Duke University

Position Music; Durham (NC); On-site; USD 100,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

Position Music is seeking an Executive Director of Utilities & Engineering Services to lead campus-wide utility systems at Duke University. This role demands expertise in strategic, operational, and financial leadership, ensuring safe and reliable utility support critical to the university's mission.

The ideal candidate will possess a BS degree in Facilities Management or a related field, extensive experience in large, complex utility systems, and a strong customer service orientation. Join us in driving sustainable and efficient operations!

Qualifications

• Fifteen years’ experience in Facilities Management or related field.
• Demonstrated leadership experience in complex district utility systems.
• Experience in a higher education or similar setting preferred.

Responsibilities

• Provide strategic leadership for utility systems and engineering services.
• Develop and implement utility master plans and infrastructure strategies.
• Ensure safe operation of campus utilities including electricity and water.

Skills

Excellent oral and written communication skills

Analytical skills related to productivity

Strong customer service philosophy

Education

BS degree in a Facilities Management related field

Engineering degree preferred

Job description

Executive Director of Utilities & Engineering Services

Reports to: Vice President for Facilities

Description

ZRG has been engaged to recruit an Executive Director of Utilities & Engineering Services for Duke University.

For more details about this opportunity, please view the position profile by clicking on the cover image below.

Position Summary

The Executive Director of Utilities & Engineering Services provides strategic, operational, and financial leadership for Duke University’s campus-wide utility systems and engineering services. Reporting to the Vice President of Facilities, this role is responsible for ensuring the safe, reliable, sustainable, and cost-effective delivery of utilities and engineering support that enable Duke’s academic, research, healthcare, and residential missions.

The Executive Director leads a multidisciplinary organization responsible for central utility plants, distribution systems, energy management, engineering services, capital program support, and regulatory compliance across a complex, high-reliability campus environment.

Key Responsibilities

• Set and execute a long-term vision for Duke’s utility and engineering services aligned with institutional priorities, climate commitments, and growth plans.
• Develop and implement utility master plans, infrastructure renewal strategies, and resiliency initiatives.
• Serve as a trusted advisor to university leadership on infrastructure risk, capacity planning, and investment decisions.
• Provide administrative oversight to ensure the seamless operation of unit.

Operations & Reliability

• Ensure safe, continuous, and resilient operation of campus utilities, including electricity, steam, chilled and hot water, domestic water, sewer, and stormwater systems to the University and Medical Center.
• Lead incident response, outage management, and business continuity planning for critical infrastructure.
• Establish performance metrics and continuous improvement programs focused on reliability, safety, and service quality.

Engineering & Technical Services

• Provide oversight strategic guidance of Engineering team including engineering standards, system design review, commissioning support, and technical guidance for capital projects and renovations.
• Provide governance for utility interfaces with new construction, major research facilities, and healthcare-related infrastructure.
• Promote standardization, asset management best practices, and lifecycle-based decision making.
• Plan, prioritize, and manage a multi-year capital renewal and improvement portfolio.
• Develop and manage operating and capital budgets; optimize lifecycle costs and return on investment.
• Partner with necessary entities to deliver projects on schedule and within budget.
• Advance Duke’s energy efficiency, electrification, decarbonization, and climate resilience goals.
• Leverage data, analytics, and emerging technologies to reduce energy use, emissions, and operating costs across all utility plants.
• Collaborate with the University’s Office of Climate and Sustainability on Campus climate initiatives.

Safety, Compliance & Risk Management

• Champion a strong culture of safety, regulatory compliance, and environmental stewardship.
• Ensure compliance with applicable codes, standards, permits, and utility regulations.
• Proactively identify and mitigate infrastructure, operational, and cyber-physical risks.

People, Culture & Partnerships

• Lead, develop, and mentor a diverse team of engineering, operations, and technical professionals.
• Foster a collaborative, inclusive, and high-performance culture.
• Build strong partnerships with campus stakeholders, local utilities, regulators, and peer institutions.
• Address personnel issues, including hiring, coaching, discipline, and matters related to union contracts.
• Identify skills gaps within staff, provide coaching and guidance, and participate in the annual performance appraisal process.
• Build and maintain strong working relationships with collective bargaining unit.
• Advise senior leadership on all matters relating to their assigned unit.
• Act as a representative of Facilities Management in internal meetings, committees, and when engaging with external groups and individuals as needed.
• Perform other related duties as assigned by the department leadership.

Requirements

Education & Training

• BS degree in a Facilities Management related field. Engineering degree preferred.

Experience

• Fifteen years’ experience in Facilities Management or related field including progressive leadership experience.
• Demonstrated leadership experience in a large, complex district utility systems in a mission critical environment.
• Strong customer service philosophy and ability to motivate staff in a changing environment.
• Experience in a higher education or similar setting preferred.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Excellent oral and written communication skills; ability to communicate effectively with a wide range of audiences, including senior University management, faculty, staff from other departments, students, and others.
• Analytical skills related to productivity.
• Ability to understand processes and procedures.
• Budgets.

Diversity & Inclusion

Duke University is an Equal Opportunity Employer committed to providing employment opportunity without regard to an individual's age, color, disability, gender, gender expression, gender identity, genetic information, national origin, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, or veteran status.

Duke aspires to create a community built on collaboration, innovation, creativity, and belonging. Their collective success depends on the robust exchange of ideas-an exchange that is best when the rich diversity of their perspectives, backgrounds, and experiences flourishes. To achieve this exchange, it is essential that all members of the community feel secure and welcome, that the contributions of all individuals are respected, and that all voices are heard. All members of their community have a responsibility to uphold these values.