Utility Plant Operations Manager / Utility Plant Manager II

About Longwood University:

A comprehensive university with a strong liberal arts foundation, Longwood has a distinctive mission to develop citizen leaders who are prepared to make positive contributions to the common good of society. Founded in 1839, Longwood is the third-oldest public university in Virginia.

Longwood is part of the proud tradition of higher education in the Commonwealth of Virginia. Roughly one hour's drive from Charlottesville, Lynchburg, and Richmond, Longwood is located in the historic two-college community of Farmville. Longwood currently has approximately 4,600 undergraduate and graduate students and more than 40,653 alumni. It maintains affiliations with the neighboring Robert Russa Moton Museum of civil rights history and the Longwood Center for Visual Arts, a nationally accredited university art museum. A member of the Big South Conference, Longwood competes at the NCAA Division I level.

Job Description:

Longwood University invites qualified applicants to apply for the position of Utility Plant Operations Manager / Utility Plant Manager II (00454) in Facilities Management and Operations. The successful candidate will oversee and manage the operation, maintenance, repair, and control of the university's central steam plants, steam distribution system, and biomass fuel depot while also ensuring an uninterrupted supply of steam to the university. The Utility Plant Operations Manager will also oversee and manage the operations of the steam fitting shop. This position is considered to be emergency personnel and will be required to report to work in the case of an emergency, inclement weather, or staff shortage, etc.

This position is located in Farmville, Virginia, and is required to work in person on Longwood University's campus.

Essential Responsibilities and Duties:

• Supervise personnel, which typically includes recommendations for hiring, performance evaluations, training, work allocation, problem resolution and disciplinary actions as needed
• Supervise, coordinate, and monitor central steam plant activities
• Maintain equipment and perform related duties to ensure the safe, reliable, and efficient operation of the steam plants, biomass fuel depot, steam distribution system, and auxiliary and support system
• Ensure all operations comply with university policies, procedures, and environmental and safety regulations
• Ensure proper documentation of operational activities in log and/or incident reports
• Prepare and submit reports required by regulatory agencies such as the Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ)
• Analyze plant operational data and reconfigure operating units as necessary to provide adequate and economical service
• Investigate abnormal operating events or equipment failures, determining the cause while making adjustments, repairs, and/or modifications as needed
• Organize and maintain an inventory of fuels, tools, equipment, and supplies. Prepare requisition documents for purchasing replacement parts
• Manage the Utility Plant operations and maintenance program of the assigned trades and identify those areas needing improvement or further development. Ensure all facility equipment is properly operated and maintained while also tracking all material and labor in the Computerized Maintenance Management System (CMMS)
• Implement the Utility Plant facility's preventative maintenance program, including delivering equipment inventory records and providing trend information to the Senior Director of Operations using the Computerized Maintenance Management System (CMMS)
• Perform quality inspections on completed jobs while ensuring conformance with university policies and procedures, building and safety codes, engineering specifications, and local, state, and federal laws, regulations, and ordinances
• Plan, support, and assist maintenance personnel in achieving timely and efficient maintenance schedules
• Assist with the Heating Plant's five-year plan for Maintenance Reserve (MR) projects. Work with Capital Design & Construction and MR Team to determine priorities of campus projects
• Assume leadership role and actively support the university's commitment to diversity
• Perform other duties as assigned. The duties of the position may change from time to time based on need

Requirements:

• Bachelor of Science degree in engineering or related field from an accredited college or university preferred, or equivalent combination of education and work experience
• Thorough knowledge of central steam plant engineering and operations, as well as an understanding of maintenance and repair procedures
• Knowledge of Computerized Maintenance Management System (CMMS)
• Demonstrated ability to monitor and/or maintain quality control, safety, and environmental standards
• Knowledge of supplies, equipment, and/or services ordering and inventory control
• Experience with budget preparation and monitoring procedures, report writing, and recordkeeping
• Demonstrated ability to: communicate/interact effectively orally and in writing; interpret, adapt, and apply guidelines and procedures; supervise and train employees, including organizing, prioritizing, and scheduling work assignments; foster a cooperative work environment; perform inspections and make necessary adjustments to conform to job specifications; and interpret steam plant operational data and make service decisions
• Proficiency in the use of computers and related software applications such as Word, Excel, PowerPoint, scheduling software, and budget software
• Knowledge of inspecting, cleaning, and adjusting steam plant equipment
• Knowledge of pressure testing on piping and pressure vessels
• Thorough knowledge of HVAC systems and building codes
• Boiler operator certification preferred
• Progressively responsible supervisory experience preferred
• Knowledge of operating a central steam plant using biomass fuel (sawdust) and SCADA experience preferred
• Experience with plumbers and steamfitters preferred
• Experience in managing preventative maintenance needs and programs preferred

Additional Information:

This is a full-time, classified, exempt position in a pay band 5. A successful fingerprint-based criminal background investigation is required. AmeriCorps, Peace Corps, and other national service alumni are encouraged to apply.

Commonwealth of Virginia benefits accompany this position to include:

• State health and dental benefits & flexible spending accounts
• Paid leave (which may include sick leave, personal leave, annual leave, etc.), and 13 holidays
• Retirement savings plans (some with limited employer match available (VRS)
• Life & Long-Term care insurance
• Employee Assistance Program
• Employee discounts for various services, including Verizon.
• Educational benefits for most employees
• Cost-effective Fitness Center membership for employees

In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), Longwood University will provide, if requested, reasonable accommodations to applicants in order to provide access to the application and/or interview process. You are not required to note the presence of a disability on your application. If, however, you require accommodations in the application and/or interview process, please contact the Office of Human Resources at 434-395-2074 or humres@longwood.edu.

Per CFR: Title 34, the Title IX Coordinator's contact information can be located through this link http://www.longwood.edu/titleix/.

A diversified workforce is an important part of our strategic plan. EOE/AA

Application Instructions:

Review of applications will begin immediately. Position will be posted a minimum of five business days, position posted 08/22/2025. To apply for this position, qualified applicants must complete the online application and attach a resume, cover letter, and any other documents to be included with your application materials.

If you have been affected by DHRM Policy 1.30 Layoff, and possess a valid Interagency Placement Screening Form (Yellow Card) or a Preferential Hiring Card (Blue Card), you must upload a copy of your card when you submit your application/resume.