Mechanical, Electrical & Plumbing (MEP) Manager

University of Colorado • Colorado Springs, CO

3d • Onsite

About The Position

Under the direction of the Executive Director of Facilities Management & Operations, the Mechanical, Electrical & Plumbing (MEP) Manager is responsible for the hands-on leadership, operation, and maintenance of all campus mechanical, electrical, plumbing, and related building systems. This is a working supervisory role that balances office coordination with regular field presence, providing direct technical oversight, real-time troubleshooting, and rapid decision-making to maintain reliable building operations and minimize service disruptions across campus. The MEP Manager leads and supports in-house trades staff while coordinating closely with contractors, project managers, and campus partners to plan, prioritize, and execute maintenance, repairs, and system improvements. This position plays a critical role in identifying issues early, resolving problems efficiently, and ensuring building systems operate safely, reliably, and in compliance with applicable codes and standards. The MEP Manager assists with planning, budgeting, and resource allocation for both general fund and auxiliary facilities and provides operational support for construction and renovation projects from planning through commissioning. As essential personnel, the MEP Manager responds to campus emergencies, supports weather-related operations, and serves as a key technical resource during outages or system failures.

Requirements

• Must have a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, facilities management, or a closely related field; OR an equivalent combination of education, accredited apprenticeships, formal trade programs, and progressively responsible MEP experience.
• Must have demonstrated experience in the maintenance, operation, and troubleshooting of mechanical, electrical, and plumbing systems.
• Must have demonstrated supervisory or team‑lead experience in a facilities, construction, or MEP‑focused environment.
• Must have strong experience using a Computerized Maintenance Management System (CMMS), including preventive maintenance planning and documentation.
• Must possess and maintain a current, valid driver’s license.
• Must be willing and able to respond to UCCS emergencies—including snow removal—within 30 minutes.

Nice To Haves

• Experience working in higher‑education, government, or complex multi‑building campus environments is strongly preferred.
• Experience coordinating contractors, managing service agreements, and supporting capital or infrastructure projects is strongly preferred.
• Experience working with university auxiliary facilities is preferred.
• A background in energy management, sustainability initiatives, or system optimization is preferred.
• Demonstrated experience developing, monitoring, and managing budgets is preferred.
• A Universal EPA Section 608 Refrigerant Handling Certification is preferred.
• A Certified Energy Manager (CEM) certification is preferred.
• A Facilities Management Professional (FMP) or Certified Facility Manager (CFM) certification is preferred.
• An APPA Certified Educational Facilities Professional (CEFP) certification is preferred.
• A Journeyman or Master Electrician, Plumber, or HVAC license is preferred.

Responsibilities

• Lead, manage, and work alongside assigned MEP trades staff to ensure timely, high-quality maintenance and repair of campus systems.
• Maintain an active field presence to troubleshoot complex mechanical, electrical, and plumbing issues, make on-the-spot decisions, and coordinate immediate corrective actions to reduce downtime and service impacts.
• Provide direct technical leadership in diagnosing system failures, responding to equipment breakdowns, and managing campus outages related to power, HVAC, plumbing, fire/life-safety, and other critical infrastructure.
• Coordinate internal staff and external contractors during emergency and after-hours responses to restore services as quickly and safely as possible.
• Monitor work quality, inspect completed work, and ensure maintenance activities meet department standards, code requirements, and campus expectations.
• Balance short-term response needs with long-term system reliability by identifying recurring issues and recommending corrective or preventive solutions.
• Oversee work order intake, prioritization, assignment, and closeout to ensure maintenance activities are documented, tracked, and aligned with operational needs.
• Provide task leadership and participate in the removal of snow and ice when weather conditions require it.
• Serve as a working supervisor who provides day-to-day direction, coaching, and technical guidance to MEP trades staff.
• Assign work based on skill level, urgency, and operational impact, while remaining available in the field to assist with complex or high-risk tasks.
• In accordance with Human Resources rules, policies, and guidelines, manage and develop assigned personnel.
• Prepare annual performance evaluations per State and HR guidelines, perform coaching/check-in sessions, and other human resources related requirements.
• Review and update staff position descriptions for congruence with job duties as required. Resolve staff conflict issues immediately, documenting incidents and solutions following HR guidelines and policies.
• Assist staff in professional development. Participate in the hiring process for new maintenance employees. Direct new MEP Maintenance employees.
• Process employee leave.
• Work with Business & Finance Solutions administration staff and Executive Director of Facilities Management & Operations to meet staffing objectives.
• Ensure staff are meeting safety program objectives and behavior practices.
• Participate in the data collection and execution of the State of Colorado’s Controlled Maintenance program and reporting.
• Develop and manage the preventative maintenance program and systems within the assigned department work group to meet yearly stewardship objectives.
• Responsible for the ongoing updating of the preventative maintenance program within the WebTMA system and its execution by staff.
• Conduct periodic inspections of the University buildings, reporting results to the Executive Director of Facilities Management & Operations.
• Add building deficiencies to the maintenance schedule within WebTMA.
• Participate in maintenance projects/tasks as needed or required.
• Generate bids/estimates from various supply distributors and vendors for campus maintenance/repair projects.
• Recommend process improvements and/or equipment recommendations for more efficient operation.
• Schedule and coordinates most efficient and/or productive means of completing the task.
• Provide technical support for projects managed by the Planning, Design and Construction group.
• Coordinate outages related to projects, perform quality assurance inspections, attend project walk-throughs, and assist with system startup/commissioning as required.
• Effectively respond to and communicate with customers using the WebTMA system, phone, email and face-to-face.
• Ensure compliance with department, state, and federal rules and regulations.
• Guide and direct the department work group purchases.
• Manage the General Fund and Auxiliary MEP maintenance budgets, while working within financial objectives to meet monthly and yearly targets.
• Work with the Materials, Acquisition and Distribution Manager and vendors to streamline department ordering and delivery processes.
• Audit staff work orders to ensure chargebacks are accounted for.
• Establish and coordinate the purchasing of equipment and supplies so campus service requirements are maintained.
• Keep account of equipment using WebTMA.
• Responsible for timely processing and payment of external provider invoices following established procurement guidelines and processes.
• Perform materials and services research when required to determine product availability and cost.
• Assist in the creation of financial reports as needed.
• Assist the Executive Director of Facilities Management & Operations in the yearly process of budget preparation.
• Manage and direct the development and implementation of yearly operational and strategic plans, goals, and objectives within the assigned Facilities Services area to ensure efficient and cost-effective delivery of services.
• Manage work order flow to direct reports and evaluates WebTMA in support of maintenance operations.
• Document work requests, allocate staff work orders, run reports, and maintain system data.
• Plan strategies to assess needs for future system development or system changes.
• Coordinate efforts with other members of Facilities Services and Auxiliary Services to optimize operational effectiveness and efficiencies.
• Conduct regular process analyses to continually evaluate and improve system performance.
• Work of a similar nature to the other specific duties assigned.

Benefits

• Generous Time Off: Enjoy 22 vacation days, 10 sick days, paid parental leave, 13 recognized holidays, and provisions for bereavement, jury duty, and FAMLI Leave.
• Robust Health Coverage: Our comprehensive medical plans cover preventative care at no cost, including a yearly mental health visit. Plus, benefit from affordable dental, vision plans, and competitive prescription drug prices.
• Financial & Retirement Benefits: Take advantage of our health savings, flexible spending accounts, and life and disability insurance. Plan for your future with our retirement options.
• Further Your Education: Avail twelve (12) waived credits per academic year for courses at any CU campus. We invest in your educational and professional growth.
• Wellness & More: From wellness programs aimed at achieving your best self to various additional benefits through CU Advantage, we prioritize well-being and holistic development.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Manager