Utilities Chemist - Facilities Services - UTK

Chemist

The Chemist coordinates with utility operations and designs and lays out required for the campus's chemical treatment and distribution systems for facilities and utilities, including water, HVAC, steam utilities, and the steam/power plant, under the supervision of the Assistant Director/Engineer. The Chemist contributes the development of projects required by UT's master plan, including project design, engineering estimates, and construction schedules; reviews design plans, specifications, and estimates submitted by the Department of Capital Projects;

and provides chemical engineering guidance for construction budgets. This position provides chemical engineering advice to the Utility Superintendents, implements and ensures compliance with campus standards, and relies on engineering and technical knowledge and judgment to plan and accomplish tasks, using a degree of creativity and latitude. The position provides excellent customer service to internal and external customers and supports chemical and system efficiency initiatives and chemical projects on campus.

The Chemist provides chemical engineering support for the planning, design, operation, maintenance, and repair of the University's utility and chemical infrastructure, including steam, hot water/heating water, and chilled water systems, as well as chemical management, chemical feed systems, and metering systems. The Chemist must be able to schedule and lead meetings with local utility providers, contractors, engineers, architects, and members of the campus community.

Responsibilities:

• Engineers and oversees the installation and relocation of underground utility infrastructure and chemical feed piping with minimum impact on the University and its activities.
• Develop and coordinate preventive maintenance programs, with a strong emphasis on chemical treatment for water-based HVAC systems to sustain long-term asset health.
• Monitor HVAC piping and cooling tower system performance using building automation and fault detection software and electronic detection as well as chemical monitoring to improve efficiencies and fault detection.
• Coordinate with the Utility Director, Electrical Engineer and Energy Manager on various projects to improve efficiencies as well as review capital project design plans, assist with programming, and manage the oversight of the utility and mechanical construction of capital administered projects.
• Lead the mechanical group in planning for campus utility infrastructure for the campus and future campus building along with the chemical interaction.
• Ensure compliance with environmental, health, and safety requirements, maintaining a strong safety culture and audit-ready practices.
• Provide technical evaluations and recommendations for UT Campus'Spill, Prevention, Control and Countermeasures (SPCC) plan,
• Reporting of EPA emissions to all reporting agency(s) on a monthly, bi-annual, and annually as required to meet regulatory agency requirements including Title V and CARES.
• Evaluate data, conduct calculations of emissions, and prepare reports.
• Oversee HVAC and thermal plant systems to maintain reliable system operations and optimize efficiency across campus utility infrastructure.
• Direct third-party water treatment vendors and service contracts, managing chemical services and coordinating specialized repair support and prepare reporting.
• Confer with other engineers or other utility personnel on utility and capital projects per the master plan. Prepare design Standards and implement water treatment programs (e.g., scale inhibitors, biocides) to control scaling, corrosion, and microbial growth with senior engineer.
• Investigate equipment failures. Diagnose faulty operations and recommend solutions.
• Evaluate and engineer mechanical designs for energy performance or environmental impact.
• Specify system components or engineer modification of products to ensure conformance with engineering design, performance standards and specifications, develop and maintain campus mechanical standards and oversee the tracking and recording of emissions for environmental regulations reporting. Reduce corrosion prevention, and sustaining energy-efficient operation of complex chilled and hot water systems.
• Monitor performance targets and KPIs such as cycles of concentration and kW/ton to reduce water consumption and energy and chemical waste.
• Propose, develop, and perform cost analysis for mechanical or electrical system improvement projects and complete documentation for bidding and to coordinate construction of the project.
• Lead and support technical staff, including supervising technicians and directing chemical technicians through training, scheduling, and performance evaluations. Coordinate the Steam Plant chemical team and treatment options, providing training, and overseeing remote chemical feed stations across campus.
• Ensure utility chemical systems meet applicable OSHA, EPA, and ASHRAE standards, with focused oversight of Legionnaires prevention protocols and…