Special Instructions to Applicants:

DO NOT APPLY TO THE RICE WEBSITE FOR THIS POSITION. SEE THE INSTRUCTIONS IN THE NEXT PARAGRAPH TO COMPLETE YOUR APPLICATION.

Rice University has engaged Insight Global to assist with this search. For additional information or to nominate qualified candidates, please email [email protected] or schedule a meeting via this link to be considered for this role: https://calendly.com/meredith-ryals.

To be considered for the position, you must provide a resume and a cover letter that address the responsibilities and qualifications of the Senior Director of Plant Operations role.

Executive Search Lead:
Meredith Ryals
[email protected]
(404) 490-2640 

About Rice

Boasting a 300-acre tree-lined campus in Houston, Texas, Rice University is ranked among the nation’s top 20 universities by U.S. News & World Report. Rice has a 6-to-1 undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio, and a residential college system, which supports students intellectually, emotionally and culturally through social events, intramural sports, student plays, lectures series, courses and student government. Developing close-knit, diverse college communities is a strong campus tradition, which is why Rice is highly ranked for best quality of life and best value among private universities. 

Rice is also a wonderful place to work. Rice faculty, staff and students share values that are essential to our success as a healthy community. Those values guide our decisions and behaviors and shape Rice’s culture. They come through in the way we treat each other and the welcome we extend to our visitors. These values can be recalled simply by our name — RICE — Responsibility, Integrity, Community and Excellence.

Position Summary

The Senior Director of Plant Operations provides strategic leadership, operational management, and long-term planning for all central utility systems supporting the university campus. This role is critical in addressing aging infrastructure, advancing institutional sustainability goals, enhancing operational efficiency, mitigating risks, and ensuring utilities are future-ready to support the university’s ongoing growth and development.

The Senior Director oversees chilled water, steam, steam condensate, electrical distribution, emergency power systems, and all associated infrastructure, ensuring reliable, efficient, and sustainable utility services that underpin academic, research, residential, and administrative functions across the campus.

The ideal candidate is a resilient and visionary leader with deep expertise in utility operations and infrastructure management, committed to innovation, sustainability, and operational excellence. They bring strong strategic planning and risk mitigation skills, paired with a collaborative and diplomatic leadership style that fosters team development, builds strong relationships, and drives results in support of the university’s growth and evolving needs.

Workplace Requirements

This position is exclusively on-site, necessitating all duties to be performed in person. Per Rice policy 440, work arrangements may be subject to change. 

This role is classified as an essential position, requiring on-site presence to effectively carry out its vital functions.

• Primarily on-site with frequent plant visits as well as office-based administrative work
• Requires availability for emergency response and on-call support during off-hours or critical incidents
• Exposure to mechanical/electrical equipment and moderate noise levels
• Ability to climb a ladder
• Ability to lift 20 pounds

Hiring Range

This is a full-time, benefits-eligible position, and the salary will be commensurate with experience and qualifications. *Exempt (salaried) positions under FLSA are not eligible for overtime.

Minimum Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or a related field
• 6+ years of progressively responsible experience in central utility plant operations

Skills:

• Extensive knowledge of thermal and electrical utility systems, central plants, district energy systems, and distribution infrastructure; familiar with building codes and specifications
• Proven ability to lead teams, manage complex maintenance planning and execution, and develop budgeting, procurement, and scheduling strategies for large-scale utility operations
• Strong financial acumen with experience managing large operating budgets; skilled in prioritizing and delivering multiple projects on time
• Experience designing and implementing energy efficiency and optimization strategies, with the ability to monitor and report on performance outcomes
• Effective in written, verbal, and presentation communication, especially when translating technical concepts for diverse audiences
• Skilled in cross-functional collaboration with internal teams, consultants, and contractors

Preferences

• Professional Engineer (PE) license 
• Master’s degree in a related field
• 10+ years of progressively responsible experience in central utility plant operations, with at least 5 years in a senior leadership role
• Experience in higher education or campus-based utility systems
• Experience with renewable energy integration, energy storage, and decarbonization strategies
• Familiarity with CMMS systems, SCADA, BAS, and energy analytics tools

Essential Functions

• Lead and manage day-to-day operations of the Central Plant and campus utility systems
• Develop and implement short- and long-term plans aligned with the university’s sustainability and energy efficiency goals
• Oversee utility master planning efforts to support campus growth, infrastructure renewal, and carbon neutrality targets
• Provide technical expertise in the operation, maintenance, and optimization of central utility systems, including district chilled water systems, steam systems, cogeneration systems, and electrical distribution systems
• Direct plant upgrades, retrofits, and capital improvement projects in coordination with engineering consultants and project managers

Additional Functions

• Develop and manage multi-million-dollar operating and capital budgets
• Track utility consumption and cost data to identify savings opportunities and operational efficiencies
• Maintain annual service contracts with major equipment vendors
• Participate in the procurement of energy contracts and utility services
• Ensure compliance with all applicable federal, state, and local codes and regulations (e.g., TCEQ, EPA, OSHA, air and water quality permits)
• Oversee environmental reporting and ensure proper safety protocols are followed
• Manage risk mitigation related to system failures, redundancies, and disaster recovery
• Supervise a team of plant operators, instrumentation technicians, maintenance technicians, and administrative staff
• Promote training, development, and certification programs to enhance staff capabilities and retention
• Foster a culture of operational excellence, safety, and accountability
• Serve as the primary liaison for internal and external stakeholders regarding utility operations and infrastructure planning
• Collaborate with campus planning, sustainability, capital projects, and academic units to align utility services with campus needs
• Provide regular reporting and presentations to senior leadership 

Rice University HR | Benefits: https://knowledgecafe.rice.edu/benefits 

Rice Mission and Values: Mission and Values | Rice University

Rice University is committed to ensuring Equal Employment Opportunity and welcoming the fullness of diversity into our candidate pools. Rice considers qualified applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national or ethnic origin, genetic information, disability, or protected veteran status. Rice also provides reasonable accommodations to qualified persons with disabilities. If an applicant requires a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application or hiring process, please contact Rice University’s Human Resources Office via email at [email protected] for support.

If you have any additional questions, please email us at [email protected]. Thank you for your interest in employment with Rice University.