Director of Trades and Utilities

Salem State University; Salem (MA); On-site; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

Salem State University in Salem, MA seeks a seasoned facilities leader to manage central utility plants and district energy systems, including boilers, chillers, and campus HVAC infrastructure.

The ideal candidate will have a strong track record in energy optimization, BAS/DDC, asset management, safety, and regulatory compliance, with 10+ years of management experience in complex institutional environments.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Energy Engineering, Facilities Engineering, Facilities Management, Construction Management, or a closely related technical discipline.
• Minimum of ten years of progressively responsible experience managing central utility plants, district energy systems, institutional heating and cooling operations, or complex facilities infrastructure.
• Minimum of five years of supervisory and management experience leading licensed trades personnel, utility operators, or facilities maintenance teams.
• Extensive experience operating and maintaining central heating and cooling systems, including steam plants, boilers, chillers, hot water systems, chilled water systems, cooling towers, pumps, and HVAC infrastructure.
• Demonstrated experience managing sustainable utility plant operations, energy optimization programs, and infrastructure modernization initiatives.
• Experience with Building Automation Systems (BAS), Direct Digital Controls (DDC), energy management systems, and utility analytics platforms.
• Knowledge of water treatment practices, regulatory compliance requirements, safety standards, and asset management principles.

Skills

Facility management

Utilities systems

Leadership

Budgets

Project management

Regulatory compliance

CMMS

Building automation

Education

Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering or related

Master's degree (preferred)

Professional Engineer license (preferred)

Tools

CMMS

BAS/DDC

Energy management systems

Job description

• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Energy Engineering, Facilities Engineering, Facilities Management, Construction Management, or a closely related technical discipline.
• Minimum of ten years of progressively responsible experience managing central utility plants, district energy systems, institutional heating and cooling operations, or complex facilities infrastructure.
• Minimum of five years of supervisory and management experience leading licensed trades personnel, utility operators, or facilities maintenance teams.
• Extensive experience operating and maintaining central heating and cooling systems, including steam plants, boilers, chillers, hot water systems, chilled water systems, cooling towers, pumps, and HVAC infrastructure.
• Demonstrated experience managing sustainable utility plant operations, energy optimization programs, and infrastructure modernization initiatives.
• Experience with Building Automation Systems (BAS), Direct Digital Controls (DDC), energy management systems, and utility analytics platforms.
• Knowledge of water treatment practices, regulatory compliance requirements, safety standards, and asset management principles.

Preferred Qualifications

• Professional Engineer (PE) license.
• Master's degree in Engineering, Energy Management, Facilities Management, Business Administration, or a related field.
• Ten or more years of experience managing central utility plants and district energy systems.
• Experience leading steam-to-hot-water conversion projects and campus decarbonization initiatives.
• Certified Energy Manager (CEM), Certified Plant Engineer (CPE), Facilities Management Professional (FMP), or equivalent professional certification.
• Excellent leadership, communication, project management, and organizational skills.
• Strong engineering, analytical, and technical problem-solving skills.
• Experience hiring, managing unionized workforces and collective bargaining environments.
• Experience in higher education, healthcare, municipal government, or similarly complex institutional environments.
• Experience with computerized maintenance management systems (CMMS), predictive maintenance technologies, and advanced building analytics platforms.

Working Location

This is an onsitepositionin Salem, MA with on-campus, in-person responsibilities,which may requireoccasionalwork on evenings and weekends.

Employment is contingent upon a completed background and CORI check satisfactory to the university.

This position is not eligible for H1B visa sponsorship.

EEO Statement

The university considers all qualified candidates without regard to race, color, religion, sex, age, national origin, disability status, veteran status, gender identity, sexual orientation, genetic information, pregnancy or pregnancy-related condition or any other characteristic protected by law.

ADA Statement

Salem State University complies with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) to provide reasonable accommodation to qualified applicants and employees with disabilities. Foraccommodation information or requests please email [e-mail] .

Recruitment Agencies

Salem State University does not partner with or accept candidates from outside staffing agencies. All hiring is managed directly by our internal Talent Acquisition team.