Chief Engineer/ L399

Columbia College Chicago is an acclaimed undergraduate and graduate institution that provides a comprehensive education in the arts, communications and public relations. We constantly aim to reach our full potential as an educational innovator, incubator of new creative practice and generator of real-world success for young creatives. We are located in the heart of Chicago, across the street from historic Grant Park, and housed in some of the most iconic buildings in the South Loop.

Columbia College Chicago a private urban institution of over 6,000 undergraduate and graduate students, four-year College offering a distinctive curriculum that blends liberal arts, creative and media arts and business is currently searching for a Chief Engineer.

Position Summary

Under the supervision of the Director of Facilities Operations, the Chief Engineer is responsible for all operational aspects of the Physical Plant. This position will identify and assign work orders, coordinate and inspect on-site projects, and manage the budget for the Physical Plant.  The Chief Engineer manages the Assistant Chief Engineer and Local 399 Union Engineers, has daily contact with suppliers, vendors, contractors, and periodic contact with inspectors. They collaborate on a regular basis with the Director of Facilities Operations, Support Services Manager, and Maintenance Lead to provide a safe and reliable campus environment and ensure the Columbia College Chicago's community needs are addressed.  The Chief Engineer will be solution oriented, have strong judgment and decision-making skills, and the ability to adapt existing procedures to new situations.

This position is designated as "Essential Personnel" and requires incumbent to have 24/7 availability for on-call building emergencies and interact with the campus during emergency situations as a first responder.

Duties & Responsibilities

• Manage, repair, and maintain life safety equipment (sprinkler systems, fire pumps, emergency generators, fire extinguishers, evacuation maps, fire alarms, etc.), all mechanical, electrical, and plumbing systems, and campus infrastructure including the interior and exterior of the Physical Plant
• Plan and develop deferred maintenance projects with the Director of Facilities Operations, managing the implementation and field coordination as needed
• Coordinate City of Chicago repairs and disruptions on campus
• Hire, train, supervise, and evaluate a team of Local 399 Union Engineers, providing coverage of shifts when needed: address employee relation items in partnership with the Director of Facilities Operations
• Assign and track completion of work orders in 360Facility Management System, enforcing policies and procedures, and identifying gaps in implementation; meet with engineering team to review issues, questions, progress and any upcoming activities related to facilities management
• Use the College's Event Management System (EMS) to avoid interference with classes/events while assigning duties, coordinating with department representatives as needed
• Review and resolve all faculty, staff, and student facility related requests, communicating with appropriate college departments to provide work order updates
• Contract and supervise outside consulting, maintenance, and repair services for on-site projects; inspect and review all work performed by contractors to ensure quality
• Manage all engineering operations budgets and cost, estimating and ordering materials, equipment, and services for the Physical Plant
• Manage the programming and operation of Building Automation Systems (BAS) and equipment
• Oversee and update an effective Preventative Maintenance (PM) program in compliance with 360Facility's PM and Inspection modules
• Track and report all energy efficient operations
• Maintain organization in inventory, shop, and storage areas.
• Inspect buildings to ensure general facility safety, communicating incident occurrences and emergencies to the Director of Facilities and Operations
• Serve as first-responder in the event of emergency on campus, including the Physical Plant, by following college protocol and assisting with building evacuations.
• Perform other job-related duties and/or responsibilities as assigned.

• High School Diploma or equivalent required. Some college preferred
• 5 or more years of experience as a Licensed Stationery Engineer, preferably in an education setting
• Local 399 Union Engineer member in good standing
• City of Chicago Fire Director's Certificate, City of Chicago Stationary Engineer's License and Certified Universal Refrigeration Handling (under The CM of 1999) required upon hire
• Must have valid driver's license and be comfortable driving through the City of Chicago
• Experience supervising engineers and contractors of all engineering trades, with the ability to assign work, train staff, and conduct performance reviews
• Experience in commercial buildings operations with the ability to read architectural and mechanical drawings; familiarity with SMART building technology and Building Automation System preferred
• Knowledge of building codes (OSHA, ASHRAE, NFPA, City of Chicago, etc.), pipe fitting, plumbing, welding, and soldering
• Ability to supervise small projects, develop work scope, and track project progress to completion
• Ability to work a varied schedule (nights, weekends, over-time, etc.) as needed
• Ability to use Microsoft Office, Accruent FAMIS 360, and Oracle
• Ability to follow oral and written instructions
• Physically able to walk, stand, bend, move and lift 50 lbs. for extended periods of time

This job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties, or responsibilities required of the employee and is subject to change based on the needs of the department and/or college.

At Columbia, we offer a rewarding work environment for our faculty and staff. We take pride in offering competitive benefits with affordable health, dental and vision coverage; flexible spending accounts; commuter benefit program, life and accidental, death & dismemberment coverage; paid and unpaid leave options; work/life benefits; educational assistance programs; and retirement and financial planning benefits.

We invite you to join our talented faculty and staff and become part of our collective aspiration to ensure Columbia prepares students for success in their creative fields through innovation, engagement and real-world experiences.

Additional Information

• Position subject to a background screening.
• This is a Union/Local399 position.
• This position is overtime ineligible.

Qualified candidates of diverse backgrounds are encouraged to apply.

Columbia College Chicago is an equal opportunity employer and complies with all local, state, and federal laws and regulations concerning civil rights. The college does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national or ethnic origin, age, disability, protected veteran status, genetic information, or other protected classes under the law.