Director, Energy & Water Services

Job Category

Job Profile

Job Title

Department

Compensation Range

The Compensation Range is the span between the minimum and maximum base salary for a position. The midpoint of the range is approximately halfway between the minimum and the maximum and represents an employee that possesses full job knowledge qualifications and experience for the the normal course employees will be hired transferred or promoted between the minimum and midpoint of the salary range for a job.

Posting End Date

Note: Applications will be accepted until 11:59 PM on the Posting End Date.

Job End Date

At UBC we believe that attracting and sustaining a diverse workforce is key to the successful pursuit of excellence in research innovation and learning for all faculty staff and students. Our commitment to employment equity helps achieve inclusion and fairness brings rich diversity to UBC as a workplace and creates the necessary conditions for a rewarding career.

Job Summary

UBC Energy & Water Services (EWS) coordinates plans operates and maintains all utilities infrastructure and services on the UBC Vancouver campus working within a mandate of fiscal efficiency operational excellence environmental sustainability and innovative demonstrations. The department which is within the UBC Facilities group plays a key role in the universitys Climate Action Plan to reduce operational GHG emissions and in the Campus as a Living Laboratory program to test and demonstrate innovative ideas and technologies in collaboration with faculty researchers and external partners.

The Director Energy & Water Services is accountable for all Electrical Natural Gas Hot Water Steam Potable Water Storm Water and Sanitary Sewer utility infrastructure systems at the UBC Vancouver Campus. This infrastructure has a current replacement value in excess of $500 million. The Director is accountable through accurate planning operations and maintenance for the safe reliable and sustainable provision of utility services for the campus community in support of learning research and campus life. The Director facilitates the implementation of operational programs and capital investments required to achieve Climate Action Plan goals as well as supports campus as a living lab projects and initiatives with the intent to substantially reduce energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions on the UBC Vancouver campus.

The Director reports to the Associate Vice-President Facilities and is responsible for;

1. Providing strategic leadership for the UBC Vancouver campus long medium- and short-term utility infrastructure plan;

2. Setting the strategic direction for the development operation and maintenance of campus-wide energy systems (electrical power natural gas hot water & steam) and potable water storm water and sanitary sewer services;

3. Planning and preparation of the department operating budget and in collaboration with the Routine Capital Steering Committee the capital maintenance and renewal budget.

4. Supervising the daily operations of a unit made up of energy conservation specialists building management system specialists utilities trades and staff operating the Campus Energy Center (CEC) and the Bio-energy Research and Demonstration Facility (BDRF). This includes approximately 75 Management & Professional (M&P) and unionized employees.

The Director works closely with colleagues in the other Facilities departments (Building Operations Custodial Services Customer Services & Informatics Municipal Services Infrastructure Development) and with departments providing distributed administrative services to Energy & Water Services including Finance Human Resources Information Technology (IT) Services Safety & Risk Services and Communications to ensure a coordinated approach to utilities stewardship total cost of ownership customer service employee engagement safety and risk management.

Organizational Status

Working autonomously under the executive direction of the Associate Vice-President Facilities the Director Energy & Water Services is a member of the Facilities leadership team and the Finance and Operations extended management team and is responsible for and controls the development and implementation of strategic and long term plans to ensure effective delivery of energy and water services to the university. Energy and Water Services include infrastructure planning operational oversight system maintenance and renewal energy conservation and demand-side reduction for all forms of energy (electricity natural gas thermal biomass) and water (potable storm sewer and sanitary sewer) systems. The Director is directly responsible for providing leadership to: the Senior Manager Energy Conservation and Innovation; Senior Manager Thermal Utilities; Manager Electrical Utilities; and Manager Mechanical Utilities. The Director Energy & Water Services works collaboratively with the other departments within Facilities group.

Work Performed

leadership for approximately 75 staff who perform utilities operation and maintenance activities and energy planning and conservation activities on the Vancouver campus. Engages and encourages staff to perform their work at the highest level emphasizing the values of safety partnership and service and the importance of operational excellence asset stewardship sustainability and collaboration with campus partners.

2. Responsible and accountable for ensuring that energy and water infrastructure at UBC is planned and is operational so that it effectively supports the day-to-day operations of the campus without interruption. Long-term planning will balance growth forecasts with energy conservation initiatives.

3. Directs plans organizes controls evaluates and implements strategic and business plans for Energy & Water Services.

4. Supervises the development of annual business plans and budgets ($55M) through the Energy & Water Services leadership team that set out specific objectives and targets to be achieved. This will be done in all areas of responsibility based on analysis of records and trends. Budget responsibility includes core-based operations and maintenance revenue; core-based utility operations; fee-for-service revenues; and cyclical replacement and deferred maintenance capital.

5. Oversees through the Energy & Water Services leadership team the implementation of the budget and consequent activities and monitors expenses on a monthly basis or as requested. Reviews and approves major expenses and seeks ways to improve the overall efficiency of the unit. Finalizes projections for all operating expenses. Finalizes reports which analyze performance and progress in meeting objectives. Explains rationale for variances and corrective plans for the remainder of the budget year

6. Accountable for Energy and Water Services contributions and commitments to the UBC Climate Action Plan Campus as a Living Lab program and other sustainability initiatives. Ensures that related-projects are implemented and operated in a successful manner to meet the universitys Climate Action Plan greenhouse gas reduction targets.

7. Oversees in conjunction with the Director Capital Planning & Development the development of the capital plans for Energy & Water Services. Ensuring the plans are prioritized and aligned with the Facilities Risk Register. Examples include renewals of distribution infrastructure for high voltage electricity natural gas thermal energy potable water storm sewer and sanitary sewer.

8. Accountable for the long-range planning initiatives of the department which coordinate with the goals and objectives of the University and identify critical issues in the success of achieving these goals and objectives. Long-range planning initiatives include the departments portion of the: five-year University budget plans the multi-year Risk Register; as well as the five-year Capital Renewal Deferred Maintenance plan and the ten-year Infrastructure Impact Charges (IIC) plan.

9. Prepares reports for and presents to the Associate Vice-President Facilities and the Vice-President Finance & Operations on the progress of Energy & Water Services.

10. Develops and maintains effective relationships with relevant officials of the Ministry of Post-Secondary Education & Future Skills Ministry of Infrastructure the City of Vancouver FortisBC BC Hydro Technical Safety BC Metro Vancouver the University Endowment Lands UBC Properties Trust UBC Okanagan and other utility management organizations. Actively participates in the International District Energy Association (IDEA) and APPA the leading professional association for educational facilities.

11. Participates and represents Energy & Water Services and the Facilities group on numerous committees groups and taskforces including but not limited to the Operational Sustainability steering committee the Campus as a Living Lab steering committee the Infrastructure Impact Charge (IIC) steering committee Technical Guidelines steering committee Emergency Management steering committee and related working groups Environmental Management steering committee and committees related to collective bargaining and labour-management relations.

12. Accountable for the compliance of the department with all applicable acts codes rules and regulations.

13. Accountable for effective financial management for the department in conjunction with Central Finance.

14. Oversees the department commodity budget /sustainability fund and gives final approval to all energy conservation or demand-side reduction projects that are funded via project savings from the commodity budget. Oversees the performance of the sustainability fund and overall portfolio of projects.

15. Accountable for the overall profit and loss responsibility and is accountable for creating achieving and reporting annual financial forecasts and business plan goals.

16. Reviews and assesses systems and procedures to facilitate the development and control of budgets related to services provided to clients in the University.

17. Accountable for effective human resources management and employee engagement for the department in conjunction with the VPFO Human Resources team.

18. Handles human resources issues within Energy & Water Services including recruitment orientation training performance evaluation discipline labour relations and dismissal.

19. Accountable for workplace health and safety performance and compliance and environmental management performance and compliance for the department in conjunction with UBC Safety & Risk Services.

20. Furthers the development of management practices and a work culture with a focus on operational excellence continuous improvement and EDI (Equity Diversity and Inclusion) in all aspects of department operations and services.

21. Performs other duties as required.

Consequence of Error/Judgement

The position is critical to the success of UBC Energy & Water Services and UBC Facilities and the services that they provide. The Director is accountable to the Associate Vice-President Facilities and the Vice-President Finance & Operations for the planning operation maintenance repair and renewal of Energy and Water facilities and infrastructure. The Director must apply judgment tact and discretion due to the broad and extensive implications for the success of Energy & Water Services in the areas of strategic operational financial and human resource management. Decisions impact the reputation of Energy & Water Services across campus and with the community. The consequence of decisions could result in both personal and corporate fines from regulatory agencies loss of power to the entire UBC campus significant damage to University property and equipment significant safety hazards delays and inconvenience for users wasted materials human resources consequences legal consequences and additional substantive replacement costs.

Supervision Received

The Director works autonomously under the direction of the Associate Vice-President Facilities.

Supervision Given

The Director is directly responsible for supervising the work of: the Senior Manager Energy Conservation & Innovation; Senior Manager Thermal Utilities; Manager Electrical Utilities; and Manager Mechanical Utilities.

Minimum Qualifications

Undergraduate degree in a specialization e.g. Architecture Engineering Community Planning Urban Planning or Interior Design. Eligibility for membership in a professional Institute or Association. Minimum of twelve years of related experience involving management and capital budgeting or the equivalent combination of education and experience.

- Willingness to respect diverse perspectives including perspectives in conflict with ones own
- Demonstrates a commitment to enhancing ones own awareness knowledge and skills related to equity diversity and inclusion

Preferred Qualifications

A university degree in a relevant Engineering field or Community Planning

Professional Engineer in good standing with Engineers & Geoscientists British Columbia. Master of Business Administration is an asset. A minimum of 13 years experience in Utility Management Utility Infrastructure planning or have an equivalent combination of education and experience. Experience leading a large department within a complex unionized environment is an asset. Knowledge of UBC collective agreements applicable policies and procedures is an asset. Knowledge of applicable Acts regulations codes standards is an asset. Ability to determine priorities respond effectively to changes and meet deadlines. Proven track record to exercise tact and discretion. Strong organizational customer service communication interpersonal and administrative skills.

Proven ability to scope plan and implement project-based initiatives including research and analysis.

Strong leadership skills with emphasis on decision-making problem solving and the ability to nurture a motivating and supportive environment. A proven track record in successfully delivering ground breaking projects related to infrastructure upgrades and conversions using innovative and sustainable technology

Has the demonstrated ability to run large high profile industry leading projects including prioritizing collaborating with multiple collaborators partners handling budgets and meeting deadlines.

Experience running energy services in a complex organization or a large-scale utility/Industrial facility would be an asset. LEED accredited Professional designation would be an asset. Certified Energy Manager Professional designation would be an asset. Experience handling a multi-million dollar budget and commodities portfolio would be an asset. Knowledge and understanding of utility rate structures and markets is an asset.