Section Supervisor – Building Operations (FMN-003)

Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory•Laurel, MD

11d•Onsite

About The Position

The Section Supervisor for Building Operations leads a multidisciplinary team responsible for the continuous operation, monitoring, maintenance, and optimization of critical building and utility systems across the Laboratory. This section includes Operating Engineers and Building Automation System (BAS) technicians who work together to maintain reliable facility operations and respond to changing operational conditions. The role provides leadership and direction for 24/7/365 building operations, central utility plant operations, building automation and controls, operational response, and associated maintenance activities. The supervisor partners with maintenance organizations, engineering teams, project managers, contractors, and facility customers to ensure building and utility systems are operated safely, reliably, efficiently, and in support of APL's mission. Working with the Group Supervisor, the Section Supervisor establishes the vision, priorities, and performance expectations for the Building Operations Section, and is accountable for the people, processes, and resources necessary to support continuous facility operations while strengthening operational reliability and resiliency. This role involves developing the section's workforce, establishing operating priorities, improving business and maintenance processes, managing resources, strengthening partnerships, and ensuring the organization is prepared to respond effectively to planned and unplanned operational events. The leadership directly contributes to the reliability and stewardship of APL's facilities infrastructure and the success of the Laboratory's mission.

Requirements

Possess a Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Facility Management, Construction Management, or another related technical field with at least five (5) years of progressively responsible experience in facility operations, maintenance, central utility systems, building systems, or a related technical environment OR in lieu of degree Nine (9) years of progressively responsible experience in facility operations, maintenance, central utility systems, building systems, or a related technical environment
Demonstrated experience leading, supervising, or providing technical direction to skilled trades, technicians, operating personnel, or other technical professionals.
Experience in supporting facility operations within an institutional, industrial, commercial, research, healthcare, higher education, critical, or similarly complex operating environment.
Working knowledge of central utility and building mechanical systems such as boilers, chillers, pumps, cooling towers, HVAC equipment, and associated utility distribution systems.
Working knowledge of Building Automation Systems, HVAC controls, building system integration, and the use of automation systems to monitor and control facility equipment.
Experience supporting preventive maintenance, corrective maintenance, operational troubleshooting, outages, and emergency response activities.
Experience reviewing technical drawings, specifications, schematics, equipment diagrams, O&M manuals, procedures, and construction documents.
Experience utilizing a Computerized Maintenance Management System (CMMS) to manage or evaluate maintenance and operational activities.
Strong leadership, organizational, interpersonal, problem-solving, and written and verbal communication skills.
Able to provide leadership and operational support outside normal working hours when required to support facility emergencies, outages, and other critical operational events.
Proficient with Microsoft Office applications.
Valid state-of-residence driver’s license in good standing.
Hold US Citizenship or permanent resident status, as required to access APL’s facilities and networks, subject to applicable laws.

Nice To Haves

Seven (7) or more years of progressively responsible experience in facility operations, maintenance, central utility plant operations, building systems, or a related technical environment.
Three (3) or more years of supervisory or people-leadership experience leading skilled trades, operating personnel, technicians, engineers, or other technical staff.
Experience leading scheduled shutdowns, service disruptions, urgent incident management, or restoration of critical facility systems.
Relevant professional certifications or licenses such as IFMA CFM, FMP, SFP, Certified Energy Manager (CEM), Stationary Engineer licensing, or advanced BAS platform certifications.

Responsibilities

Provide technical and administrative leadership for a multidisciplinary workforce consisting of Operating Engineers and BAS technicians supporting continuous facility operations.
Provide leadership and oversight for 24/7/365 building and utility operations, including shift operations, nights, weekends, holidays, planned outages, utility interruptions, emergency response, and other operational contingencies.
Oversee the safe and reliable operation of central utility plant equipment and associated building systems, including boilers, chillers, pumps, cooling towers, compressed air, HVAC systems, and related mechanical and utility infrastructure.
Provide oversight of Building Automation Systems and associated controls used to monitor, command, troubleshoot, and optimize building mechanical and utility systems.
Ensure appropriate operating rounds, system monitoring, equipment inspections, alarm response, operating logs, and other activities are performed to identify abnormal conditions and maintain reliable operations.
Establish expectations for the safe isolation, shutdown, startup, changeover, and restoration of building and utility systems during planned maintenance, construction activities, outages, and emergency events.
Coordinate closely with maintenance sections, engineering organizations, project managers, contractors, and facility customers to plan work, resolve operational issues, and minimize impacts to Laboratory operations.
Provide leadership during facility emergencies, equipment failures, utility interruptions, and other events requiring coordinated operational response and restoration.
Establish section goals, priorities, staffing plans, work schedules, and performance expectations aligned with Facilities Maintenance and Operations objectives.
Develop, maintain, and continuously improve operating procedures, technical standards, maintenance practices, and processes that promote safety, reliability, maintainability, operational resiliency, and lifecycle performance.
Oversee preventive and corrective maintenance activities associated with central utility plant operations, BAS, HVAC controls, and other systems assigned to the section.
Provide oversight of BAS maintenance, troubleshooting, controls integration, planned installations, system replacements, modernization efforts, and building performance optimization.
Review and approve operating procedures, technical standards, equipment selections, drawings, specifications, O&M documentation, and design packages affecting systems operated or maintained by the section.
Use CMMS information, BAS data, equipment history, reliability trends, operational metrics, and customer feedback to identify recurring issues, improve system performance, and establish priorities.
Identify opportunities to improve operational resiliency, infrastructure reliability, energy performance, equipment lifecycle management, and overall facility performance.
Promote consistent execution of safety requirements, environmental requirements, operating procedures, regulatory requirements, and Laboratory standards.
Lead, mentor, coach, and develop Operating Engineers, BAS technicians, and other assigned personnel while fostering a culture of safety, accountability, collaboration, technical excellence, and continuous improvement.
Establish clear roles, responsibilities, and performance expectations and provide employees with regular feedback and coaching.
Manage employee performance, recognition, professional development, and career growth while addressing performance concerns in a timely and constructive manner.
Develop workforce and succession plans that maintain the technical skills, licenses, certifications, and institutional knowledge necessary to support continuous facility operations.
Identify technical and leadership development opportunities that strengthen individual capabilities and overall section performance.
Promote cross-training and knowledge transfer between Operating Engineers, BAS technicians, maintenance personnel, and other technical organizations to improve organizational resiliency.
Build a collaborative work environment where employees understand how their individual responsibilities contribute to safe and reliable Laboratory operations.
Develop future technical and operational leaders capable of assuming increased responsibility within Facilities Maintenance and Operations.