Senior Director, Energy & Utilities

San José State University; San Jose (CA); On-site; USD 190,000 - 223,000; Full time

Job summary

San José State University is seeking a Senior Director of Energy and Utilities to provide campuswide leadership for the Energy and Utilities unit within Facilities Development & Operations.

The role oversees the central energy plant, utility infrastructure, and safety/security systems serving five sites and over six million gross square feet, guiding budgeting, master planning, and carbon neutrality initiatives.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in engineering, environmental management, or a related field, or equivalent experience
• Ten years of supervisory experience in utilities and infrastructure maintenance and management
• Demonstrated leadership of central plant, utilities, and infrastructure operations

Responsibilities

• Lead administration, operations, and strategic direction of Energy and Utilities unit
• Direct maintenance and operation of central plant and campus infrastructure
• Oversee fire/life safety and campus security systems
• Manage preventive, routine, and emergency maintenance programs
• Administer operating budgets, recharge methodologies, and performance reporting
• Lead energy planning, master planning, and capital renewal efforts
• Establish unit policies, goals, and performance metrics
• Direct personnel management, hiring, training, and development
• Ensure compliance with laws, regulations, and safety requirements
• Represent unit to campus partners and regulators and advise senior leadership

Skills

Energy management

Facility automation

Project management

Budget management

Staff development

Regulatory compliance

Safety leadership

Education

Bachelor’s degree in engineering or related field

Tools

CMMS

Job description

Job no: 560804
Work type: Management (MPP)
Location: San José
Categories: MPP, Administrative, At-Will, Full Time

Job Summary

Reporting to the Senior Associate Vice President, the Senior Director of Energy and Utilities provides campuswide leadership, administration, and supervisory oversight for the Energy and Utilities unit within Facilities Development & Operations. The role directs the reliable, safe, and efficient operation and maintenance of the central energy plant, utility infrastructure, and fire/life safety and security systems serving five university sites, more than 170 acres, 52 buildings, and over six million gross square feet. Operating under general direction, the Senior Director independently establishes priorities, manages staff and assigned budgets, and leads strategic energy, utility master planning, capital renewal, and operational resiliency initiatives. The position has significant institutional impact through regulatory compliance, emergency preparedness, resource stewardship, customer service, and advancement of the university's carbon neutrality goals.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the administration, operations, and strategic direction of the Energy and Utilities unit in alignment with departmental and university priorities.
• Direct maintenance and operation of the central plant, co-generation system, and campus utility distribution infrastructure to ensure reliable and efficient service.
• Oversee fire/life safety and campus security systems, establishing standards and processes that support a safe and secure environment.
• Manage preventive, routine, and emergency maintenance programs through effective work processes, computerized maintenance management systems, and prioritized resource deployment.
• Administer assigned operating budgets, utility recharge methodologies, resource forecasts, internal controls, and performance reporting to ensure accountability and long-term financial sustainability.
• Lead strategic energy planning, utilities master planning, capital renewal, deferred maintenance, and energy efficiency investment plans that strengthen resiliency and advance carbon neutrality.
• Establish unit policies, goals, service standards, performance metrics, and continuous-improvement initiatives that optimize asset management and customer service.
• Direct personnel management, including hiring, retention, performance management, labor relations, onboarding, training, professional development, and team engagement.
• Ensure compliance with applicable laws, codes, regulations, university policies, and safety requirements, and maintain business continuity and emergency response plans.
• Represent the unit with campus partners, utility companies, regulatory agencies, consultants, contractors, and professional associations, and advise senior leadership on complex or sensitive matters.

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

• Thorough knowledge of complex central plant, co-generation, utility distribution, facility automation, energy management, fire alarm, and security systems.
• Knowledge of building and energy codes, life-safety requirements, environmental and operational regulations, and public-sector policies applicable to utility infrastructure.
• Knowledge of utility rates, tariffs, commodity pricing, recharge methodologies, project economics, funding mechanisms, and risk mitigation strategies.
• Skill in preventive maintenance, asset lifecycle management, capital renewal planning, project management, contract development, and consultant or contractor oversight.
• Ability to plan and manage significant budgets, forecast resource needs, establish internal controls, analyze performance, and prepare decision-quality reports.
• Extensive personnel leadership skills, including performance management, labor relations, dispute resolution, staff development, team building, and inclusive workplace practices.
• Ability to analyze complex technical and organizational problems, balance competing priorities, exercise sound judgment, and develop practical strategic solutions independently.
• Strong written, verbal, presentation, consultation, and facilitation skills, with the ability to build effective relationships across diverse internal and external stakeholder groups.
• Ability to translate sustainability, resiliency, energy conservation, and carbon-neutrality objectives into operational plans, standards, projects, and measurable results.
• Ability to evaluate and responsibly integrate emerging technologies, including artificial intelligence, while addressing data privacy, bias, accessibility, ethics, and compliance considerations.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in engineering, environmental management, or a related field OR which may be obtained through equivalent experience such as might be attained through ten years of supervisory experience, of which a minimum of five years is associated with progressively responsible senior level experience.
• Ten years of supervisory experience and five years of senior leadership experience within the field of utilities and infrastructure system maintenance, operation, and management including operation of a cogeneration plant, boilers, and chillers.
• Demonstrated management experience leading and overseeing technical operations and services common to the field of central plant, utilities, and infrastructure organizations.

Preferred Qualifications

• Prefer registration as a Professional Electrical or Mechanical Engineer
• Prefer certification as a Certified Energy Manager or related credential
• Supervisory experience within a collective bargaining and represented staff environment
• Experience planning and implementing deferred maintenance, utility infrastructure, and energy efficiency projects including development of multi-year investment plans
• Experience in maintenance and operational management of a State facility, College or University, or other largescale, multi-facility complex such as a corporate or other campus

Compensation

Classification: Administrator III
Anticipated Hiring Range: $16,997/month - $20,000/month
CSU Salary Range: $6,891 /month - $22,119/month

The final hiring salary will be commensurate with experience.

San José State University offers employees a comprehensive benefits package typically worth 30-35% of your base salary. For more information on programs available, please see the Employee Benefits Summary.

Contact Information

People and Culture
[e-mail]

CSU Vaccination Policy

The CSU strongly recommends that all individuals who access any in-person program or activity (on- or off-campus) operated or controlled by the University follow COVID-19 vaccine recommendations adopted by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) applicable to their age, medical condition, and other relevant indications and comply with other safety measures established by each campus. The system wide policy can be found at https://calstate.policystat.com/policy/9779821/latest/ and questions may be sent to [e-mail].

Additional Information

Satisfactory completion of a background check (including a criminal records check) is required for employment. SJSU will issue a contingent offer of employment to the selected candidate, which may be rescinded if the background check reveals disqualifying information, and/or it is discovered that the candidate knowingly withheld or falsified information. Failure to satisfactorily complete the background check may affect the continued employment of a current CSU employee who was offered the position on a contingent basis. The standard background check includes: criminal check, employment, and education verification. Depending on the position, a motor vehicle and/or credit check may be required. All background checks are conducted through the university's third-party vendor, Accurate Background. Some positions may also require fingerprinting. SJSU will pay all costs associated with this procedure. Evidence of required degree(s) or certification(s) will be required at time of hire. SJSU IS NOT A SPONSORING AGENCY FOR STAFF OR MANAGEMENT POSITIONS. (e.g. H1-B VISAS) All San José State University employees are considered mandated reporters under the California Child Abuse and Neglect Reporting Act and are required to comply with the requirements set forth in CSU Executive Order 1083 as a condition of employment. Incumbent is also required to promptly report any knowledge of a possible Title IX related incident to the Title IX Office or report any discrimination, harassment, and/or retaliation to the Office of Equal Opportunity.

Education Code 89521 Requirements:

Applicants will be required to disclose whether they have received a final administrative decision or final judicial decision determining that they have committed sexual harassment within the last 7 years only after a determination is made that they meet the minimum qualifications for the position, and before an offer of employment is extended. Applicants who reach the final stages of the application process must also sign a release form that authorizes the release of information by the applicant’s current and/or former employers to the CSU concerning any substantiated allegations of misconduct.

Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Crime Statistics Act and Campus Housing Fire Safety Notification:

Pursuant to the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act, the Annual Security Report (ASR) is also now available for viewing at https://www.sjsu.edu/clery/docs/SJSU-Annual-Security-Report.pdf. The ASR contains the current security and safety-related policy statements, emergency preparedness and evacuation information, crime prevention and Sexual Assault prevention information, and information about drug and alcohol prevention programming. The ASR also contains statistics of Clery crimes for San José State University locations for the three most recent calendar years. A paper copy of the ASR is available upon request by contacting the Office of the Clery Director by phone at 408-924-1501 or by email at [e-mail].

Pursuant to the Higher Education Opportunity Act, the Annual Fire Safety Report (AFSR) is also available for viewing at https://www.sjsu.edu/clery/docs/SJSU-Annual-Fire-Safety-Report.pdf. The purpose of this report is to disclose statistics for fires that occurred within SJSU on-campus housing facilities for the three most recent calendar years, and to distribute fire safety policies and procedures intended to promote safety on Campus. A paper copy of the AFSR is available upon request by contacting the Housing Office by phone at 408-795-5600 or by email at [e-mail].

Campus Security Authority - In accordance with the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act (Clery Act) and CSU systemwide policy, this position is subject to ongoing review for designation as a Campus Security Authority. Individuals that are designated as Campus Security Authorities are required to immediately report Clery incidents to the institution and complete Clery Act training as determined by the university Clery Director.

Equal Employment Statement

San José State University is an equal opportunity employer. The university prohibits discrimination based on age, ancestry, caste, color, disability, ethnicity, gender, gender expression, gender identity, genetic information, marital status, medical condition, military status, nationality, race, religion, religious creed, sex, sexual orientation, sex stereotype, and veteran status. This policy applies to all San José State University students, faculty, and staff, as well as university programs and activities. Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, and certain other federal and state laws, prohibit discrimination on the basis of sex in all education programs and activities operated by the university (both on and off campus). Reasonable accommodation is made for applicants with disabilities who self-disclose. San José State University employees are considered mandated reporters under the California Child Abuse and Neglect Reporting Act and are required to comply with the requirements set forth in CSU Executive Order 1083 as a condition of employment.

Advertised: August 27, 2026 (9:00 AM) Pacific Daylight Time
Applications close: Open until filled