Power Plant Engineer

Yale University offers exciting opportunities for achievement and growth in New Haven, Connecticut. Conveniently located between Boston and New York, New Haven is the creative capital of Connecticut with cultural resources that include three major museums, a critically-acclaimed repertory theater, state-of-the-art concert hall, and world-renowned schools of Architecture, Art, Drama, and Music.

Position Focus:

The Plant Engineer is an entry level management positions with a focus on developing this individual for future advancement within the Yale Utilities Organization. This position will share accountability for safety, environment, customer service, performance, quality, and employee/union relations while being developed for advancement opportunities. The Plant Engineer will work closely with Plant Managers on a development plan to enhance knowledge and competencies in all aspects of Utilities operations, maintenance and administration while in this role and will have direct accountability for specific functions as assigned.

Essential Duties:

1. Supervision:  Provide day to day supervision of the maintenance workforce (employees and contractors) to insure the safe and reliable delivery of utilities for University facilities and other properties. This includes assisting in the coordination and execution of equipment, systems and services shutdowns to provide minimum impact to customers and reliability, while completing repairs in the most cost effective manner possible. 2. Training:  Provide guidance and direction to the hourly workforce to insure that all staff maintains all required training proficiencies and has the opportunity to continually improve their skills. This includes environmental, safety, regulatory and primary job skills training and involves scheduling, tracking and at times performing the training. 3. Preventative Maintenance: Establishes and schedules all maintenance support throughout the site.  Works with the Plant Managers to develop maintain, enhance and optimize the preventive maintenance programs.  This includes establishing protocols for all new equipment creating and maintaining maintenance schedules for all plant equipment and sub-systems, generating, issuing and tracking work orders.  4. Procurement: a. In support of all maintenance and repair activities, maintain spare parts inventories which includes issuing materials from stock to the work orders performed and stock replenishment purchasing functions. b. Research equipment and material replacement repair options and move forward with the purchase of approved components, always seeking to drive down costs and improve system reliability. c. Develop bid specifications for equipment, materials and services, evaluate the resulting bids and implement approved purchases. d. Track costs associated with each purchase and approve invoices as appropriate for each. e. Maintain a purchasing and accounts payable filing system, incorporating all plant transactions. 5. Technical Support: Provide engineering, technical and logistical support to plant maintenance staff. Assess, evaluate and resolve power plant breakdowns.  Direct maintenance staff in the trouble shooting and repair of equipment and system. Provide on-call emergency response as required. Implement engineering procedures and standard operating procedures (SOP's).  6. Contract Management: Schedule and oversee work of outside contractors and vendors to insure that the work is completed according to contracts and specifications. Assist in developing detailed job scopes and soliciting and evaluating competitive bids. Track all material ordering and replenishments working with procurement on competitive bidding to drive down costs. 7. Safety: Maintain a safe work environment and compliance with all applicable laws, regulations, policies, and procedures. Ensure that plant life safety systems and equipment are up to code and that personnel meets the minimum safety training requirements. 8. Records Retention: Develop and maintain a comprehensive record retention system to include procurement records, environmental permits, parts, equipment bill of materials. Standard Operating Procedures, environmental/regulatory training, drawings and obsolescence issues. 9. Project Support: Assist the Construction and Engineering department in the engineering, design, construction and commissioning of all major projects as well as assisting the plant managers in all minor projects. 10. Complete other tasks as required by the Assistant or Power Plant Manager. 11. May perform other duties as assigned.

Required Education and Experience:

• Bachelor’s Degree in relevant field required. Must have at least One year of experience with engineering principles and their application for the operation and maintenance of steam, chilled water equipment, electrical generation, boilers, chiller, gas turbines, or distribution systems.
• Proven knowledge of engineering principles and their application for the operation and maintenance of steam, chilled water equipment, electrical generation, boilers, chiller, gas turbines, and distribution systems.
• Proficiency with software tools such as Microsoft Word, Excel and Power Point. Ability to maintain, manage and prepare scheduling, word processing, and spreadsheet documents and reports. Ability to write reports, business correspondence, and procedure manuals.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills. Excellent interpersonal and customer service skills. Highly motivated and able to work independently. Problem solving and analytical skills.
• Ability to read, analyze, and interpret technical drawings, documents, manuals and procedures and governmental regulations.

Preferred Education, Experience and Skills:

Degree in Engineering or Energy Management preferred.