Building Engineering Manager

Columbia University; New York (NY); On-site; USD 130,000 - 145,000; Full time

Job summary

Columbia University is seeking a Building Engineering Manager to oversee engineering and operations for a seven-building student housing portfolio totaling about 1,400 beds. You will lead a team of ~10 union trades, supervise the Plant Superintendent, and coordinate with Facilities to ensure safety, reliability, and excellent service for residents and staff.

Reporting to the Director of Facilities, the role requires a Bachelor's degree and 4+ years of related experience, with a preference for 7+

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent in education and experience.
• Four years of related experience.
• Preferred: seven years in building engineering or facilities operations with supervisory experience.
• Experience in a union environment and with trade staff.

Responsibilities

• Provide strategic oversight of multiple resident housing buildings' engineering and operations.
• Supervise ~10 unionized employees and oversee central plant operations.
• Manage preventive maintenance and life-safety systems with compliance.
• Coordinate with vendors, capital projects, and housing staff to ensure service excellence.

Skills

Leadership

Team management

Customer service

Communication

Education

Bachelor's degree or equivalent

Tools

CMMS

StarRez

Job description

• Job Type: Officer of Administration
• Bargaining Unit:
• Regular/Temporary: Regular
• End Date if Temporary:
• Hours Per Week: 35
• Standard Work Schedule: Monday - Friday 8am - 4pm
• Building:
• Salary Range: 130,000 - 145,000

The salary of the finalist selected for this role will be set based on a variety of factors, including but not limited to departmental budgets, qualifications, experience, education, licenses, specialty, and training. The above hiring range represents the University's good faith and reasonable estimate of the range of possible compensation at the time of posting.

Position Summary

The Building Engineering Manager (BEM) is responsible for overall engineering and operational management of a residential campus housing portfolio consisting of seven high-rise student apartment buildings totaling approximately 1,400 beds. This position provides leadership, planning, and direction for building systems, infrastructure, maintenance programs, and vendor management to ensure safe, reliable, and comfortable living environments for students and office staff.

Reporting to the Director of Facilities, the BEM oversees the Plant Superintendent as well as a team of skilled union trades personnel, the Resident Manager, and works collaboratively with other Facilities departments to maintain operational excellence, regulatory compliance, and high levels of customer service.

Responsibilities

Leadership & Operations Management

• Provide strategic oversight and direction of building engineering, maintenance, and operations for a multi-building student housing complex, including mechanical, electrical, plumbing, and life safety systems.
• Supervise and develop a team of approximately 10 unionized employees, ensuring effective scheduling, training, and performance management.
• Oversee the central plant operations through direct supervision of the Plant Superintendent and coordination with other campus utilities functions.
• Ensure adherence to safety standards, environmental regulations, and institutional policies.
• Order and approve supply orders and track inventory to ensure adequate supply of standard material and equipment.

Maintenance, Repairs & Preventive Programs

• Manage and prioritize work orders submitted by tenants and staff, ensuring timely and professional response to maintenance requests.
• Develop, implement, and monitor preventive maintenance programs for all critical building systems.
• Coordinate inspection, testing, and maintenance of fire and life safety systems in collaboration with compliance staff.

Vendor & Contract Management

• Select, coordinate, and oversee third-party vendors and service providers for specialized maintenance, repairs, and projects.
• Ensure that contracted work meets university standards for safety, quality, and cost-effectiveness.

Customer Service & Tenant Coordination

• Foster positive relationships with residents, housing staff, and university partners by ensuring prompt, courteous, and solution-oriented service delivery.
• Work closely with the Office of Housing Services teams to address building concerns, service disruptions, and resident feedback and move-in/out procedures.
• Support student and staff communications regarding maintenance activities, outages, or capital work.

Capital Projects & Collaboration

• Partner with the Capital Projects team to plan and support construction, renovation, and infrastructure improvement projects.
• Serve as the operational liaison for project coordination, ensuring minimal disruption to residents.
• Collaborate with Building Services (Custodial) on shared initiatives and major cleaning efforts.

Summer Turnover Operations

• Lead and coordinate the annual summer apartment turnover effort in partnership with the Building Services Manager and other Facilities units.
• Directly supervise temporary custodial and maintenance staff as needed during this high-volume period to ensure timely readiness of all apartments for incoming residents.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor's or equivalent in education and experience, plus four years of related experience

Preferred Qualifications

• Minimum of 7 years of progressively responsible experience in building engineering, maintenance, or facilities operations, including at least 3 years in a supervisory or managerial capacity.
• In-depth technical knowledge of mechanical, electrical, and plumbing systems, as well as building automation and central plant operations.
• Demonstrated experience working in a union environment and managing trade staff.
• Strong organizational, interpersonal, and communication skills with a focus on customer service and team collaboration.
• Ability to respond to after-hours emergencies as required including heavy snow removal.
• Currently certified with or ability to obtain within 6 months of employment:
  • A-35 Operate and Maintain Air Compressors
  • G-60 Fire Guard for Torch Operations
  • F-60 Fire Guard for Torch Operations
  • S-12 Citywide Sprinkler Systems
  • S-13 Citywide Standpipe System
  • S-95 Supervision of Fire Alarm Systems
  • F-89 Fire and Life Safety Director
  • P-98 Fuel-Oil Piping and Storage System
  • P-99 Low Pressure Oil Burner Operator
  • 7G – NYS Pesticide Applicator License
  • EPA 608 Universal (CFC) certification
  • OSHA 30-Hour General Industry certification
• One or more of the following professional credentials:
• Experience in a campus, university housing, or institutional residential setting.
• Knowledge of CMMS (Computerized Maintenance Management Systems).
• Working experience with StarRez software for residential operations.

Other Requirements

• Primary work location is on-site across multiple student housing buildings.
• Occasional evening, weekend, or overnight hours may be required for emergencies or special events.
• Involves occasional lifting, standing, and walking through building mechanical spaces.

Equal Opportunity Employer / Disability / Veteran

Columbia University is committed to the hiring of qualified local residents.