes two 15 MW combustion turbines with heat recovery steam generators, 5 package boilers, and two back pressure steam turbines. The chilled water facilities include Cornell's Lake Source Cooling facility and three refrigerant based Chillers. Manages all aspects of the operation and maintenance of these facilities which operate 24/7/365.

The Plant Manager manages and has budget responsibility for approximately $35,000,000 annually, is instrumental in identifying long term capital needs of the facilities and guides maintenance and renewal project teams providing engineering expertise and coordination. Provide engineering support as needed and be directly involved in the management and execution of capital projects. The Plant Manager is responsible for operating and maintaining the facilities within all environmental, health and safety regulations. Provide staff training as necessary. Be available on a 24/7/365 basis for emergencies.

This is an Endowed position.

We are a value-based organization where all employees are accountable for supporting the organization's values of truth, respect, excellence, teamwork, and integrity. Facilities and Campus Services employees are required to attend staff development trainings and participate in the performance evaluation process.

We require these qualifications:

1. Bachelor of Science in Engineering or related field.
2. NYS Professional Engineering license (PE).
3. Five years of utility or hydro-mechanical and steam system leadership experience.
4. Proven experience in leading and building high functioning teams with high morale. Excellent communication skills.
5. Experience in the maintenance and operation of utility or industrial power production systems. Must understand the stand-alone operating and maintenance characteristics of equipment, how groups of equipment function together to form a system, and how all the systems inter-relate.
6. 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.
7. Project management skills for conceiving of new projects and the ability to execute projects within the Central Energy Plant (CEP) while maintaining operations without interruption.
8. Demonstrates the divisional values of truth, respect, teamwork, integrity and excellence. This includes such behaviors as the demonstrated ability to give and receive feedback, communicate honestly, listen, respect others, learn from mistakes, set high goals and achieve them, overcome obstacles, uses time effectively, sets priorities, and participates effectively on teams.
9. Is highly motivated and exhibits innovation, good judgment and reliability in the work place.
10. Ability to work in an environment that includes high ambient temperature, noise, and dust. Ability to safely work with chemicals, high temperature/pressure steam, confined spaces, and other potential hazards. Must be able to climb stairs, ladders, and work with heights.

You will be a top candidate with our preferred qualifications:

1. Project Management Professional (PMP) certification.
2. More than five years of progressive utility system supervisory experience. Understanding of steam, chilled water and electric production systems, and related equipment such as combustion turbines, heat recovery steam generators (HRSG), gas/oil fueled boilers, chillers, boiler codes, air pollution controls, utility process controls, rotating equipment, and electric generation. Experience in a union environment. Demonstrated experience in an industrial setting.
3. Prior exposure and familiarity with industrial / utility energy systems and equipment such as combustion turbines, combination natural gas/oil fired boilers, steam turbine generators, large refrigerant chillers, high energy piping systems, electrical switchgear, motor starters, variable speed drives, emergency diesel generators, and all related equipment and control systems.
4. Direct experience managing construction projects of any size.
5. Coursework concentration in chemistry, thermodynamics, fluids, or power and power systems.

No visa sponsorship provided for this position.

Rewards & Benefits:

Cornell provides great benefits that include educational benefits, access to a plethora of wellness programs, employee discounts with local and national retail brands, health care options to choose from, generous paid leave provisions: 3 weeks of vacation leave, health and personal leave, 13 holidays (including end of year winter break through New Year's Day) and superior retirement contributions.

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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 (faculty pay ranges reflects 9-month annual salary)

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EEO Statement:

Diversity and Inclusion are a part of Cornell University's heritage. We are a recognized employer and educator valuing AA/EEO, and we do not tolerate discrimination based on any protected characteristic, including race, ethnic or national origin, citizenship and immigration status, color, sex/gender, pregnancy or pregnancy-related conditions, age, creed, religion, actual or perceived disability (including persons associated with such a person), arrest and/or conviction record, military or veteran status, sexual orientation, gender expression and/or identity, an individual's genetic information, domestic violence victim status, familial status, marital status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local law. We also recognize a lawful preference in employment practices for Native Americans living on or near Indian reservations in accordance with applicable law.

Cornell University embraces diversity and seeks candidates who will contribute to a climate that supports students, faculty, and staff to all identities and backgrounds. We encourage individuals from underrepresented and/or marginalized identities to apply.