Assistant Director - Engineering and Project Support

University of Texas at Austin•Austin, TX

2d•Onsite

About The Position

The Assistant Director will lead the Engineering & Project Oversight groups within UEM, supporting UEM operations, energy management, maintenance, and distribution groups. This role ensures alignment with UEM’s goals of supplying safe, resilient, and efficient energy and water services to the campus community. The Assistant Director will provide leadership and oversight for UEM's Engineering team. Provide engineering and utility information support services to UEM departmental teams in the planning, design, and execution of engineering programs and projects aligned with Utilities and Energy Management (UEM) mission and the University's strategic plan. Engineering will lead environmental compliance, coordinating with Environmental Health & Safety (EH&S) and UEM staff to ensure utility operations comply with University, State, and Federal requirements. Additionally, the Assistant Director will provide leadership and strategic direction for all UEM project support activities, ensuring alignment with organizational goals and operational priorities.The role involves working with multiple stakeholders to design and implement streamlined processes that enhance utilities generation, distribution, and infrastructure reliability, while championing the adoption of innovative tools and best practices to improve performance.

Requirements

Graduation from an accredited four-year college or university with a degree in Engineering or a related field.
Licensed P.E. in the State of Texas.
Knowledge of project management, engineering / utility standards, and environmental compliance.
Minimum of 10 years of relevant experience in a utility management, public works, or related field.
Five or more years of progressively responsible managerial and administrative experience in a utilities system.
Strong leadership skills to manage and develop teams, strategic plans, and execute technical programs or projects.
Excellent verbal and written communication skills to interact effectively with various stakeholders.
Experience in budget development, financial management, and resource allocation.
An equivalent combination of education, experience, and training that provides the required knowledge, skills, and abilities.
Relevant education and experience may be substituted as appropriate.
Must be authorized to work in the United States on a full-time basis for any employee without sponsorship.
This job requires a class "C" operator's driver's license.
The applicant selected must provide a current three year driving record from the current state of residence.
If not currently a Texas resident, a Texas driver's license must be obtained within 30 days of becoming a Texas resident.
Employees who are required to have a CDL are subject to drug and alcohol testing (pre-employment, post-accident, reasonable suspicion, random, return-to-duty, and follow-up drug and alcohol testing).

Nice To Haves

Master or higher degree in Engineering or related field.
Certified as a Certified Energy Manager or Project Management Professional.
Eight or more years of progressively responsible managerial and administrative experience in a utilities system.
15 years of relevant experience in administrative practices and procedures as applied to the operations of a utilities department.
Experience/knowledge about utility operations and maintenance, system planning, and work processes.
Experience in a University Campus environment.

Responsibilities

Manage project oversight team for UEM: Provide leadership and strategic direction for all UEM project support activities, ensuring alignment with organizational goals and operational priorities.
Establish and implement processes for tracking project milestones, performance metrics, and outcomes, ensuring adherence to UEM standards and objectives.
Act as a liaison between project teams, UEM leadership, and campus stakeholders to ensure projects align with institutional goals and strategic initiatives.
Advocate for UEM’s needs and priorities in cross-functional and campus-wide projects, ensuring consistent representation and resource allocation.
Oversee UEM engineering team for UEM: Lead the planning, design, and execution of engineering projects to enhance utilities generation, distribution, and infrastructure reliability.
Oversee feasibility studies, budgeting, and technical design, ensuring projects align with UEM’s strategic objectives and operational priorities.
Provide expert technical guidance on engineering initiatives, ensuring compliance with legal, procurement, and code requirements.
Oversee engineering services contracts working with contract management teams to renew and amend contracts as needed to maintain services (UEM IDIQ PSP contracts).
Oversee modeling of UEM utility distribution systems for the addition of new buildings and updates to UEM campus models.
Directs program to sustain project compliance with UEM design criteria, technical specifications, and UEM staff engagement on project teams through design and construction: Develop and maintain UEM technical specifications and design standards, working directly with UEM Divisions and Planning, Design, and Construction (PDC).
Work with UEM engineering team to assure design criteria and technical specifications clearly communicate UEM requirements
Assure UEM staff are assigned to Technical Review Team (TRT) review teams and Design & Construction Specification Reveiw (DCSR) teams
Monitor campus projects for compliance
Serves as UEM’s knowledge expert for utility information data collection, geospatial technologies, and lifecycle modeling.
Maintain knowledge and skills in the latest industry standards and integrate emerging technologies essential to the role.
Leads the development of technical specifications and standards for UEM utility as-built documentation and geospatial assets related to campus and utility projects in collaboration with UEM and Campus Operations teams.
Manage environmental compliance programs lead by UEM: Clean Air Act Permitting and Reporting applicable to point sources owned and operated by UEM (EPA Title V permit's, Standard Permits, PBR's, etc)
Serve as the primary point of contact with State and Federal regulatory agencies for environmental inspections and audits as well as investigation and responses to environmental incidents
Identify and delegate compliance tasks required of UEM employees and contractors such as reporting, pollution controls, inspections, testing, and training
Support environmental compliance programs lead by EHS: Hazardous materials (Chemical Inventory, Asbestos, Lead, Other), Spill prevention and response, regulated and non-regulated waste, storm and wastewater, underground and aboveground storage tanks, and drinking water quality
Serve as the primary point of contact with EHS
Work with EHS and UEM team members to identify and delegate compliance tasks required of UEM employees and contractors such as reporting, pollution controls, inspections, testing, licensing, and training
Lead UEM's R&R stakeholder involvement: Advocate for R&R funds for UEM assets through governance documents and as projects are assessed
Manage staff serving on R&R funding evaluation teams
Ensure R&R programs for UEM assets are being funded and completed.
Follow all University and UEM safety policies and procedures, take required safety training, and identify and report safety hazards.
Perform work tasks in a safe manner, wear the proper personal protective equipment, and report near misses and incidents.
Abide by Utilities and Energy Management's set of core values: Safety, Respect, Integrity, Reliability, Teamwork, and Excellence
Performs other related functions as assigned.
Attends staff meetings, safety training or meetings.
Attends plant operation and maintenance training courses.
Required to carry University cell phone during work hours.
Adheres to Utilities and University policies and procedures.
Drive university vehicle or cart.
Maintain acceptable driver rating as established in Policy: UTS157 Section 2.5.4.

Benefits

Competitive health benefits (employee premiums covered at 100%, family premiums at 50%)
Voluntary Vision, Dental, Life, and Disability insurance options
Generous paid vacation, sick time, and holidays
Teachers Retirement System of Texas, a defined benefit retirement plan, with employer matching funds
Additional Voluntary Retirement Programs: Tax Sheltered Annuity 403(b) and a Deferred Compensation program 457(b)
Flexible spending account options for medical and childcare expenses
Robust free training access through LinkedIn Learning plus professional conference opportunities.
Tuition assistance
Expansive employee discount program including athletic tickets
Free access to UT Austin’s libraries and museums with staff ID card
Free rides on all UT shuttle and Austin CapMetro buses with staff ID card