HVAC Specialist

Position Overview

The HVAC Specialist I is responsible for the strategic planning and execution of the HVAC program nationwide including repairs and ongoing maintenance to ensure associate and customer comfort in stores. They must perform work as contracted and within budget. The role will assist in preparation and management of annual capital budgets totaling over $20M and manage the execution of HVAC repairs totaling $12M.

The individual must manage communication to store teams, leadership, and vendors in a timely and professional manner, analyze data, use critical thinking to develop new and enhance existing programs to reduce expenses and improve efficiencies, research and report on new HVAC technologies, deliver profit improvement ideas, and perform savings calculations.

• Manage the HVAC Repair and Preventative Maintenance programs within budget guidelines and resources valued at over $12M annually.
• Lead Service Channel work order triage to support stores with comfort issues for territory including approximately half the stores in the US.
• Investigate HVAC problems, evaluate solution options, and engage appropriate 3rd party vendors for repairs.
• Communicate with stores and field teams on issue resolutions with urgency and focus on lasting solutions.
• Execute delivery of temporary HVAC equipment to maintain store comfort during extreme conditions (hot and cold) and during repair delays.
• Identify and investigate cost saving ideas to reduce expense and improve comfort performance of HVAC equipment.
• Investigate HVAC technologies and code requirements for use in lowering energy expense and improving comfort in stores.

• Ensure HVAC repairs and installations are completed within budget, are occurring within expected timelines, and that the work is meeting quality expectations.
• Maintain vendor relationships including holding them accountable to contract scopes of work and pricing; both with repair vendors and national account HVAC equipment manufacturers.

• Collaborate with the Energy department to analyze store conditions through energy management systems (EMS) data. Use EMS data to troubleshoot HVAC issues and validate repairs.
• Gain proficiency in the various EMS platforms to perform comfort diagnostics vs requesting from Energy team.
• Produce quarterly Service Channel work order data analysis and reports to identify locations with excessive repair spend. Utilize reports and analysis in determining sites for annual Capital project inclusion.

• Assist with management of scheduling and vendor coordination for seasonal HVAC PM inspections.
• Review suggested repairs generated from PM inspections and implement in Service Channel if deemed necessary.
• Produce bi-annual Service Channel PM work order data analysis and reports to identify process improvements.
• Assist Sr. Manager of HVAC with execution of the HVAC capital refurbishment and replacement programs within budgets valued at over $20M annually. These projects are generally more complex and technical than HVAC repair work.
• Assist Sr. Manager of HVAC with the equipment evaluation process used to select stores for annual RTU replacement capital projects and in development of 5-year strategic plan. Prioritization factors for evaluation include repair history and spend, refrigerant phase out, and age of equipment.

• Initiate, manage, and approve work orders and vendor proposals for repairs.
• Manage HVAC repair and maintenance invoicing, ensuring contracted pricing and required backup is submitted.
• Ensure all invoices are approved for payment & processed in a timely manner.
• Maintain visibility to various monthly HVAC budgets/cost estimates.
• Provide accrual information to finance partners at month end for repair and PM expenses.

Education: Bachelor’s Degree preferred; or equivalent from a college or technical school, or five years related experience and/or training; or equivalent combination of education and experience in facilities maintenance or HVAC repairs.

Licenses/Certification/Registration: None required, but RTU, Chillers, Built up…