Associate Director of MEP (Mechanical, Electrical, and Plumbing)

University of Southern California•Los Angeles, CA

About The Position

In this role you will provide strategic and technical leadership for the Mechanical, Electrical, Plumbing, and Elevator (MEP) operations that support campus-wide infrastructure. This role oversees multiple skilled trade shops, ensures the reliability and performance of critical building systems, and drives a culture of proactive maintenance, operational excellence, and data‑driven decision-making. You will be responsible for the full lifecycle of campus assets, from initial installation through preventive maintenance, corrective repairs, and long-term asset renewal. A key function of this role is working through frontline supervisors to execute work, develop staff capabilities, and maintain high-performing systems across all facilities.

Requirements

Extensive experience in Mechanical, Electrical, Plumbing, and/or Elevator systems, with strong diagnostic and problem-solving skills.
Valid CA Driver’s License with a minimum of 2 years’ driving experience.
Position will be participating in the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) Pull Notice System.
Demonstrated success managing skilled trades, maintenance programs, or technical operations in a complex facilities environment.
Proven ability to build and manage preventive maintenance programs across multiple disciplines.
Strong understanding of asset lifecycle management, infrastructure distribution systems, and renewal planning.
Experience using CMMS platforms to manage work orders, assets, and operational workflows.
Ability to lead through supervisors, fostering teamwork, communication, and high performance.
Excellent organizational, analytical, and communication skills.

Nice To Haves

Bachelor’s degree in engineering, facilities management, or a related field.
Certifications such as CEFP, CFM, FMP, PMP, or trade-specific licenses.
Experience in higher education, healthcare, or similarly complex multi-building environments.

Responsibilities

Provide day-to-day leadership for the Engineering Shop, Electrical, Plumbing, and Elevator shops, ensuring coordinated, efficient, and high-quality service delivery.
Work through frontline supervisors to plan, assign, and complete work, ensuring accountability, communication, and alignment with organizational priorities.
Foster a culture of safety, technical excellence, and continuous improvement across all MEP functions.
Ensure operational best practices are followed in organizational structure, workflow design, and work order management.
Serve as the department’s technical expert for diagnosing, troubleshooting, and resolving complex issues across MEP systems.
Ensure all equipment and assets operate effectively through their expected life cycles, applying industry standards and predictive maintenance strategies.
Oversee compliance-related maintenance for systems such as elevators, backflow prevention, boilers, and electrical distribution.
Build, implement, and manage comprehensive preventive maintenance (PM) programs for multiple trade shops.
Use asset data, manufacturer recommendations, and operational history to optimize PM frequencies, labor allocations, and task design.
Ensure PM programs are consistently executed, documented, and refined based on performance metrics and system needs.
Manage the campus asset portfolio from inception through renewal, including installation, commissioning, maintenance, and end-of-life planning.
Oversee infrastructure distribution systems to ensure reliability, redundancy, and long-term sustainability.
Collaborate with Engineering Services, Asset Renewal and Capital Project teams to align asset renewal strategies with campus growth and modernization.
Lead the effective use of the Computerized Maintenance Management System (CMMS) to track labor, materials, asset history, and work order performance.
Ensure accurate data entry, reporting, and analysis to support operational decisions and resource planning.
Develop workflows and standards that leverage CMMS capabilities to improve efficiency, transparency, and accountability.