Central Plant Manager (Inst)

University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee; Milwaukee (WI); On-site; USD 110,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee is seeking a Central Plant Manager (Inst) responsible for overseeing the Kenwood Campus central heating and cooling plant and six satellite sites. The role includes strategic and daily operations, staff supervision, and cross‑agency coordination.

The successful candidate will manage high‑pressure boilers, chillers, PLC control systems, and energy optimization initiatives while ensuring compliance and safety in a complex university utility environment.

Qualifications

• Bachelor of Science in Engineering or related field or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Minimum of five years of utility or plant utilities system leadership experience.
• Minimum of five years of work experience operating and maintaining plant utilities production systems.
• Experience with engineering plans and specifications.
• Experience with budgeting in operations environments.
• Experience with PLC-based control systems and related equipment.

Responsibilities

• Confers with plant staff to establish steam, production, and chilling priorities; discusses equipment availability and scheduling.
• Oversees maintenance and capital projects in progress.
• Develops startup and commissioning activities.
• Implements policies to ensure safe, reliable, and efficient plant use.
• Supervises at least 2.0 FTE employees.

Skills

Utilities leadership

Plant operations

Engineering plans

Budget management

PLC control systems

Education

Bachelor of Science in Engineering or related field

Tools

None

Job description

Position Title

Central Plant Manager (Inst)

Job Category

Academic Staff

Employment Type

Regular

Job Profile

Heat/Cool Plant Manager (Inst)

Job Duties

The Central Plant Manager oversees multiple campus utility plants and is responsible for both strategic and daily operations. Reporting to the Associate Director of Facility Services, this position manages the state‑owned centralized heating and cooling plant serving the UW‑Milwaukee Kenwood Campus, as well as six satellite plants. Key responsibilities include but are not limited to: prioritizing and scheduling plant activities; directing heating and cooling production; coordinating equipment availability, chemical treatment along with supervising plant staff. Responsible for compliance with multiple entities for data reporting, maintenance requirements and standard procedures are being followed. Create effective relationships across all of UW System, state agencies, vendors and our students. The Manager also performs a full range of duties in a 24/7/365 operation, ensuring the safe and efficient operation, monitoring, and maintenance of four high‑pressure steam boilers (natural gas and #2 ultra‑low sulfur oil) and three chillers supplying all major campus buildings. Additional duties include operating Programmable Logic Controllers, and associated Man Machine Interface devices, and Variable Frequency Drive; maintaining underground fuel oil tank records in compliance with U.S. EPA and Wisconsin Department of Safety and Professional Services regulations; maintaining emissions and operational records; and preparing project requests for small projects and all‑agency submissions. The role also requires fostering effective relationships with university personnel, Department of Administration staff, contractors, vendors, and students.

Key Job Responsibilities

• Confers with plant staff on a daily basis to establish steam and compressed air production, chilling priorities, electricity generation, and to discuss equipment availability, chemical treatment operation, work scheduling, and personnel problems
• Oversees maintenance and capital projects in progress
• Develops, plans, and participates in startup and commissioning activities
• Develops and implements policies and procedures to ensure safe, reliable, and efficient use of the central plants
• Exercises supervisory authority, including hiring, transferring, suspending, promoting, managing conduct and performance, discharging, assigning, rewarding, disciplining, and/or approving hours worked of at least 2.0 full‑time equivalent (FTE) employees

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor of Science in Engineering or related field or a combination of related education and experience
• Minimum of five (5) years of utility or plant utilities system leadership experience
• Minimum of five (5) years of work experience in the maintenance and operation of utility or industrial plant utilities production systems
• Demonstrated experience working with engineering plans and specifications
• Evidence of technical and project management skills to design and execute projects
• Demonstrated experience with operating and maintaining plant equipment both individually and interconnected systems
• Demonstrated experience analyzing plant performance and implementing energy optimization strategies
• Experience creating and managing budgets in an operations environment
• Prior experience operating PLC‑based control systems, including operations and troubleshooting of input/output devices and related equipment

Preferred Qualifications

• WI Professional Engineering license (PE)
• Ten or more years of progressive utility system supervisory experience
• Possession of an American Society of Power Engineers (ASOPE) 2nd Class Power Plant Operators License or equivalent
• Project Management Professional (PMP)
• Direct experience managing any construction projects
• Knowledge of the Heating Plant Section of the Division of Facilities Development
• Evidence of thorough understanding of plant equipment, operations, steam and chilled water distribution, high pressure boiler maintenance and operation, and large tonnage chiller operation

Compensation

$110,000 – $120,000 (Salary will be determined by finalist's knowledge, skills, and experience)

How to Apply

Interested applicants are required to apply online and provide a cover letter and resume addressing your professional level work experience as it relates to all required and preferred qualifications. Note: Applicants must complete all required fields and attach all required documents prior to submitting the online application. Applications missing any of the required documents listed prior to the application deadline will be marked as incomplete and will not be considered. This is a continuous recruitment with an initial review date of 6/15/2026. To ensure consideration, applications must be submitted by 6/14/2026. Applications submitted after 6/14/2026 may not be reviewed.

Contact Information

Emily Jensen
[e-mail]

Reasonable Accommodations

Pursuant to university policy, UWM provides reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities who are employees or applicants for employment. Employment opportunities will not be denied because of the need to make reasonable accommodations for a qualified individual with a disability. If you need assistance or accommodation in applying because of a disability, please contact [e-mail] or 414‑229‑4463. This job announcement and other material on this site will be made available in alternate formats upon request to an individual with a disability.

Confidentiality of Applicant Materials

UWM is a State agency and subject to Wisconsin’s Open Records Law. UWM will not, however, reveal the identities of applicants who request confidentiality in writing except as may be required by Wisconsin’s Open Records law. In certain circumstances, the identities of “final candidates” and/or the identity of the appointed applicant must be revealed upon request.

UW is an Equal Opportunity Employer

Qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, pregnancy, disability, status as a protected veteran, or any other bases protected by applicable federal or State law and UW System policies. We are committed to building a workforce that represents a variety of backgrounds, perspectives, and skills, and encourage all qualified individuals to apply.