Central Plant Lead

JLL•Round Rock, TX

2d•Onsite

About The Position

As a Central Plant Lead at JLL, you'll serve as the technical and operational authority for the Central Utility Plant (CUP), providing hands-on leadership and accountability for the safe, reliable, and efficient operation of all plant systems. This role places you at the center of mission-critical infrastructure—chilled water plants, boilers, cooling towers, and building automation systems—where your expertise directly ensures business continuity and reduces unplanned downtime. You'll bridge plant operations, engineering execution, safety compliance, and client service delivery while acting as the primary escalation point for plant-related risks, failures, and optimization opportunities. At JLL, we are collectively shaping a brighter way—for our clients, ourselves and our fellow employees—and in this position, you'll lead by example, mentoring operators and engineers while maintaining continuous situational awareness of plant performance and system constraints.

Requirements

HS diploma or GED
7+ years of progressive experience in central plant or critical mechanical systems operations with deep knowledge of chillers, boilers, hydronic systems, and building automation platforms
2–3+ years in a lead, senior engineer, or supervisory role within a plant environment, demonstrating hands-on leadership and technical decision-making authority
Strong expertise in preventive and predictive maintenance execution, including troubleshooting complex issues across mechanical, electrical, and controls systems
Proven ability to lead and develop technical teams in a 24/7 operational environment, including after-hours escalation support and emergency response coordination
Valid stationary engineer license, boiler operator license, or equivalent certification as required by local jurisdiction
Comprehensive understanding of safety compliance requirements including LOTO, confined space entry, chemical handling, and regulatory inspection readiness
Proficiency with CMMS platforms (Corrigo preferred) for work order management, documentation, and performance reporting

Nice To Haves

Associate's or Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering, HVAC, Facilities Management, or related technical field
Experience managing operations for central plants supporting large commercial, institutional, or campus environments with multiple building loads
EPA Universal CFC certification and familiarity with chemical treatment programs for cooling and heating water systems
Demonstrated success in energy management initiatives, capital planning support, and lifecycle replacement projects
Strong analytical skills with experience using BAS analytics, trending data, and performance metrics to drive optimization and prevent equipment degradation
Experience supporting client service level agreements, regulatory audits, and multi-stakeholder coordination in complex facility environments

Responsibilities

Lead day-to-day operation of the Central Plant including chillers, boilers, cooling towers, pumping systems, and building automation systems, ensuring all equipment operates within design intent and manufacturer recommendations
Direct critical plant activities such as startups, shutdowns, load transfers, seasonal changeovers, and abnormal operating conditions while serving as the technical authority for operational decision-making
Own execution quality for preventive and predictive maintenance programs, troubleshooting complex mechanical, electrical, and controls issues to determine root cause and implement corrective actions
Provide daily leadership and technical coaching to Central Plant Operators and Engineers, including work assignment, prioritization, after-hours on-call oversight, and performance development
Champion a zero-incident safety culture by enforcing compliance with OSHA, NFPA, EPA, and ASHRAE standards, including proper execution of lockout/tagout, confined space entry, and hot work protocols
Serve as the trusted technical representative to clients, communicating plant status, risks, and planned activities clearly to stakeholders while supporting audits and performance reviews
Identify and implement plant efficiency improvements through load optimization, sequencing enhancements, and energy management initiatives that reduce lifecycle costs and support sustainability goals