Utilities Manager

CEO Inc.; California (MO); On-site; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

CEO Inc. in Ventura County, California, seeks an experienced Utilities Manager to lead operation, maintenance, reliability, and continuous improvement of critical utility systems at a large-scale manufacturing facility.

This leadership role oversees steam generation, power distribution, water systems, and wastewater treatment, driving safety, regulatory compliance, cost control, and capital project execution as part of the site leadership team.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering or related field is required.
• 10+ years in a complex industrial setting with utilities/energy experience.
• Experience overseeing industrial power/steam/water infrastructure; strong leadership.

Responsibilities

• Direct the performance and reliability of critical site infrastructure.
• Provide leadership across energy, water, and waste-management systems.
• Establish operating standards for safety, reliability, and cost efficiency.
• Monitor consumption trends and operating expenses to identify efficiency gains.
• Lead major maintenance, outages, and system startups.
• Collaborate with engineering/maintenance on equipment reliability and lifecycle management.
• Develop operating plans, capital improvement programs, and long-range utility strategies.
• Ensure compliance with environmental, safety, and regulatory requirements.

Skills

Leadership

Budget management

Strategic planning

Analytical skills

Team development

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Engineering

Tools

Power BI

Microsoft Office

Job description

Location: Ventura County, California (Relocation Assistance Available)

Position Type: Full-Time

Schedule: Monday-Friday, 8 hours/day

Level: Management

Education: Bachelor’s Degree

Travel: Less than 10%

Industry: Manufacturing

Position Overview

We are seeking an experienced Utilities Manager to lead the operation, maintenance, reliability, and continuous improvement of critical utility systems supporting a large-scale manufacturing facility.

This leadership position will oversee essential infrastructure including steam generation, power distribution, cogeneration equipment, water systems, and wastewater treatment, while ensuring compliance with safety, environmental, and regulatory requirements.

The Utilities Manager will play a key role on the site leadership team and will be responsible for developing people, managing operating costs, improving utility efficiency, and executing strategic capital projects.

Key Responsibilities

• Direct the performance, reliability, and day-to-day management of critical site infrastructure supporting continuous manufacturing operations.
• Provide leadership across energy, process support, water, and waste-management systems to ensure dependable plant operations.
• Establish operating standards and accountability measures that promote safe, reliable, and cost-effective utility performance.
• Monitor system performance, consumption trends, and operating expenses to identify opportunities to improve efficiency and reduce overall costs.
• Lead planning and execution of major maintenance activities, equipment outages, facility shutdowns, and system startups.
• Partner with engineering and maintenance teams on equipment reliability, troubleshooting, inspections, and lifecycle management.
• Develop annual operating plans, capital improvement programs, and long-range strategies for critical infrastructure.
• Evaluate proposed projects and upgrades based on reliability, return on investment, operational risk, and long-term business requirements.
• Maintain compliance with applicable environmental, safety, operating, and regulatory requirements.
• Develop emergency response and business-continuity strategies for critical equipment failures and utility interruptions.
• Serve as a senior member of the site leadership team, contributing to broader operational, financial, and strategic initiatives.
• Build a culture focused on safety, accountability, reliability, continuous improvement, and employee engagement.
• Lead, coach, and develop supervisors, engineers, technical personnel, and hourly operations employees.
• Establish performance expectations and provide ongoing feedback, training, and professional development for the utilities organization.
• Prepare operating reports, financial updates, technical analyses, and performance metrics for facility leadership.
• Collaborate with production, maintenance, engineering, environmental, and corporate teams to resolve complex operational issues.

Ideal Candidate

• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical, Electrical, Chemical, Industrial, or related Engineering.
• 10+ years of experience in a complex industrial environment with increasing responsibility in utilities, energy, infrastructure, or operations.
• Background overseeing industrial power generation, energy systems, steam, water, or related plant infrastructure.
• Experience leading teams in a highly automated or continuous-process manufacturing environment.
• Demonstrated experience managing major equipment outages, turnarounds, shutdowns, and startups.
• Strong understanding of industrial equipment reliability, maintenance practices, and operational risk management.
• Experience managing departmental budgets, operating expenses, and capital projects.
• Proven ability to identify and implement improvements that increase reliability, productivity, and cost efficiency.
• Strong understanding of environmental, safety, and regulatory requirements within an industrial setting.
• Experience leading organizational change and developing high-performing teams.
• Strong analytical, communication, presentation, and decision-making skills.
• Ability to work effectively with both salaried professionals and skilled hourly employees.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office; experience with Power BI or similar data-analysis tools is a plus.
• Experience in paper, pulp, chemical, energy, refining, or other continuous-process manufacturing is highly desirable.

Leadership Scope

• Lead a team of approximately 3-5 salaried professionals along with a larger hourly operations group.
• Provide direction across multiple utility functions and coordinate activities with production, maintenance, engineering, and environmental teams.
• Maintain accountability for safety, reliability, cost performance, regulatory compliance, and employee development.

Employees are required to use appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE), including hard hats, safety glasses, hearing protection, gloves, and steel-toed footwear.

The company offers a comprehensive benefits package that may include: