Plant Manager

Veolia; Detroit (MI); On-site; USD 80,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading environmental company is seeking a Utility Plant Manager in Detroit to oversee operations at a major hospital's utility plant. The role includes managing a team, ensuring compliance with performance standards, and optimizing energy efficiency. Candidates should have a strong background in mechanical or electrical engineering and experience in utility management.

Benefits

Paid time off

Health insurance

401(k) plan

Tuition reimbursement

Paid volunteering

Qualifications

• Minimum of 5 years of experience in utility plant operations.
• At least 2 years in a supervisory or management role.
• Experience in a healthcare setting is highly preferred.

Responsibilities

• Lead the 24/7 operations of the central utility plant.
• Develop and implement preventive maintenance strategies.
• Manage relationships with external contractors and vendors.

Skills

HVAC systems

Electrical distribution

Plumbing

Team leadership

Decision making under pressure

Education

Bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering

Bachelor's degree in electrical engineering

Bachelor's degree in facilities management

Tools

Building management systems (BMS)

Computerized maintenance management systems (CMMS)

Job description

Company Description

A subsidiary of Veolia group, Veolia North America (VNA) is the top-ranked environmental company in the United States for three consecutive years, and the country’s largest private water operator and technology provider as well as hazardous waste and pollution treatment leader. It offers a full spectrum of water, waste, and energy management services, including water and wastewater treatment, commercial and hazardous waste collection and disposal, energy consulting and resource recovery. VNA helps commercial, industrial, healthcare, higher education, and municipality customers throughout North America. Headquartered in Boston, Mass., Veolia North America has more than 10,000 employees working at more than 350 locations across the continent. www.veolianorthamerica.com

Job Description

Position Purpose:

Seeking a Utility Plant Manager to oversee daily operations and performanceof a utilityplant serving a major hospital. This contract is performance based, with financial penaltiestied to key performance indicators (KPIs) such as temperaturecontrol, flow rate, system availability and chiller efficiency. External support, digital and technical, will be provided to this key Plant Manager onsite to ensure KPIs are met; the successful candidate will lead and directa team of up to 10 operators and maintenance personnel and ultimately be responsible for ensuring uninterrupted utility service delivery at optimal performance and efficiency, while proactively preventing KPI breaches.

Primary Duties/Responsibilities:

• Lead the 24/7 operations of the central utility plant, including chilled water systems, boilers, and emergency backup systems (for the central energy plant only)
• Ensure compliancewith performance-based service level agreements (SLA's) tied to flow, temperature and uptime
• Monitor and report on KPIs. Identify performance gaps and lead immediate corrective actions to avoid financial penalties
• Manage a team of technicians and engineers including scheduling and training
• Develop and implement preventive and predictive maintenance strategies to optimize plant reliability and performance (Veolia does have standards developed by a technical team, and this role will be supported by that greater technical team)
• Interface with external vendors and service contractors to ensure seamless integration and compliance
• Provide regular reports and forecasts on plant performance, risk areas, and operational cost (also further supported by digital platforms and a greater network of Veolia technical team members)
• Emergency Preparedness: Develop and maintain emergency response plans for utility system failures, ensuring rapid response to minimize disruptions to hospital operations.
• Energy Efficiency: Identify and implement energy-saving initiatives to optimize utility usage and reduce operational costs while maintaining environmental sustainability.
• Vendor Coordination: Manage relationships with external contractors and vendors for equipment repairs, upgrades, and service agreements.
• Reporting: Provide regular reports to hospital administration on plant performance, maintenance activities, and compliance status.
  
  

Work Environment:

• The role involves working in a hospital utility plant environment, which may include exposure to mechanical equipment, noise, and confined spaces.
• On-call availability is required for emergencies, with occasional evening, weekend, or holiday work as needed.
  
  

Qualifications

Education/Experience/Background:

• Bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, facilities management, or a related field.
• Equivalent experience may be considered.
• Minimum of 5 years of experience in utility plant operations, with at least 2 years in a supervisory or management role.
• Experience in a healthcare setting is highly preferred.
  
  

Knowledge/Skills/Abilities:

• Strong knowledge of HVAC systems, electrical distribution, plumbing, and other utility systems. Familiarity with building management systems (BMS) and computerized maintenance management systems (CMMS).
• Proven ability to lead and motivate a team, manage conflicts, and drive performance improvements.
• Ability to troubleshoot complex technical issues and make decisions under pressure to ensure uninterrupted hospital operations.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills to interact with hospital staff, vendors, and regulatory agencies.
  
  

Required Certification/Licenses/Training:

• Certified Plant Engineer (CPE), Certified Healthcare Facility Manager (CHFM), or similar credentials preferred.
  
  

Additional Information

Benefits: Veolia’s comprehensive benefits package includes paid time off policies, as well as health, dental, vision, life insurance, savings accounts, tuition reimbursement, paid volunteering and more. In addition, employees are also entitled to participate in an employer sponsored 401(k) plan, to save for retirement. Pay and benefits for employees represented by a union are outlined in their collective bargaining agreement.

We are an Equal Opportunity Employer! All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability or protected veteran status.

Disclaimer: The salary, other compensation, and benefits information is accurate as of the date of this posting. The Company reserves the right to modify this information at any time, subject to applicable law.