Senior Director, Energy & Utilities

Job Summary

Reporting to the Senior Associate Vice President the Senior Director of Energy and Utilities provides campuswide leadership administration and supervisory oversight for the Energy and Utilities unit within Facilities Development & Operations. The role directs the reliable safe and efficient operation and maintenance of the central energy plant utility infrastructure and fire/life safety and security systems serving five university sites more than 170 acres 52 buildings and over six million gross square feet. Operating under general direction the Senior Director independently establishes priorities manages staff and assigned budgets and leads strategic energy utility master planning capital renewal and operational resiliency initiatives. The position has significant institutional impact through regulatory compliance emergency preparedness resource stewardship customer service and advancement of the universitys carbon neutrality goals.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the administration operations and strategic direction of the Energy and Utilities unit in alignment with departmental and university priorities.
• Direct maintenance and operation of the central plant co-generation system and campus utility distribution infrastructure to ensure reliable and efficient service.
• Oversee fire/life safety and campus security systems establishing standards and processes that support a safe and secure environment.
• Manage preventive routine and emergency maintenance programs through effective work processes computerized maintenance management systems and prioritized resource deployment.
• Administer assigned operating budgets utility recharge methodologies resource forecasts internal controls and performance reporting to ensure accountability and long-term financial sustainability.
• Lead strategic energy planning utilities master planning capital renewal deferred maintenance and energy efficiency investment plans that strengthen resiliency and advance carbon neutrality.
• Establish unit policies goals service standards performance metrics and continuous-improvement initiatives that optimize asset management and customer service.
• Direct personnel management including hiring retention performance management labor relations onboarding training professional development and team engagement.
• Ensure compliance with applicable laws codes regulations university policies and safety requirements and maintain business continuity and emergency response plans.
• Represent the unit with campus partners utility companies regulatory agencies consultants contractors and professional associations and advise senior leadership on complex or sensitive matters.

Knowledge Skills & Abilities

• Thorough knowledge of complex central plant co-generation utility distribution facility automation energy management fire alarm and security systems.
• Knowledge of building and energy codes life-safety requirements environmental and operational regulations and public-sector policies applicable to utility infrastructure.
• Knowledge of utility rates tariffs commodity pricing recharge methodologies project economics funding mechanisms and risk mitigation strategies.
• Skill in preventive maintenance asset lifecycle management capital renewal planning project management contract development and consultant or contractor oversight.
• Ability to plan and manage significant budgets forecast resource needs establish internal controls analyze performance and prepare decision-quality reports.
• Extensive personnel leadership skills including performance management labor relations dispute resolution staff development team building and inclusive workplace practices.
• Ability to analyze complex technical and organizational problems balance competing priorities exercise sound judgment and develop practical strategic solutions independently.
• Strong written verbal presentation consultation and facilitation skills with the ability to build effective relationships across diverse internal and external stakeholder groups.
• Ability to translate sustainability resiliency energy conservation and carbon-neutrality objectives into operational plans standards projects and measurable results.
• Ability to evaluate and responsibly integrate emerging technologies including artificial intelligence while addressing data privacy bias accessibility ethics and compliance considerations.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelors degree in engineering environmental management or a related field OR which may be obtained through equivalent experience such as might be attained through ten years of supervisory experience of which a minimum of five years is associated with progressively responsible senior level experience.
• Ten years of supervisory experience and five years of senior leadership experience within the field of utilities and infrastructure system maintenance operation and management including operation of a cogeneration plant boilers and chillers.
• Demonstrated management experience leading and overseeing technical operations and services common to the field of central plant utilities and infrastructure organizations.

Preferred Qualifications

• Prefer registration as a Professional Electrical or Mechanical Engineer
• Prefer certification as a Certified Energy Manager or related credential
• Supervisory experience within a collective bargaining and represented staff environment
• Experience planning and implementing deferred maintenance utility infrastructure and energy efficiency projects including development of multi-year investment plans
• Experience in maintenance and operational management of a State facility College or University or other largescale multi-facility complex such as a corporate or other campus

Compensation

Classification: Administrator III
Anticipated Hiring Range: $16997/month - $20000/month
CSU Salary Range: $6891 /month - $22119/month

The final hiring salary will be commensurate with experience.

San José State University offers employees a comprehensive benefits package typically worth 30-35% of your base salary. For more information on programs available please see the Employee Benefits Summary.

Application Procedure

Click Apply Now to complete the SJSU Online Employment Application and attach the following documents:

• Resume
• Letter of Interest

All applicants must apply within the specified application period: August 27 2026 through September 13 2026. This position is open until filled; however applications received after screening has begun will be considered at the discretion of the university.

Contact Information

People and Culture

CSU Vaccination Policy

The CSU strongly recommends that all individuals who access any in-person program or activity (on- or off-campus) operated or controlled by the University follow COVID-19 vaccine recommendations adopted by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) applicable to their age medical condition and other relevant indications and comply with other safety measures established by each campus. The system wide policy can be found athttps:// questions may be sent to.

Additional Information

Satisfactory completion of a background check (including a criminal records check) is required for employment. SJSU will issue a contingent offer of employment to the selected candidate which may be rescinded if the background check reveals disqualifying information and/or it is discovered that the candidate knowingly withheld or falsified information. Failure to satisfactorily complete the background check may affect the continued employment of a current CSU employee who was offered the position on a contingent basis.

The standard background check includes: criminal check employment and education verification. Depending on the position a motor vehicle and/or credit check may be required. All background checks are conducted through the universitys third-party vendor Accurate Background. Some positions may also require fingerprinting. SJSU will pay all costs associated with this procedure. Evidence of required degree(s) or certification(s) will be required at time of hire.

SJSU IS NOT A SPONSORING AGENCY FOR STAFF OR MANAGEMENT POSITIONS. (e.g. H1-B VISAS)

All San José State University employees are considered mandated reporters under the California Child Abuse and Neglect Reporting Act and are required to comply with the requirements set forth in CSU Executive Order 1083 as a condition of is also required to promptly report any knowledge of a possible Title IX related incident to the Title IX Officeor report any discrimination harassment and/or retaliation to the Office of Equal Opportunity.

Education Code 89521 Requirements: Applicants will be required to disclose whether they have received a final administrative decision or final judicial decision determining that they have committed sexual harassment within the last 7 years only after a determination is made that they meet the minimum qualifications for the position and before an offer of employment is extended. Applicants who reach the final stages of the application process must also sign a release form that authorizes the release of information by the applicants current and/or former employers to the CSU concerning any substantiated allegations of misconduct.

Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Crime Statistics Act and Campus Housing Fire Safety Notification:

Pursuant to the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act the Annual Security Report (ASR) is also now available for viewing at ASR contains the current security and safety-related policy statements emergency preparedness and evacuation information crime prevention and Sexual Assault prevention information and information about drug and alcohol prevention programming. The ASR also contains statistics of Clery crimes for San José State University locations for the three most recent calendar years. A paper copy of the ASR is available upon request by contacting the Office of the Clery Director by phone at or by email at.

Pursuant to the Higher Education Opportunity Act the Annual Fire Safety Report (AFSR) is also available for viewing at The purpose of this report is to disclose statistics for fires that occurred within SJSU on-campus housing facilities for the three most recent calendar years and to distribute fire safety policies and procedures intended to promote safety on Campus. A paper copy of the AFSR is available upon request by contacting the Housing Office by phone at or by email at.

Campus Security Authority - In accordance with the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act (Clery Act) and CSU systemwide policy this position is subject to ongoing review for designation as a Campus Security Authority. Individuals that are designated as Campus Security Authorities are required to immediately report Clery incidents to the institution and complete Clery Act training as determined by the university Clery Director.

Equal Employment Statement

San José State University is an equal opportunity employer. The university prohibits discrimination based on age ancestry caste color disability ethnicity gender gender expression gender identity genetic information marital status medical condition military status nationality race religion religious creed sex sexual orientation sex stereotype and veteran status. This policy applies to all San José State University students faculty and staff as well as university programs and activities. Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 and certain other federal and state laws prohibit discrimination on the basis of sex in all education programs and activities operated by the university (both on and off campus). Reasonable accommodation is made for applicants with disabilities who self-disclose. San José State University employees are considered mandated reporters under the California Child Abuse and Neglect Reporting Act and are required to comply with the requirements set forth in CSU Executive Order 1083 as a condition of employment.