Plumbing Supervisor

Rice University; Houston, Northern (TX, KY); Hybrid; USD 94,558,000 - 108,886,000; Full time

Job summary

Rice University is seeking a Plumbing Supervisor to lead the plumbing staff across campus facilities, ensuring proper operation of water, gas, sewer, steam, and related systems. The role emphasizes training, directing, and quality supervision of personnel.

The ideal candidate will have 3+ years of supervisory experience in preventive maintenance, strong CMMS usage, and a solid understanding of plumbing codes and safety standards. This is an essential on-site position with potential overtime.

Qualifications

• Associate degree or equivalent experience; substitution allowed for education requirement.
• 3+ years of leadership in preventive maintenance or related field.
• Valid Texas driver’s license with clean driving record within past 36 months; no DWI/DUI in past five years.

Responsibilities

• Provide leadership, direction, and mentoring to maintenance staff to meet department goals.
• Develop and maintain departmental safety programs including OSHA compliance.
• Supervise daily maintenance operations to ensure timely work orders and preventive maintenance.
• Plan and allocate labor, materials, equipment, and vendor resources for maintenance tasks.
• Coordinate with vendors, contractors, and suppliers; monitor performance and safety compliance.
• Provide technical guidance for troubleshooting mechanical, electrical, and building systems.

Skills

Plumbing diagnostics

Blueprint reading

Code knowledge

Staff supervision

CMMS usage

Communication

Time management

Safety compliance

Troubleshooting

Vendor coordination

Education

Associate degree

Tools

CMMS

Pipe threading machine

Pipe wrenches

Job description

Position Summary

The Plumbing Supervisor is responsible for supervising the plumbing staff in the Facilities, Planning, and Capital Construction department to ensure proper operation and maintenance of plumbing systems, building piping, and lab air distribution systems (within the buildings), including on-campus water, gas, sewer, steam, and condensate return systems. The supervisor also ensures adequate training, direction, and support for all employees under direct supervision. The incumbent trains, instructs, and monitors employees in diagnosing and correcting malfunctions in plumbing systems and oversees the quality of work being performed.

Workplace Requirements

This position is exclusively on-site, requiring all duties to be performed in person at FP&CC PM Shop, Monday-Friday, 6:30 a.m.-3:00 p.m. Per Rice policy 440, work arrangements may be subject to change; schedules may change based on business needs and may include overtime or shifts to daytime hours. This role is classified as an essential position, requiring on-site presence to effectively carry out its vital functions.

This position is designated as essential during campus emergencies. The employee must be available to work on-site during emergencies or crises to ensure continuity of critical operations, provide designated essential services, and operate under the overall direction of the Crisis Management Team for the duration of the emergency. The employee must remain accessible to leadership to support institutional functions. After-hours work, work outside the regular schedule, and on-call availability may be required to respond to issues affecting campus operations.

Hiring Range

This is a full-time, benefits-eligible position, and the hiring salary is $33.00 - $38.00 an hour, contingent upon qualifications and experience.

*Non-Exempt (hourly) positions under FLSA are eligible for overtime.

Minimum Requirements

• Associate degree
  • *In lieu of the education requirement, additional related experience, above and beyond what is required, on an equivalent year-for-year basis may be substituted
• 3+ years of demonstrated leadership and supervisory experience in the preventive maintenance industry
  • *In lieu of the experience requirement, additional related education, above and beyond what is required, on an equivalent year-for-year basis may be substituted
• Valid Texas driver’s license (or the ability to obtain one within 30 days of employment) required, with no more than three moving violations or at-fault accidents within the past 36 months and no convictions or deferred dispositions for Driving While Intoxicated (DWI) or Driving Under the Influence (DUI) within the past five years

Skills

• Proficiency in commercial plumbing repair, installation, and maintenance techniques, including the proper use of plumbing tools and equipment such as pipe wrenches, threading machines, drain cleaning equipment, pipe cutters, soldering and brazing tools, pressure gauges, pumps, and diagnostic/testing devices
• Ability to read and interpret plumbing blueprints, piping diagrams, mechanical drawings, and equipment specifications relevant to assigned systems
• Strong knowledge of commercial plumbing systems, including domestic water, sanitary sewer, storm drainage, natural gas, backflow prevention, and related mechanical systems
• Working knowledge of applicable plumbing, building, safety, and environmental codes and standards, including IPC, UPC, OSHA, and NFPA guidelines
• Ability to diagnose plumbing system malfunctions and determine appropriate corrective actions in a timely and efficient manner
• Experience using computerized maintenance management systems (CMMS), work order systems, and other digital tools for tracking maintenance activities and inventory
• Ability to supervise, coordinate, and evaluate the work of plumbing staff and contractors while promoting safe and efficient work practices
• Strong verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to interact professionally with staff, contractors, vendors, and campus stakeholders
• Organizational and time management skills, with the ability to prioritize multiple assignments, emergency calls, and preventive maintenance activities effectively
• Attention to detail and commitment to accurate, high-quality workmanship and regulatory compliance

Preferences

• College or trade school degree
• 6+ years of supervisory experience
• Texas Master Plumber License
• Experience working in a team environment
• Journeyman qualifications or equivalent in one of the technical crafts (electrician, mechanic, air conditioning, plumbing, or pipefitting)
• Analytical skills, clear reasoning ability, and the ability to work independently
• Good working knowledge of transfer switches, bus ducts, and motors
• Ability to build and sustain relationships with campus customers and focus on customer service
• A motivated self-starter with strong interpersonal, verbal, and written communication skills
• Capability to fully understand sophisticated, state-of-the-art interactive systems and the analytical ability to troubleshoot problems and develop solutions
• Good computer skills, including working with word processing software, spreadsheets, and computerized maintenance management systems

Essential Functions

• Provide leadership, direction, training, and mentoring to maintenance staff in support of departmental, organizational, and University mission and operational goals while promoting continuous improvement and workforce development
• Develop, implement, and maintain departmental safety programs and procedures, including OSHA compliance, lockout/tagout, and other applicable regulatory and operational safety standards
• Supervise and coordinate daily maintenance operations to ensure work orders, repairs, and preventive/predictive maintenance activities are completed safely, efficiently, and within established timelines and productivity standards
• Plan, prioritize, and allocate labor, materials, equipment, and vendor resources to support maintenance operations, work order completion, and departmental service-level objectives
• Collaborate with vendors, contractors, and suppliers to coordinate maintenance support, material procurement, and project execution while monitoring performance, quality, safety compliance, and adherence to deadlines
• Provide technical guidance and hands‑on instruction in troubleshooting, diagnosing, and developing corrective action plans for complex mechanical, electrical, and building systems issues
• Support departmental maintenance training programs and maintain accurate maintenance documentation and records
• Perform other duties and responsibilities as assigned

Additional Functions

• Understand and maintain a solid working knowledge of existing work order management and other Rice systems as required

Working Conditions

Physical Demands

• Must be able to lift loads up to 50 lbs.
• Must be able to climb stairs, ladders, scaffolding, and work around confined areas with piping and wiring obstructions as needed to access equipment
• Requires moderate to heavy physical activity, including bending, stooping, climbing, balancing, standing, and walking up to 8 hours per day
• Occasionally required to enter utility tunnels and confined spaces

Physical Environment

• Requires exposure to high-pressure boilers and steam piping, high-voltage electricity, high noise levels, rotating and other potentially dangerous equipment
• Requires work in mechanical rooms, tunnels, labs, attics, crawl spaces, non-conditioned spaces, and dusty, dirty, and wet conditions
• Requires personal protective equipment such as hearing protection, safety shoes, and safety glasses

Work Hours and Travel

• After-hours work may be required, or other work outside the regular schedule may be needed
• Available on a continuous "on-call" basis for response to problems and emergencies that affect campus operations
• May require periodic travel to classes, conferences, and vendor sites as needed

Rice University HR | Benefits: https://knowledgecafe.rice.edu/benefits

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Rice University is committed to ensuring Equal Employment Opportunity and welcoming the fullness of diversity into our candidate pools. Rice considers qualified applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national or ethnic origin, genetic information, disability, or protected veteran status. Rice also provides reasonable accommodations to qualified persons with disabilities. If an applicant requires a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application or hiring process, please contact Rice University’s Human Resources Office via email at [e-mail] for support.

If you have any additional questions, please email us at [e-mail]. Thank you for your interest in employment with Rice University.