Supv, AE Operations & Maint

City of Austin

5d • Onsite

About The Position

Under general direction, supervises personnel and vendors involved in installing, operating, and maintaining the Domain District Cooling Plant and ACC Highland District Cooling Plant. The position operates and maintains electrical, steam, and chilled-water equipment and systems, and requires experience across multiple trades and fields. The work can be high-stress and involve extreme outdoor temperatures. This is an Essential Personnel position, requiring work during emergencies and bad weather and schedule changes to support plant operations and projects.

The supervisor oversees staff, contractors, and vendors; leads repairs, construction, and improvement projects; coordinates plant operations and maintenance; and represents the section at meetings. The role oversees site safety, investigates incidents, provides technical guidance, monitors utility systems, troubleshoots equipment, and supports outage and clearance work. It also coordinates customer needs and interdepartmental accountability, resolves technical and operational problems, develops and revises procedures, and plans and schedules maintenance, work orders, and purchasing. The position evaluates service and equipment bids, manages supplies and parts, identifies potential environmental or procedural noncompliance, coordinates with other divisions and emergency agencies, and interprets and enforces applicable City policies, codes, and specifications.

The position has full supervisory responsibilities, including selection, training, evaluation, counseling, and recommendations for dismissal. Work hours are scheduled Monday through Friday, 7:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., with work outside the normal schedule—including multiple shifts, weekends, holidays, on-call assignments, callbacks, and additional hours—required as needed. Shifts may change based on departmental or business needs. The role may report to multiple plant locations and is eligible for on-call and callback pay, as applicable.

Requirements

• High school graduation or equivalent.
• At least five years of experience in installation, operation, and/or maintenance in a utility facility, power, steam, or chiller operation, including at least two years in a lead or supervisory capacity.
• Valid Texas Class C Driver License or ability to obtain one within 90 days of employment; must maintain an acceptable driving record and meet City driver eligibility standards.
• Knowledge of equipment, methods, and materials used to repair and maintain combined heat and power or district cooling plant equipment and facilities.
• Knowledge of safety practices, procedures, and regulations applicable to work in or near energized electrical systems.
• Knowledge of boiler, turbine, generator, and industrial chiller controls in a combined heat and power or district cooling plant environment.
• Knowledge of electric and electronic schematics and systems.
• Skill in planning and prioritizing complex construction, maintenance, and repair operations.
• Skill in establishing and maintaining good working relationships with City employees and the public.
• Skill in operating precision measurement and calibration equipment.
• Skill in preparing clear and concise written reports.
• Skill in working from drawings, blueprints, plans, and specifications.
• Skill in troubleshooting complete control systems down to malfunctioning components.
• Skill in directing technicians performing maintenance and repair of combined heat and power or district cooling plant equipment and systems.
• Ability to exercise balanced judgment when evaluating situations and making decisions.
• Ability to drive, inspect, and maintain various electric utility vehicles.
• Ability to work a varying shift schedule, in confined areas, on elevated structures, and under emergency and all-weather conditions.
• Ability to work in extreme heat or cold, climb ladders, lift up to 50 pounds, work in noisy environments, and wear a respirator when required.

Nice To Haves

• Experience leading or supervising District Energy Cooling Plant staff.
• Experience in operations and maintenance of a district energy and cooling plant.
• Experience using Maximo for maintenance scheduling, labor reporting, and purchasing.
• Experience operating and maintaining industrial chillers, industrial boilers, and gas turbines.
• Experience aligning or rebuilding pumps and motors.
• Experience troubleshooting utility plant instrumentation and controls.
• Experience performing electrical or electronics maintenance.
• Experience operating and maintaining industrial PLCs.
• Experience collecting and testing industrial water samples.
• Certified industrial welding experience.
• Completion of or participation in advanced, high-rigor technical training, such as the US Navy Nuclear Program, or comparable structured technical training or programs.

Responsibilities

• Supervise utility personnel, contractors, and vendors performing on-site work.
• Lead major repairs, construction, and improvement projects.
• Coordinate utility facility, power, steam, or chiller operations and maintenance to minimize impacts on others; attend meetings as the section representative.
• Oversee the site safety program and investigate work-related incidents.
• Provide technical advice and assistance to field personnel and contractors.
• Monitor operation and maintenance of utility systems, including electrical, HVAC, protection, and mechanical systems.
• Troubleshoot equipment abnormalities and recommend and implement repairs or modifications, including training to improve staff skills and knowledge.
• Provide outage and clearance technical expertise to minimize outage times and maximize operational reliability.
• Correspond with customers and evaluate and monitor interdepartmental accountability and productivity to meet customer needs.
• Analyze technical and operational problems and lead their resolution.
• Develop and revise facility, power, steam, or chiller operating and maintenance procedures.
• Approve, order, and issue supplies and parts; evaluate bids and proposals for services and equipment.
• Plan and schedule site equipment operations and maintenance; assign and update work orders, preventive maintenance, and purchase requisitions.
• Identify potential environmental and procedural noncompliance issues.
• Coordinate with other divisions, emergency response agencies, and external agencies during emergencies such as floods, fires, and security breaches.
• Interpret, explain, and enforce City policies and procedures, building codes, specifications, and ordinances.
• Carry out supervisory activities including selection, training, evaluation, counseling, and recommendation for dismissal.
• Operate and maintain electrical, steam, and chilled-water equipment and systems at the assigned district cooling plants.
• Report to work during emergencies and bad weather, and work varying shifts, weekends, holidays, on-call assignments, and callbacks as required.

Benefits

• Comprehensive compensation package with generous leave, work-life balance programs, and extensive benefits.
• City of Austin Employees' Retirement System.
• Wellness programs, on-site fitness centers, and mental health support.
• Professional development and leadership opportunities.
• Access to public transit and bike-friendly infrastructure.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Manager
• Education Level: High school or GED