Columbia University

Assistant Vice President, Engineering and Energy New York, NY

Reports to Vice President for Operations

ZRG has been engaged to recruit an Assistant Vice President, Engineering and Energy for Columbia University.

For more details about this opportunity, please view the position profile by clicking on the cover image below.

Reporting to the Vice President for Operations, the Assistant Vice President of Engineering and Energy is responsible for visionary and strategic energy services and programs for Columbia University. This position will direct, strategize, and implement energy management and engineering services for the campus buildings and Central Energy Plants totaling 9 million square feet. This includes master planning, conservation efforts, managing renewable energy portfolios, strategic procurement of natural gas and electricity, central plant oversight, State of Good Repair (SOGR) program management, and other engineering and energy‑related strategic initiatives.

Essential Functions:

• Develops strategic initiatives tied to utility management plan, consumption measurement, conservation technologies, renewable energy, sustainable systems, policy program development and implementation, utility recharge and forecasting, energy commodity market analysis, and procurement of natural gas and electricity;
• Leads the University’s efforts that provide guidance and identification of effective strategies for energy efficiency programs and optimization of energy usage;
• Leads the Engineering group responsible for SOGR planning and project management.
• Leads the Commissioning group;
• Responsible for the development and implementation of procedures to comply with regulatory programs;
• Establishes and implements short- and long-range organizational goals, objectives, policies, and operating procedures; monitors and evaluates program effectiveness; and implement changes required for improvement. Implements strategies for continuous improvement of campus infrastructure, capital planning, systems, operations, and energy conservation;
• Proactively engages utility users’ group to establish constructive dialog, credibility, and cooperation through informal authority. Provides oversight for energy efficiency projects including identifying and prioritizing opportunities and project implementation in cooperation with Capital Project Management and the Manhattan ville Development Group. Manages utility vendor relationships to leverage value and influence service levels. Establishes appropriate key performance metrics to evaluate program effectiveness.
  
  Manages development of building construction guidelines for new construction and renovations that ensure proper use of energy wise methods and materials;
• Directs Central Utility Plant Manager’s activities to ensure reliable, efficient, and cost-effective operations of the steam plants, steam and condensate distribution and metering systems, chiller plants, distribution, and metering systems. Ensures a comprehensive maintenance management system is in place; benefits are fully realized; and that it is compliant to all city, state, and federal regulations;
• Identifies opportunities for outside grant funding, rebate programs, or other savings programs and manages application submittals, grant program management, and various reports;
• Identifies building mechanical problems impacting energy consumption; and analyzes heating, cooling, ventilation, and lighting systems to determine optimum operating conditions. Advises maintenance shops on energy efficient operation of building mechanical systems. Develops and recommends maintenance project priorities for equipment and operational strategies to maximize operating efficiency;
• Provides direction to the Building Automation Systems Manager to ensure establishment of and adherence to standards for existing control systems and new installations, and direction to ensure functionality of utilities sub‑metering systems. Leads building re‑commissioning and new commissioning efforts. Supports initiatives to optimize building systems operation;
• Develops a team environment for direct reports that support customer service and…