Manager, Facilities Maintenance (Mechanical Portfolio)
Vancouver School Board
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Job summary
The Vancouver School Board (VSB) seeks a seasoned Manager, Facilities Maintenance and Technical Services (Mechanical Portfolio) to lead district mechanical infrastructure operations.
You will oversee plumbing, heating, water, gas, vertical transport, and building finishes, ensuring safe, reliable, and cost-effective services across 100+ facilities.
Qualifications
- Minimum seven (7) years progressive experience in facilities maintenance, mechanical systems infrastructure or technical building systems management.
- Minimum three (3) years leadership experience in a supervisory or management capacity.
- Experience managing maintenance operations within complex institutional or school district environments.
- Experience developing operating and capital plans and managing budgets.
- Experience leading unionized workforces and working within collective agreement environments.
- Experience managing consultants, contractors and service agreements.
Responsibilities
- Lead maintenance, repair, operation, and renewal programs for mechanical infrastructure and building services.
- Establish service standards and performance expectations.
- Ensure timely response to infrastructure failures and operational emergencies.
- Develop annual work plans and maintenance strategies.
- Monitor portfolio performance and service delivery metrics.
- Lead continuous improvement and maintenance optimization initiatives.
- Support workforce capability development and technical excellence.
- Provide technical leadership regarding mechanical and building service systems.
Skills
Education
Job description
With deep gratitude and respect, we are honoured to be learning and unlearning on the ancestral and unceded lands of the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwxwú7mesh Úxwumixw (Squamish Nation) & səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh Nation). We embrace Indigenous ways of knowing and learning and work to expand Indigenous perspectives across the curriculum and within our 107 schools and programs, where more than 50,000 students learn and grow, of which nearly 5% identify as being of Indigenous ancestry. The Vancouver School Board (VSB), respects, prioritizes, and supports Indigenous ways of knowing and learning.
At VSB, we are proud to provide exceptional learning experiences for students. As a large, urban school district, VSB is one of Canada’s most diverse school systems. Equity and inclusivity are at the forefront of our approach to education. More than 7,700 staff work to create learning environments where every student thrives by prioritizing students’ needs, applying evidence-informed practices and building relationships. VSB’s culture reflects the diversity of our city. Students enrolled in VSB come from varied backgrounds and lived experiences and are encouraged to explore and share their unique selves and gifts.
Our commitment to students goes beyond academics. Students’ overall well-being and sense of belonging are equally important. We strive to build a school system where every student can be their authentic self and succeed throughout their learning journey. In doing this work, we champion equity and accountability by making evidence-based decisions. As a learning organization, humility is our guidepost as we seek to continually improve student outcomes in service to them, their families, and the broader community. For more information about our school district, visit https://www.vsb.bc.ca/ .
Reporting to the Senior Manager, Maintenance and Construction, the Manager, Facilities Maintenance and Technical Services (Mechanical Portfolio) provides strategic leadership, operational oversight, and technical direction for the District's plumbing, heating, mechanical, water distribution, natural gas, vertical transportation, and building finishes infrastructure.
The position is responsible for the planning, maintenance, renewal, performance, regulatory compliance, risk management, and long-term stewardship of assigned building systems, maintenance programs, and technical services supporting educational, administrative, and operational facilities throughout the District.
In addition to portfolio-specific mechanical and building services responsibilities, the role provides oversight and coordination of facilities-related insurance claims, elevator and accessibility lift maintenance programs, and designated risk management initiatives. The position also supports Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act (FOIPPA) requests related to facilities records when assigned.
The Manager is responsible for ensuring that assigned building systems and facilities assets are operated, maintained, renewed, and improved in a safe, reliable, cost-effective, and sustainable manner while supporting the District's operational, regulatory, business continuity, risk management, and asset management objectives.
The position provides leadership through the Maintenance Supervisor, Plumbing, Heating, Controls and Painting Services and is accountable for service delivery, workforce planning, asset performance, infrastructure renewal, financial stewardship, contractor management, insurance claim coordination, emergency response, regulatory compliance, and continuous improvement initiatives.
- Reports To: Senior Manager, Maintenance and Construction
- Direct Reports: Maintenance Supervisor - Plumbing, Heating, Controls and Painting Services
- Indirect Reports: Plumbers, Pipefitters, Gasfitters, Painters, Contractors, Consultants, Service Providers
Responsible for stewardship, operation, maintenance, renewal, reliability, and regulatory compliance of District-wide plumbing systems, heating systems, water infrastructure, natural gas infrastructure, painting programs, accessibility lift systems, and vertical transportation assets supporting more than 100 educational facilities and support buildings.
Contributes to significant operating, minor capital, and infrastructure renewal programs supporting long-term asset management, educational service delivery, and operational continuity objectives.
The Manager exercises independent judgement within approved District policies, delegated authority limits, and approved budgets.
- Establishing portfolio-based maintenance priorities and service delivery standards.
- Approving preventive and corrective maintenance strategies.
- Directing emergency response activities related to mechanical infrastructure failures.
- Recommending infrastructure renewal priorities.
- Supporting procurement, contracting, and consultant utilization.
- Evaluating operational and infrastructure risks.
- Recommending mitigation strategies and capital renewal priorities.
- Supporting workforce and succession planning initiatives.
- Providing technical recommendations to District Leadership.
The Manager is responsible for fostering collaborative and productive relationships with internal and external stakeholders.
- Providing technical advice and operational support to school administrators and District departments.
- Supporting service delivery expectations and customer service standards.
- Coordinating activities with Operations, Planning, Sustainability, Capital Projects, and Health and Safety.
- Liaising with regulatory agencies, utilities, consultants, contractors, insurers, and external service providers.
- Responding to stakeholder concerns, inquiries, and service requests.
- Promoting customer service excellence and continuous improvement.
- Supporting communication regarding infrastructure risks, maintenance priorities, and portfolio performance.
Provides strategic and operational leadership for the Mechanical Portfolio, ensuring safe, reliable, compliant, and cost-effective operation of mechanical infrastructure, building services systems, and associated maintenance programs.
- Lead maintenance, repair, operation, and renewal programs for mechanical infrastructure and building services.
- Establish service standards and performance expectations.
- Ensure timely response to infrastructure failures and operational emergencies.
- Develop annual work plans and maintenance strategies.
- Monitor portfolio performance and service delivery metrics.
- Lead continuous improvement and maintenance optimization initiatives.
- Support workforce capability development and technical excellence.
- Provide technical leadership regarding mechanical and building service systems.
- Ensure required training and qualifications for staff through compliance and adherence to the best industry practices.
Provides lifecycle stewardship of mechanical and building service infrastructure through asset planning, condition assessment, maintenance optimization, and renewal planning.
- Develop lifecycle replacement strategies for assigned assets.
- Support long-range facilities planning and asset management initiatives.
- Assess asset condition and establish renewal priorities.
- Identify infrastructure risks and develop mitigation strategies.
- Support development of capital renewal plans.
- Analyze maintenance history, failure trends, and lifecycle costs.
- Develop business cases supporting renewal funding requests.
Provides technical leadership and operational representation during planning, design, procurement, construction, commissioning, and turnover of maintenance and capital projects.
- Participate in annual and multi-year capital planning.
- Develop project scopes and technical requirements.
- Review consultant reports, technical specifications, and designs.
- Support procurement and tendering activities.
- Coordinate commissioning and turnover activities.
- Ensure maintainability and operational requirements are incorporated into project design.
- Support integration of completed projects into ongoing maintenance programs.
Ensures assigned assets and programs comply with applicable legislation, regulations, standards, codes, and District policies while promoting proactive risk management practices.
- Ensure compliance with applicable plumbing, natural gas, mechanical, water quality, elevator, accessibility, and building applicable codes and regulations.
- Ensure compliance with WorkSafeBC requirements, Technical Safety BC regulations, BC and Canada Building Codes’ requirements, and District procedures.
- Lead implementation of safe work practices and safety programs.
- Participate in incident investigations and corrective action initiatives.
- Identify, assess, mitigate, monitor, and communicate operational, regulatory, financial, environmental, reputational, and life-safety risks.
- Support District-wide risk management initiatives.
- Participate in business continuity planning and emergency preparedness activities.
Provides stewardship of public resources through effective budgeting, forecasting, procurement, contracting, and resource management.
- Develop and manage annual operating budgets.
- Develop portfolio-specific minor capital plans.
- Monitor expenditures and forecast future requirements.
- Manage procurement processes and service contracts.
- Evaluate contractor performance and contract compliance.
- Prepare budget recommendations, business cases, and financial analyses.
- Ensure effective stewardship of public resources.
Provides leadership and direction to supervisory personnel while fostering a safe, respectful, accountable, and high-performing workplace culture.
- Support and collaborate with all respective Union Partners.
- Mentor and develop supervisory staff.
- Support workforce planning and succession planning.
- Participate in recruitment and performance management activities.
- Foster positive labour relations and collaborative working relationships.
- Support administration of collective agreements.
- Promote employee engagement, accountability, and continuous learning.
Supports sustainability objectives, energy conservation, decarbonization initiatives, and continuous improvement practices.
- Support District energy reduction and greenhouse gas reduction initiatives.
- Promote reliability-centred and preventive maintenance practices.
- Improve operational efficiency and asset performance.
- Support adoption of innovative technologies and maintenance strategies.
- Collaborate with Sustainability and Capital Projects teams on infrastructure modernization initiatives.
This position is currently 100% in-person at the Vancouver School Board Workshop (1549 Clark Dr, Vancouver) and will require travelling to various locations within the District.
Completion of one of the following:
- Relevant Engineering Technology Diploma.
- Technical Diploma
- Red Seal Trade Certification (IP) supplemented by post-secondary education in management, engineering technology or facilities management.
- Equivalent combination of education and progressively responsible experience.
Professional registration or certification such as Red Seal Plumber, Red Seal Steamfitter/Pipefitter, Class A or B Gas Fitter Certification, Plumbing or Mechanical Engineering Technology Diploma, AScT, PMP, FMP, CMMP or related designation is considered an asset.
- Minimum seven (7) years progressive experience in facilities maintenance, mechanical systems infrastructure or technical building systems management.
- Minimum three (3) years leadership experience in a supervisory or management capacity.
- Experience managing maintenance operations within a complex institutional, municipal, healthcare, post-secondary or school district environment.
- Demonstrated experience developing operating and capital plans and managing budgets.
- Experience leading unionized workforces and working within collective agreement environments.
- Experience managing consultants, contractors and service agreements.
- Strong understanding of mechanical systems infrastructure and building systems.
- Knowledge of asset management principles and lifecycle planning.
- Excellent project management and organizational skills.
- Strong financial management and analytical abilities.
- Excellent interpersonal, communication and conflict-resolution skills.
- Ability to lead change and organizational improvement initiatives.
- Ability to build collaborative relationships across diverse stakeholder groups.
- Strong commitment to workplace safety and regulatory compliance.
- Valid BC Driver’s License.
The salary range for the position is $115,967 to $136,432 plus a comprehensive benefits package, including
- Municipal Pension Plan
- Deferred Savings plan
- Extended Health
- Dental
- Group Life
- Long Term Disability
- 4 weeks of paid time off (pro-rated from start date)
As a public body, the personal information provided in this application is collected and used by the Vancouver School Board (“VSB”) in accordance with section 26(c) of the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act (“FIPPA”), RSBC 1996, c.165, as amended. This information will be used by VSB staff for the purpose of evaluating your qualifications, experience, and suitability for this position. It may also be used to verify the information provided, conduct reference checks, and/or contact you about next steps in the job competition. Pursuant to section 30 of FIPPA, the VSB takes reasonable security measures to protect the personal information within its custody and control, including what has been provided in this application. Should you have any questions about the collection and use of your personal information, please email recruitment@vsb.bc.ca.
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