POSITION IDENTIFICATION
TITLE Powerhouse Supervisor
CLASSIFICATION NUMBER 8871
GRADE 27
CLASSIFICATION Exempt
IMMEDIATE SUPERVISOR Utilities Manager
GENERAL FUNCTION
The Powerhouse Supervisor supervises operations of the University's powerhouse, and utility distribution tunnel system, including 4,160 and 13,200 volt electrical power, domestic water, well water, and natural gas. This position supervises Boiler Operators, during various shifts to assure compliance with operational and maintenance standards and provides training for the Boiler Operators. The Powerhouse Supervisor is responsible for general building maintenance of the powerhouse, the utility tunnel distribution system, outside Lighting Systems, and other assigned facilities and maintenance of the chemical treatment program for steam systems. This position enforces federal regulations governing environmental protection, safety, hazardous waste disposal and the use of chemical substances and materials. The Powerhouse Supervisor assists the Utilities Manager and coordinates with the Utility Billing and Metering Coordinator in evaluating the most efficient use of energy from production to point of use in the facility. The Powerhouse Supervisor operates the powerhouse for training purposes, emergencies, and if a shift is not covered by the Boiler Operators. The Powerhouse Supervisor may serve as the Utilities Manager in his/her absence.
MINIMUM ACCEPTABLE QUALIFICATIONS
Education: A high school diploma or the equivalent plus additional courses in shop arithmetic, mechanics, and electricity obtained through a technical training program or completion of a recognized apprenticeship program in stationary or power engineering, or a combination of the two, is required. An Associate’s degree in facilities management, mechanical, electrical, or civil engineering is preferred. An equivalent combination of years of experience and education may be considered for substitution of educational requirements.
Experience: At least six years of successful experience as a boiler operator (or nuclear operator) in a powerhouse, a stationary engineer, or the equivalent using both electronic and pneumatic controls is required.
Skills: Knowledge of the principles and methods involved in high pressure heating/cooling systems, water chemistry, and conditioning is required. Journeyman level skills in steam production and distribution are required. Knowledge and understanding of natural gas distribution, water (sanitary, domestic, and storm) distribution, computerized maintenance management systems (CMMS), building automation system (BAS), and other related systems is required. Supervisory skills, particularly the ability to instruct others, are required. The ability to plan and schedule work is required. Demonstrated ability to manage and motivate a team of technical tradespersons is required. Management and administrative skills, particularly the ability to analyze, organize, plan, and delegate, are required. The ability to read and understand blueprints and specification for new construction and the installation and maintenance of equipment is required. Mathematical ability is required to make proper calculations. Exceptional customer service and interpersonal skills, as well as verbal and written communication skills, are required. The ability to develop knowledge of, respect for, and skills to engage with those of other cultures or backgrounds is required.
Effort: The ability to lift and transport materials and equipment weighing up to fifty (50) pounds on a frequent basis is required. The job requires prolonged standing and frequent bending, stooping, and reaching on a daily basis. Working in confined spaces (utility tunnels, tanks, voids, fire box, mud drum, and steam drum) is required. The job requires a full range of physical motion in order to operate manual and electrically-powered tools and boiler room equipment. The job requires the ability to move throughout the Power House and the utility tunnels, including climbing stairs and ladders, entering fire boxes and all tanks and voids in order to perform inspections and maintenance work. Work is performed primarily indoors, in environments that are noisy, dusty, flooded, and hot and which could have work hazards. Work hours during scheduled outages may exceed twelve hours a day; this position in on call twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week. Some positions in this job classification (job title) are designated as essential employees who must report to work as scheduled when University offices are closed due to severe weather; the supervisor will communicate whether the particular position is considered essential and under what situations.
License: A license as a limited Stationary Engineer is required. Documentation as a Navy Plant Operator or other Maritime Operator can be substituted for a license as a limited Stationary Engineer.
Other: A valid driver’s license is required. The scope of the position requires exposure to and use of chemicals, solvents, and cleaners common to boiler room work that may be hazardous and/or cause injury if specific instructions regarding their mixture, use, and disposal/storage are not properly followed.
ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
1. Ensures that utilities (the required flow of steam, chilled water, domestic water, electricity, natural gas) are constant and operational twenty-four (24) hours daily to meet the demands of University facilities by scheduling and assigning Boiler Operators for continuous power house operations, observing Boiler Operators during various shifts to assure compliance with operations and maintenance standards, firing boilers and operating boiler feed pumps and auxiliary equipment to control the generation of a continuous supply of steam, conducting periodic inspections of the boiler room and equipment, and monitoring the Plant Master and Burner Management System and the Building Automation Systems (BAS).2. Provides leadership for the power house staff by establishing operating guidelines, requirements, and standard operating procedures for the boiler room within guidelines provided by the Utilities Manager, planning maintenance and operations activities, keeping the Utilities Manager advised about current maintenance and operating situations as well as work schedules, maintaining operational logs and utility usage record keeping systems, and coordinating with the Utilities Manager in scheduling employee vacations, evaluating and selecting personnel, and maintaining a safe, positive, and productive work environment.
3. Provides training for the Boiler Operators including, but not limited to, proper operation and maintenance of pumps, burners, boilers, tanks, valves, metering systems, water softeners, and control systems (pneumatic and electronic), testing of boiler and chilled water to determine degree of hardness, mixing boiler compound and treating the water to assure the appropriate degree of softness, maintaining a chemical treatment program for effluent systems, charting consumption and regulating steam and chilled water flow, and inspecting and adjusting the equipment to maintain the most efficient use of utilities.
4. Assists the Utilities Manager and coordinates with the Utility Billing and Metering Coordinator in reducing energy costs for the University by directly supervising the operation of the Building Automation System (BAS) which controls the environment (heating and cooling) in University buildings and utilizing the Plant Master and Burner Management System to control the central steam plant and its auxiliary equipment to operate efficiently, identifying areas that require maintenance, and assisting in meeting federal and environmental regulations.
5. Provides training, including monthly safety training, for the assigned personnel under his/her supervision and provides powerhouse-related training to all members of Facilities Maintenance.
6. Practices and documents preventive maintenance of boiler room equipment by regularly inspecting power house, utility tunnels, and equipment at auxiliary locations to determine their working condition, scheduling and directing or performing periodic washing and cleaning of boilers, tubes, pumps, screens, pipes, burners and strainers, keeping accurate records on each piece of equipment indicating all repairs/breakdowns, required and performed maintenance, and assisting in the development and monitoring of preventive maintenance programs.
7. Assists in organizing and implementing the annual steam outage.
8. Assures that Boiler Operators have the equipment, tools, and supplies necessary to perform their work by monitoring the use of supplies and materials, estimating future material usage, requisitioning those supplies and equipment, distributing supplies, materials and equipment as required, and advising the Utilities Manager regarding potential shortages, recommended replacement items, or related equipment needs.
9. Assists with the development of competent and efficient Boiler Operators, Energy Management Technicians (when qualifying as relief Boiler Operators), assigned Maintenance Electricians (outside lighting), and other assigned staff by recommending the employment of qualified applicants, training assigned personnel in proper operations, work methods, use of materials and equipment, and safety precautions, making work assignments based upon an evaluation of job requirements and individual expertise, providing verbal and/or written instructions, supervising, monitoring and evaluating work performance to ensure standards of workmanship and safety, and directing corrective measures to be taken when necessary.
10. Enforces University and departmental rules and policies regarding employee conduct by advising personnel of the rules and policies regarding employee conduct and recommending progressive disciplinary action to management as necessary.
11. Completes probationary and annual appraisal and development plans (ADPs) for subordinates and monitors and addresses performance issues using ADP processes.
12. Ensures compliance with state and federal policies, laws, and regulations governing environmental protection, safety, hazardous waste disposal and the use of chemical substances and materials.
Attends regular departmental meetings and ensures pertinent information is communicated to subordinates in regularly schedule zone meetings.
13. Provides technical assistance in the purchase of new or replacement boiler room tools and equipment by being knowledgeable of the capabilities of various types of tools and equipment in the trade and recommending the purchase of tools and equipment that are compatible with existing systems or equipment and that meet the needs of the department.
14. Assists the Utilities Manager with ensuring that contract maintenance services meet specified results and/or work orders thus minimizing future operational problems by observing (spot checking) the work performed and advising the Utilities Manager when contracted services fail to meet specifications or endanger University property or lives.
15. May perform maintenance tasks as needed in support of the departmental mission.
16. Contributes to an accident-free work environment by ensuring the proper use of power tools and equipment, directing personnel to wear appropriate personal protective equipment and clothing such as goggles, hearing protectors, back supports, and work gloves, making on-the-spot corrections of unsafe work activities, investigating on-the-job accidents or injuries and reporting the incidents to supervisors, and following standard safety precautions during work.
17. Remains available for on-call technical support during emergency responses, ensures staffing coverage of the powerhouse twenty-four hours a day and seven days a week and produces a monthly watch bill for review by the Utilities Manager.
18. Helps to reduce the likelihood of a significant disruption of mechanical services (i.e., heating, cooling, electricity) provided to the University campus by assisting the Utilities Manager with planning related to large-scale mechanical maintenance efforts and emergency situations and recovery, assuring around-the-clock responsiveness to mechanical failures or emergency situations that may arise, assisting with restoration of utilities to normalcy, and assisting in the coordination of contracted services beyond the capabilities of Facilities Maintenance.
19. Contributes to a work environment that encourages knowledge of, respect for, and development of skills to engage with those of other cultures or backgrounds.
20. Remains competent and current through self-directed professional reading, developing professional contacts with colleagues, attending professional development seminars, and attending training and/or courses as assigned by the Utilities Manager.
21. Contributes to the overall success of Facilities Maintenance by performing all other duties and responsibilities as assigned.
SUPERVISION
The Powerhouse Supervisor supervises Boiler Operators, the Journeyman Steamfitter, assigned Maintenance Electricians, and other assigned staff.
OFFICE OF HUMAN RESOURCES
REVISED DECEMBER 2023
