Technical Service Manager, HVAC

The Scion Group•Chicago, IL

63d•Onsite

About The Position

The Scion Group strives to create an extraordinary living and learning environment through our passion for customer experience and strong partnerships in our communities. Our Capital and Facilities teams play a vital role in ensuring the long-term performance of our physical assets while maintaining a safe, reliable, and comfortable environment for our residents. The Asset Manager - HVAC will lead Scion's national strategy for managing, maintaining, and modernizing over $150 million in HVAC systems across our real estate portfolio. This role is responsible for creating and executing a comprehensive approach to HVAC lifecycle planning-optimizing system performance, extending equipment life, reducing operational risk, and supporting cost-effective capital planning. This position will act as the primary technical liaison between Capital, Facilities, vendors, and property-level teams, while also analyzing HVAC system data, spend trends, and maintenance protocols to drive smart, scalable mechanical asset management. This position is based out of our corporate headquarters in Chicago, IL, and will require frequent travel to properties across the U.S.

Requirements

7+ years of HVAC-related experience, with strong knowledge of commercial and residential-grade systems.
Proven experience in HVAC system diagnostics, lifecycle analysis, and preventive maintenance planning.
Background in evaluating capital and operational expenditures tied to mechanical systems.
Ability to build effective cross-functional relationships across corporate, vendor, and field teams.
Strong communication and leadership skills, with the ability to influence both strategic planning and day-to-day execution.
Comfort with frequent travel (approximately 40-50%) to assess systems and support onsite teams.
Experience managing budgets, capital projects, or asset management frameworks.
Analytical mindset with the ability to interpret technical data and drive performance-based recommendations.
Proficiency in asset tracking software, and Microsoft Excel.

Nice To Haves

Certification(s) such as NATE, EPA, Certified Energy Manager (CEM), or HVAC Excellence preferred.

Responsibilities

Serve as Scion's subject matter expert in HVAC systems, performance, preventive maintenance, and lifecycle replacement strategy.
Develop and manage a comprehensive HVAC asset registry and condition database across the portfolio.
Lead and direct the continual refinement of system risk scoring models and prioritization frameworks.
Collaborate with Capital Planning to align HVAC lifecycle needs with long-term capital budgeting and reserve strategies.
Partner with Facilities leadership and on-site teams to evaluate HVAC performance and recommend repairs, optimizations, or phased replacements.
Act as a mechanical systems mentor to field teams, promoting standardized maintenance practices and issue resolution skills.
Provide hands-on troubleshooting support for complex HVAC issues or premature equipment failures at high-risk sites.
Analyze HVAC-related spending trends across vendors and regions to identify cost savings opportunities and strategic reinvestment needs.
Generate reports and dashboards summarizing system condition, risk exposure, and financial impact for internal stakeholders.
Evaluate scopes of work from third-party vendors and OEMs, validating need, pricing, and alignment with internal standards.
Help design scalable HVAC programs and tools to minimize scope inflation and improve cost consistency across the organization.
Collaborate with Legal, Procurement, and Capital teams to ensure vendor engagements and project scopes align with organizational expectations and corporate volume pricing.
Author and maintain HVAC-related technical documentation, training guides, and preventive maintenance protocols.
Provide insights on HVAC systems ranging from standard residential units to high-rise commercial-grade equipment.