Central Utility Plant Lead
About The Position
JLL empowers you to shape a brighter way. Our people at JLL are shaping the future of real estate for a better world by combining world class services, advisory and technology for our clients. We are committed to hiring the best, most talented people and empowering them to thrive, grow meaningful careers and to find a place where they belong. Whether you’ve got deep experience in commercial real estate, skilled trades or technology, or you’re looking to apply your relevant experience to a new industry, join our team as we help shape a brighter way forward. Central Plant Lead – JLL What this job involves: Step into a senior leadership role as Central Plant Lead where you'll serve as the primary technical authority for our Central Utility Plant operations. This position combines hands-on operational leadership with strategic oversight of mission-critical building systems that support business continuity. You'll bridge plant operations, engineering execution, and maintenance strategy while acting as the primary escalation point for plant-related issues and performance optimization. This role offers the opportunity to lead a technical team, drive reliability improvements, and contribute to JLL's engineering excellence standards in a dynamic, high-impact environment. What your day-to-day will look like: Lead daily Central Plant operations with full accountability for operational uptime, system reliability, and lifecycle performance of chilled water systems, boilers, cooling towers, and pumping systems Direct plant start-ups, shutdowns, seasonal changeovers, and load transfers while serving as the technical decision-maker during abnormal conditions and system incidents Own execution quality of preventive, predictive, and corrective maintenance programs while performing advanced troubleshooting and leading root-cause analysis following equipment failures Provide leadership and technical direction to Central Plant Operators and Engineering staff, establishing clear expectations for safety, documentation, and operational discipline Utilize BAS analytics, trending data, and performance metrics to identify degradation trends, optimize efficiency, and proactively mitigate potential failures Champion zero-incident safety culture while ensuring compliance with OSHA, NFPA, EPA requirements including LOTO, confined space entry, and chemical handling protocols Maintain accurate CMMS documentation, plant logs, and SOPs while supporting KPI reporting on uptime performance, energy use, and reliability trends.
Requirements
- High school diploma or equivalent required
- 7+ years of progressive experience operating or maintaining central plant or critical mechanical systems
- 2-3+ years in a senior engineer, lead technician, or supervisory plant operations role
- Advanced knowledge of chilled water systems, plant sequencing, HVAC thermodynamics, and reliability-centered maintenance principles
- Experience with BAS platforms, data-driven diagnostics, and ability to interpret mechanical/electrical one-lines, P&IDs, and control sequences
- Strong leadership skills with ability to provide after-hours on-call technical support and escalation management.
Nice To Haves
- Associate's or Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering, HVAC, Facilities Management, or related field
- Licensed or certified HVAC/Mechanical professional with Universal EPA Certification
- NFPA/OSHA safety training and operator certifications related to boilers or central plant systems
- Experience with critical environment operations, risk-based decision-making, and capital planning support.
Responsibilities
- Lead daily Central Plant operations with full accountability for operational uptime, system reliability, and lifecycle performance of chilled water systems, boilers, cooling towers, and pumping systems
- Direct plant start-ups, shutdowns, seasonal changeovers, and load transfers while serving as the technical decision-maker during abnormal conditions and system incidents
- Own execution quality of preventive, predictive, and corrective maintenance programs while performing advanced troubleshooting and leading root-cause analysis following equipment failures
- Provide leadership and technical direction to Central Plant Operators and Engineering staff, establishing clear expectations for safety, documentation, and operational discipline
- Utilize BAS analytics, trending data, and performance metrics to identify degradation trends, optimize efficiency, and proactively mitigate potential failures
- Champion zero-incident safety culture while ensuring compliance with OSHA, NFPA, EPA requirements including LOTO, confined space entry, and chemical handling protocols
- Maintain accurate CMMS documentation, plant logs, and SOPs while supporting KPI reporting on uptime performance, energy use, and reliability trends.
Benefits
- 401(k) plan with matching company contributions
- Comprehensive Medical, Dental & Vision Care
- Paid parental leave at 100% of salary
- Paid Time Off and Company Holidays
- Early access to earned wages through Daily Pay
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Mid Level
Education Level
High school or GED
