Senior Program Manager - Engineering Operations

World Bank Group•Washington, DC

16d•Onsite

About The Position

The Senior Program Manager position reports to the Manager, GCSCR HQ Real Estate Development and Management. The position is responsible for the strategic oversight and day-to-day management of all building engineering and HVAC systems across a 5 million square foot commercial office portfolio. This position provides senior-level direction to a team of licensed building engineers who deliver 24/7 building operations, ensuring the highest standards of systems reliability, energy performance, occupant comfort, and regulatory compliance. This role serves as the principal subject matter expert for all mechanical, electrical, plumbing, and HVAC systems across the portfolio and partners closely with the building maintenance and project delivery teams to align engineering operations with organizational goals.

Requirements

Master’s Degree in relevant field (Architecture, Construction Management, Facilities Management, Engineering, etc.) or a combination of education and 8 years of combined experience in building engineering, facilities management, or HVAC operations.
Proven track record of developing and executing capital plans and managing large engineering operations budgets.
Demonstrated experience managing large, multi-building engineering portfolios (3m+ SF).
Strong communication skills, both written and oral, including the ability to speak persuasively and present ideas clearly and concisely.
Extensive hands-on experience with large-scale HVAC systems, chillers, cooling towers, boilers, AHUs, VAV systems, and BAS/BMS platforms.
Superior level of resourcefulness, ability to work creatively with considerable autonomy as well as willingness to work under pressure and through the whole spectrum of activities from the strategic level to the resolution of specific implementation issues.
Demonstrated strategic thinking skills and ability to engage in a substantive dialogue on complex issues and corporate priorities.
Experience in innovating, translating ideas into action plans and delivering results.

Responsibilities

Lead the Engineering Operations Unit, comprised of a team of engineering mechanics, operating engineers, and engineering supervisors and provide oversight of the collective work program.
Provide coaching and mentoring of staff to inspire and motivate them to perform at their highest level.
Drive a culture of safety, accountability, and operational excellence within the engineering team.
Conduct regular performance reviews, set measurable KPIs, and implement professional development programs for all direct reports.
Address performance issues quickly, consistently, and fairly.
Ensure that access to appropriate training is available to all staff and establish annual development goals for all team members.
Hold staff accountable for the timely delivery and quality of their work.
Oversee all aspects of building engineering and operations for the HQ campus, ensuring uninterrupted 24/7 functionality of HVAC systems and compliance with health, safety, sustainability, and building standards.
Regularly review and refine operational processes and procedures to drive continuous improvement and maximize staff efficiency.
Stay informed on industry developments, emerging technologies, and evolving workplace models to integrate best practices into operational strategies.
Monitor ongoing projects and initiatives within the unit to effectively balance team workload, prioritize tasks, and guarantee the consistent and timely execution of projects.
Foster collaboration with other units and contractors to coordinate project activities, ensuring efficient completion and high levels of client satisfaction.
Develop and monitor preventive, predictive, and corrective maintenance programs to maximize system uptime and equipment life cycles.
Identify and prioritize capital investment needs through systematic condition assessments and life-cycle cost analyses.
Develop and manage the annual engineering operations budget and multi-year capital plan for systems replacements and upgrades across the portfolio.
Develop the plan for budget allocation for engineering operations based on yearly plan for projects using capital and overhead funding.
Monitor burn rate and cash flow for engineering maintenance program and projects to balance spending and provide end of year projections to align with end of year budget closeout.
Oversee budget management as part of the project management lifecycle to ensure that budgets are closed and funding released accordingly, following project completion.
Oversee the engineering services components of the Integrated Facilities Management Contract to include MEP related services provided by single outsourced provider.
Manage the term contract for engineering design services at HQ to ensure capital improvement projects are designed and implemented according to best practices in the industry.
Develop procurement strategies in collaboration with assigned project managers for term contracts utilized by the team such as architectural, engineering, and construction services, mechanical, electrical, and plumbing (MEP), indoor air quality, and present to Corporate Procurement Committees for approval, as may be applicable.
Oversee various purchase orders and contracts related to indoor air quality, chemical inventories, and energy monitoring, ensuring they support the team's business needs.
Management of the utility and energy services with Pepco, Washington Gas, and DC Water.
Develop and maintain a strong working relationship with WBG internal units (i.e., Budget & Planning, Information Technology, Health Services, Corporate Sustainability) to ensure necessary controls are in place to support the engineering work program.
Proactively meet with clients to assess business requirements and delivery of engineering services in a satisfactory manner. Ensure that environment, health, and safety issues are prioritized and resolved quickly, working in collaboration with Health Services (HSD) and Security as needed.
Develop and maintain professional relationships with key clients. Exercise discretion and communicate effectively and consistently to build trust at the highest levels in the organization.
Respond quickly and proactively to client requests, providing professional advice and recommendations for efficient use of space to meet unit’s business requirements.
Collaborate with all GCS Units to promote a positive and constructive working relationship. Facilitate support for these units with regards to scheduling and implementation of projects that support their work program.
Work closely with other team leaders in the unit (Building Management, Central Support, Plant, Project Management, and Strategic Planning) to provide a consolidated approach to implementing projects.