What are the responsibilities and job description for the Utilities Manager position at CEO Inc.?
Utilities Manager
Location: Ventura County, California (Relocation Assistance Available)
Position Type: Full-Time
Schedule: Monday–Friday, 8 hours/day
Level: Management
Education: Bachelor’s Degree
Travel: Less than 10%
Industry: Manufacturing
Position Overview
We are seeking an experienced Utilities Manager to lead the operation, maintenance, reliability, and continuous improvement of critical utility systems supporting a large-scale manufacturing facility.
This leadership position will oversee essential infrastructure including steam generation, power distribution, cogeneration equipment, water systems, and wastewater treatment, while ensuring compliance with safety, environmental, and regulatory requirements.
The Utilities Manager will play a key role on the site leadership team and will be responsible for developing people, managing operating costs, improving utility efficiency, and executing strategic capital projects.
Key Responsibilities
- Direct the performance, reliability, and day-to-day management of critical site infrastructure supporting continuous manufacturing operations.
- Provide leadership across energy, process support, water, and waste-management systems to ensure dependable plant operations.
- Establish operating standards and accountability measures that promote safe, reliable, and cost-effective utility performance.
- Monitor system performance, consumption trends, and operating expenses to identify opportunities to improve efficiency and reduce overall costs.
- Lead planning and execution of major maintenance activities, equipment outages, facility shutdowns, and system startups.
- Partner with engineering and maintenance teams on equipment reliability, troubleshooting, inspections, and lifecycle management.
- Develop annual operating plans, capital improvement programs, and long-range strategies for critical infrastructure.
- Evaluate proposed projects and upgrades based on reliability, return on investment, operational risk, and long-term business requirements.
- Maintain compliance with applicable environmental, safety, operating, and regulatory requirements.
- Develop emergency response and business-continuity strategies for critical equipment failures and utility interruptions.
- Serve as a senior member of the site leadership team, contributing to broader operational, financial, and strategic initiatives.
- Build a culture focused on safety, accountability, reliability, continuous improvement, and employee engagement.
- Lead, coach, and develop supervisors, engineers, technical personnel, and hourly operations employees.
- Establish performance expectations and provide ongoing feedback, training, and professional development for the utilities organization.
- Prepare operating reports, financial updates, technical analyses, and performance metrics for facility leadership.
- Collaborate with production, maintenance, engineering, environmental, and corporate teams to resolve complex operational issues.
Ideal Candidate
- Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical, Electrical, Chemical, Industrial, or related Engineering.
- 10 years of experience in a complex industrial environment with increasing responsibility in utilities, energy, infrastructure, or operations.
- Background overseeing industrial power generation, energy systems, steam, water, or related plant infrastructure.
- Experience leading teams in a highly automated or continuous-process manufacturing environment.
- Demonstrated experience managing major equipment outages, turnarounds, shutdowns, and startups.
- Strong understanding of industrial equipment reliability, maintenance practices, and operational risk management.
- Experience managing departmental budgets, operating expenses, and capital projects.
- Proven ability to identify and implement improvements that increase reliability, productivity, and cost efficiency.
- Strong understanding of environmental, safety, and regulatory requirements within an industrial setting.
- Experience leading organizational change and developing high-performing teams.
- Strong analytical, communication, presentation, and decision-making skills.
- Ability to work effectively with both salaried professionals and skilled hourly employees.
- Proficiency with Microsoft Office; experience with Power BI or similar data-analysis tools is a plus.
- Experience in paper, pulp, chemical, energy, refining, or other continuous-process manufacturing is highly desirable.
Leadership Scope
- Lead a team of approximately 3–5 salaried professionals along with a larger hourly operations group.
- Provide direction across multiple utility functions and coordinate activities with production, maintenance, engineering, and environmental teams.
- Maintain accountability for safety, reliability, cost performance, regulatory compliance, and employee development.
Employees are required to use appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE), including hard hats, safety glasses, hearing protection, gloves, and steel-toed footwear.
The company offers a comprehensive benefits package that may include:
- Medical, dental, and vision insurance
- Life and disability insurance
- Retirement savings plan
- Paid holidays
- Paid time off
- Additional company-sponsored benefits