Associate Director of Strategic Operations

(University Staff Professional 3) 

OPEN TO CURRENT UCONN EMPLOYEES AT THE STORRS/REGIONAL CAMPUSES ONLY

JOB SUMMARY

Reporting to the Business Service Center Director in Facilities Operations (FO), the Associate Director of Strategic Operations is responsible for managing the Operations Center that provides the University community service and support on a 24/7/365 basis and handles an average of 80,000 work orders annually for all UConn campuses that encompass all trades and complexities to include facilities, residential housing and building maintenance, repairs and emergencies, notification of power outages, monitoring fire alarms, the status of IT systems, utility systems, building automation controls, physical security systems and cameras, non-emergency life-safety systems and key and card access control. The Associate Director of Strategic Operations also oversees the Facilities Customer Service Center for parking, locksmith, and other Facilities operations services.

Associate Director of Strategic Operations directly and indirectly manages staff, the services provided by vendors and contractors, and the department’s strategy and day-to-day administration and improvement of FO software systems, applications, and technical reporting functions. Incumbent assists with FO long-term planning and is responsible for the Storrs and regional campuses’ Preventive Maintenance and Asset Management Programs including the 5-Year Facilities Projects Plan, the Building Condition Assessment Program and the establishment and management of a 20-year Deferred Maintenance Program.

Facilities Operations has over 400 employees represented by four labor unions as well as management exempt employees responsible for the University’s custodial and housekeeping services, building maintenance and repairs, landscaping, utility production and distribution, transportation, parking, commercial and residential rental property management, warehouse operations, mail distribution, facility renovation and maintenance projects, as well as all skilled mechanical, electrical and plumbing (MEP) and building trades for the main Storrs campus, five regional campuses and other Agriculture Extension locations throughout Connecticut.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Include but are not limited to:

• Provides direction and strategic leadership of the University’s 24/7/365 Operation Center; ensures effective and efficient delivery of services, system capability and operational flexibility. Participates in current and future planning for the continuous functionality of the University’s 24/7/365 Operation Center and that provisions for expansion are consistent with business objectives and the University’s overall mission, including the incorporation of the Decarbonization program, the Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) system, new electrical infrastructure and new campus buildings.
• Develops and implements the FO Customer Service Center and a customer-oriented team that combines all functions currently provided through the FO Center, Parking Services Counter and Locksmith Service Counter. Oversees the evaluation and updating of existing processes (business, operational, and technical), standard operating procedures and performance enhancements to improve effectiveness and efficiency.
• Responsible for staffing, hiring, evaluation, supervision, and training of staff directly or through appropriate manager or supervisor; provides daily and long-term direction, guidance, prioritization of work activities. Serves as the departmental representative at grievance hearings, fact findings, pre-disciplinary hearings, and other labor related issues.
• Continuously demonstrates positive leadership qualities by providing direction, coaching, training and mentoring to enhance employee performance. Ensures adequate staffing levels to support business operations and that work is assigned appropriately and completed properly.
• Recommends and manages the implementation of policies and procedures to ensure the 24/7 Operations Center meets customer demand related to efficient customer service, facilities work order requests, system functionality and data accuracy. Performs complex troubleshooting for unique and/or complex situations that arise require immediate resolution; ensures all Operation Center communications effectively address problem and related decisions align with established policies and standard operating procedures.
• Working with the Divisions of University Safety Fire Marshall and Deputy Chiefs, and Information Technology Services Managers, responds to inquiries and ensures proper communication, reporting and critical systems monitoring for all University fire alarm and detection systems, such as life safety, physical security, building automation, ITS servers, batch production, etc.
• Assures appropriate systems, processes and procedures are in place for the efficient operation of assigned units; prepares and evaluates reports, records, and documentation; determines necessary changes for overall department improvement, operational efficiency, and cost reduction initiatives. Provides analyses and recommendations for system-wide changes based on data driven findings.
• Responsible for evaluating, developing, managing, and maintaining application systems and workflow processes for Facilities Operations’ construction, building maintenance cost, building automation, parking enforcement, project management, business analytics. Maintains current knowledge of applicable technology; researches, evaluates, identifies and recommends technology solutions.
• Works with vendors and collaborates with ITS technical staff as the functional lead for specific FO projects, on the installation of new projects, system components, enhancements and/or upgrades and to resolve system integration, server, or security issues.
• Serves as subject matter expert for the Integrated Workplace Management System (IWMS), AiM, and other technical applications. Analyzes and provides both standard and complex data using various reporting and analytics tools to develop in-depth technical analysis, reports and business analytics designed to optimize FO business practices, align technology solutions with business strategies and provide recommendations to Facilities Operations leadership regarding short and long-term planning.
• Oversees the Preventive Maintenance, and Asset Planning Programs for UConn Facilities Operations that include identification, documentation, maintenance, repair or replacement strategies of over 30,000 infrastructure and mechanical controllable assets worth over $100+ million, 12,000,000 square feet of buildings at Storrs and all regional campuses.
• Establishes and manages a 20-year Deferred Maintenance program for replacement of building components by establishing valuations and determining remainder of life for such components. Provides data analytics to prioritize critical building components to the Associate Director of Building Trades and Director of Project Administration.
• Develops maintains and updates the Building Condition Assessment Program (BCA) to continually assess University properties, update the asset inventory and inform the development of the Facilities Five-Year Plan and budget for future needs and requirements; collaborates with the Director of Project Administration on planning, prioritization and processing of projects laid out in the 5-Year Plan.
• Establishes procedures and processes; makes adjustments for time sensitive life-safety system repairs and daily operational functions of contracted life safety system technicians (Encore Fire Protection, JCI/Simplex, Siemens Industry); coordinates inspections for fire alarm, sprinklers, emergency lighting, etc.
• Provides oversight of contracts and life safety service agreements (SLAs) (approx. $2.2M) to ensure all systems are monitored, vendors are contacted for deficiencies and necessary repairs are completed in a timely manner. Coordinates with University Safety on all life safety system matters and service agreements.
• Identifies key stakeholders impacted by the proposed initiative, business need and/or issue and conducts stakeholder analysis. Coordinates planning and operational activities; works collaboratively with Facilities Operations staff and University departments to ensure proper delivery of campus utilities, service quality, and operational effectiveness; notifies appropriate personnel for any unusual or unforeseen event concerning facilities services issues.
• Responsible for ensuring the proper configuration and usage of such applications meet departmental and University needs; develops procedures to analyze or improve the performance and efficiency of software and hardware systems; documents procedures and all technical work in user guides for future reference.
• Responsible for the development and oversight of the Operations Center budget (approx. $300K) and the Facilities Technology Account (approx. $460k) for all software and hardware purchased by FO.
• Responsible for the forecasting of future capital expenditures as it pertains to deferred maintenance in conjunction with asset management, preventative maintenance, and the building condition assessment program. Serves as a key contributor to the annual capital and operating budgets needs of campus facilities; assists with prioritizing projects that are within the allocated budget for each fiscal year.
• Generates information and data to develop reports; synthesizes information for Facilities management and other internal and external units; ensures timely flow of information to and from the Business Services and AVP offices; develops and presents departmental presentations for internal and external departments and constituents.
• Develops innovative cross-functional support through the Operations Center and Customer Service Center to reduce University administration costs; evaluates, implements, and monitors best practices for business services and process change improvements that are sustainable and repeatable.
• Participates in the development of training and onboarding programs for new employees as related to systems and applications access; administers access control systems to ensure compliance with established policies for FO employees and other University stakeholders.
• May act on behalf of supervisor in his/her absence, as directed.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

1. Must be a current UConn employee.
2. Bachelor’s degree and ten (10) years of related experience; OR a master’s degree and eight (8) years of related experience; OR a combination of education and/or related experience totaling fourteen (14) years of progressive management experience in a large, complex setting or in a similar environment.
3. Five (5) years of experience strategizing, planning, and overseeing operational services in a complex organization.
4. Experience supervising staff.
5. Knowledge of the UConn Storrs campus building locations and infrastructure.
6. Experience with UConn systems applications and Public Safety operations and protocols.
7. Demonstrated ability to translate long-term strategies into day-to-day operations aligning resources with goals in an environment of competitive demands and resources.
8. Highly technical and demonstrated experience assessing end user’s business needs, identifying complex issues, and developing creative solutions to meet identified business requirements.
9. Experience prioritizing work and meeting time sensitive deadlines, including follow-through while balancing and prioritizing multiple activities and responsibilities.
10. Demonstrated experience increasing procedural efficiencies using software applications.
11. Demonstrated change management concepts and strategies including excellent communication skills.
12. Ability to work effectively with a variety of constituents including administrators, staff, internal departments, and external agencies/groups and the public.
13. Must be available to report to or remain at work during emergency closures, emergency repairs or significant events that affect operations.

 PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

1. Three (3) years of experience running a high-volume call center operation in a university setting.
2. Five (5) years of experience as an Applications Administrator.
3. Experience using an Enterprise Asset Management Software Application and Integrated Workplace Management System (IWMS) such as AiM.
4. Five (5) years of experience with report writing tools such as WebFocus, BIRT, PowerBI, AimIQ.
5. Proven experience managing vendors and contractors and administering contracts to complete operational functions.
6. Experience using the Kuali Financial System and creating WebFocus reports.
7. Excellent analysis and project management skills.
8. Knowledge of and/or familiarity with University Procurement policies and procedures.
9. Experience using HuskyBuy, UConn’s eProcurement portal.
10. Experience leading a software
11. Experience in a public institution or in higher education similar in size and complexity to the University of Connecticut.

APPOINTMENT TERMS

This is a full-time position. The work schedule for this position is Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. with an hour for lunch.  This position is categorized as Emergency Support Services/Essential Staff. Must be willing and able to work during emergency closures/delayed openings due to inclement weather or for significant events that effect campus operations.

TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT

Employment of the successful candidate is contingent upon the successful completion of a pre-employment criminal background check.

TO APPLY

Please apply online at https://hr.uconn.edu/jobs, Staff Positions, Search #497205 to upload a resume, cover letter, and contact information for three (3) professional references.

This job posting is scheduled to be removed at 11:55 p.m. Eastern time on April 4, 2023.

All employees are subject to adherence to the State Code of Ethics which may be found at http://www.ct.gov/ethics/site/default.asp.

 

Facilities Operations Associate Director of Utilities Infrastructure (University Staff Professional 3)

OPEN TO CURRENT UCONN EMPLOYEES AT THE STORRS/REGIONAL CAMPUSES AND UCONN HEALTH

JOB SUMMARY

Under the direction of the Executive Director of Energy and Building Trades, the Associate Director of Utilities Infrastructure is responsible for delivering technical, professional and leadership for the day-to-day oversight of the distributed steam, electricity, chilled water, emergency power and water systems (domestic, reclaimed, purified, waste and storm water) for the University of Connecticut.  The Associate Director serves as the University’s advocate in regard to all utility and energy distribution services relevant to future initiatives for planning, construction, operations, budget forecasting for department expenditures, evaluation of the services provided and performance enhancement of these services.

The Associate Director oversees high and medium voltage (69kV and 13.8kV) switching and tagging procedures and execution; collaborate with the high voltage power distribution electricians; enforces safety initiatives and regulatory requirements; develops, updates and implements standard operating procedures, such as life safety and utility management plans; and provides support for university expansion initiatives including incorporation of a new fuel hydrogen, and acquisition of over 13 miles of medium voltage electrical infrastructure and controls. The Utility Systems Distribution portfolio includes managing approximately 25 personnel and associated maintenance spend of $5 million.

BACKGROUND

The University of Connecticut has over 13,000,000 square feet of buildings, five miles of steam distribution systems, ten miles of water distribution and waste/storm water systems, 6,000 acres of land that is landscaped, farmed or open space, 5,000 employees and a student population of 18,000 when classes are in session. Planned expansion of the university and incorporation of a new fuel hydrogen, acquisition of over 13 miles of medium voltage electrical infrastructure and controls are increasing the need for highly trained and qualified staff to manage the growth, effectively and economically. It is essential that these services, upon which the population and mission of the university depend, are approached with a comprehensive and integrated methodology that is informed by its daily operations and future needs.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Contribute to the development and implementation of university-wide goals and objectives for Utilities Distribution Operations and Procedures. Ensure proper delivery of services, system capability, reliability, operational flexibility, safety, regulatory compliance, physical security, maintenance, and provisions for future expansion.
• Direct the operation of the distribution systems and manage staff involved in the administration and operations of Utilities Distribution Operations. Responsible for staffing, hiring, evaluation and training for all staff within the group including supervision, professional development, mentoring/training, development planning, performance reviews, goal setting and leadership that ensures the integrity and success of the group.
• Responsible for mitigating, overseeing, and managing both scheduled and unscheduled, emergency repairs to utility distribution systems (24/7) and for managing all operational communications and related decisions within the utilities distribution group, faculty/departments, project representatives, local utility representatives and vendors to ensure safe and proper coordination of operations, maintenance, and construction activities.
• Effectively provide management and oversight of vendors and suppliers, including contract administration and completion of work or projects; support the development of strategic sourcing initiatives, contract negotiation and monitoring contract compliance. Participate in vendor interviews and project introductions.
• Ensure compliance with all University policies and applicable regulations for all Utility systems for all federal (e.g. EPA), state (e.g. DEEP) and local agencies (e.g. Town of Mansfield). This includes but is not limited to Title V and other air permits for fuel burning equipment; National Pollution Discharge Environmental System (NPDES) wastewater discharge permits, Department of Public Health regulations for drinking water quality compliance; as well as the creation and adherence to ISO-NE and OSHA compliant High and Medium Voltage distribution system safe work practices.
• Collaborate with leadership, peers, faculty representatives, architects, engineers, and campus service personnel on construction, renovation, capital projects; participate in project planning, peer reviews and other initiatives to strengthen collaboration and efficiency, provide support for projects and strategic planning, and participate in developing design solutions.
• Assist in the development of Capital Renewal Budgets informed by strategic plans and capital budget efforts, current initiatives, infrastructure life cycle condition/capacity and suggestions from operational personnel.
• Collaborate with and provide input to Facilities Operations’ units and groups regarding operational issues, strategic planning, capital improvements, project planning, and multi-year operational and capital planning.
• Effectively address and respond to union contractual and personnel issues as they arise. Serve as a representative at applicable grievance hearings, fact findings, pre-disciplinary hearings, and other labor related issues.
• Develop and maintain an effective working relationship with Town of Mansfield officials within the infrastructure arena such as the Town Engineer, Town Planner, Water and Wastewater Advisory Group, and Emergency Management Planning, the Connecticut State Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (CTDEEP), and Department of Public Health (DPH) in order to assist both the University and the Town of Mansfield for future initiatives and planning.
• Participate in the development of operational policies that cross unit lines consistent with strategic planning initiatives/goals of university and energy and water conservation principals. Work collaboratively with Facilities Operations, UPDC, and other units to implement and evaluate policies, identify problems and areas for improvement and additional needs.
• Work in concert with local utility companies to ensure operational disruptions are minimized. Serve as primary point of contact between service providers/contractors and University departmental staff and administrators on assigned projects.
• Prepare presentations and other documents and participate in meetings, committees, and other forums.
• Assist in the coordination of activities and resources assigned to the University project(s) regarding:
  • Technical support and review of proposed operational and infrastructure renovations.
  • Financial modeling and funding coordination with public and private sources.
  • Preparation and finalization of contract documents.
• Assist with directing assigned projects and conducting technical feasibility assessments which includes, but is not limited to:
  • Cost/savings/benefit ratios for Sustainable Utility Infrastructure upgrades, utility systems renovation, and campus infrastructure retrofits.
  • Leads the development and execution of utility energy systems (UES) operational programs, maintenance programs and small capital projects.
  • Participates in meetings or events related to utility or University operations.
• Assist with planning and execution of projects for Utilities and energy in coordination with the Master Plan and Framework Consultant Utilities Modeling.
• Perform related duties or other special project duties as required.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

1. Must be a current UConn Employee.
2. Bachelor’s degree in engineering, facilities management, business or relative field or an equivalency of training and work experience.
3. Must have five (5) years managing large work crews in multiple trades in a large, complex environment that includes front line management for operations crews overseeing technically sophisticated utility/energy facilities and infrastructure.
4. Must have five (5) years of experience managing a distributed utility system involving no fewer than three (3) of the following: steam, chilled water, domestic water, reclaim water, sewer, and electrical power in a campus or municipality.
5. Must have five (5) or more years of experience with OSHA 1926 and other related requirements for switching and tagging, requirements for electrical transmission and distribution lines.
6. Must be adept in mechanical and electrical disciplines.
7. Must have extensive knowledge to ensure compliance with all federal, state, and local laws and ordinances affecting scheduled and emergency repairs to infrastructure both on and off campus.
8. Must be a proven leader with ability to translate long-term strategies into day-to-day operations.
9. Knowledge of budgeting methods and zero-based budget process, budget projections and cost control.
10. Must have strong interpersonal skills as well as excellent verbal and written communication.
11. Must have the ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with the University community.
12. Must be able to create a scope of work and read and interpret complex engineering/ architectural drawings and contract documents.
13. Must be proficient in MS Office.  Must have experience with project controls systems/tools, project management software and/or asset management systems.
14. Must have dependable transportation and valid driver’s license and able to respond to calls on a 24/7 basis for emergencies, campus closures, inclement weather and campus events that affect the campus.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

1. Master’s degree in engineering or related Field.
2. Experience managing multi-million-dollar energy portfolio.
3. Experience using a CMMS such as Asset Works, AiM, and SCADA systems.
4. Experience managing a unionized and non-unionized workforce.
5. Experience working in a higher education environment or similar.
6. Knowledge of Global imaging Systems (GIS), Computer Aided Drafting and Design (Auto Cad and Database software (Access).
7. Industrial or municipal water treatment experience.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS

Must be able to inspect and review facilities issues near live electrical equipment, rotating machinery, and other mechanical systems.  Use of personal protective equipment is required when/where necessary.

APPOINTMENT TERMS

This is a full-time position located at Storrs campus.  Starting salary for this position will be commensurate with experience.  This position is categorized as Emergency Support Services/Essential Staff.  Must be willing and able to work during emergency closures/delayed openings due to inclement weather or for significant events that effect campus operations.

TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT 

Employment of the successful candidate is contingent upon the successful completion of a pre-employment criminal background check.

TO APPLY

Please apply online at https://hr.uconn.edu/jobs, Staff Positions, Search #497329 to upload a resume, cover letter, and contact information for three (3) professional references.

This job posting is scheduled to be removed at 11:55 p.m. Eastern time on April 7, 2023.

All employees are subject to adherence to the State Code of Ethics which may be found at http://www.ct.gov/ethics/site/default.asp.

The University of Connecticut is committed to building and supporting a multicultural and diverse community of students, faculty and staff. The diversity of students, faculty and staff continues to increase, as does the number of honors students, valedictorians and salutatorians who consistently make UConn their top choice. More than 100 research centers and institutes serve the University’s teaching, research, diversity, and outreach missions, leading to UConn’s ranking as one of the nation’s top research universities. UConn’s faculty and staff are the critical link to fostering and expanding our vibrant, multicultural and diverse University community. As an Affirmative Action/Equal Employment Opportunity employer, UConn encourages applications from women, veterans, people with disabilities and members of traditionally underrepresented populations.