University of Waterloo

Manager, Engineering and Infrastructure Renewal

University of Waterloo$113K — $141K *
Real Estate & Construction
5 - 7 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • University degree in Engineering, preferably Mechanical or Electrical.
  • Professional Engineer (P.Eng) designation preferred.
  • 7-9 years of experience in engineering or facility development.
  • 3-5 years in a senior leadership role in large environments like education or healthcare.
  • Experience leading complex projects with consultants and contractors.

Responsibilities

  • Provide senior engineering expertise and leadership on infrastructure projects.
  • Review engineering designs and project requirements for compliance.
  • Evaluate technical options and recommend solutions for complex issues.
  • Lead project design document reviews as the subject matter expert.
  • Oversee infrastructure project delivery from concept through to commissioning.
  • Monitor project progress and recommend action for risks or issues.
  • Manage and develop team performance and support their growth.

Benefits

  • Comprehensive health and dental benefits.
  • Pension plan with employer contribution.
  • Generous vacation and personal leave policies.
  • Professional development opportunities.
  • Collaborative, service-oriented work environment.
Full Job Description
Job Requisition ID:


Time Type:
Full time

Employee Group:
Staff

Job Category:
Facilities Planning and Logistics

Employment Type:
Permanent

Department:
Facilities - Energy and Infrastructure

Hiring Range:
$113,285.63 - $141,607.03

Posting Information:This posting is for an existing vacancy.

The internal posting deadline for this position is Thursday, September 24, 2026 at 11:59PM.

Job Description:

University of Waterloo infrastructure comprises of over eight million square feet of space powered by a large 1st Class Central Power plant feeding a sophisticated district energy system connecting over eighty major academic buildings supporting state of the art teaching and ground-breaking research.

The Manager, Engineering and Infrastructure Renewal provides senior technical leadership and engineering expertise for the planning and delivery of infrastructure renewal and maintenance projects across the University. The position ensures infrastructure investments and projects support safe, reliable, sustainable and effective campus operations while providing technical advice and leadership to internal stakeholders, consultants and project teams.

Key Accountabilities

Technical Leadership
  • Provides senior engineering expertise and technical leadership for infrastructure renewal, major repairs and maintenance projects.
  • Reviews engineering designs, technical documentation and project requirements to ensure alignment with operational needs, applicable standards and University requirements.
  • Provides technical advice to internal stakeholders, project teams, consultants and contractors on infrastructure systems, design requirements and project issues.
  • Evaluates technical options and recommends solutions to address complex infrastructure, maintenance and operational challenges.
  • Leads the review of project design documents and functions as the SME on behalf of the Maintenance division for all new builds and/or major capital projects prepared by the Planning Design and Construction team.
  • Provides technical leadership to the Energy and Infrastructure and Central Plant staff in addressing complex infrastructure, operational and maintenance issues.
  • Collaborates with the Sustainability Office and Energy team to establish, plan, prioritize and implement projects in support of University carbon reduction goals.


Infrastructure Renewal
  • Provides leadership on infrastructure and maintenance projects from concept to design to final commissioning and user handover along with the Facilities leadership team.
  • Serves as a key subject matter expert in all infrastructure projects and maintenance engineering projects.
  • Provides advice on feasibility, scope and potential impacts of infrastructure renewal and maintenance initiatives to the Executive Director, Facilities and Director, Energy and Infrastructure.
  • Oversees the design of infrastructure renewal and maintenance projects with a wide range of complexities, including heating, cooling, hot/cold domestic water, processed water, HVAC, electrical and related systems.
  • Collaborates with Plant Operations staff to develop and apply consistent contract management practices across infrastructure projects.


Project Management
  • Leads the planning and delivery of complex infrastructure renewals and maintenance projects from project conception through completion and handover according to methodologies defined by UW and Plant Operations.
  • Provides oversight and direction of contractors, consultants, project teams, and internal subject matter experts during all phases of project procurement to support successful project delivery.
  • Establishes project scope, objectives, schedules, resources, budgets, risks and success measures in collaboration with project sponsors and stakeholders.
  • Monitors project progress, risks, issues, resources and outcomes and provides recommendations or escalates matters requiring management decision.
  • Supports procurement and contract management activities in accordance with University policies, applicable legislation and project requirements.
  • Ensures project outcomes and requirements align with University and departmental priorities and identifies and communicates the operational impacts of project implementation, including potential disruptions to campus operations, teaching and research.
  • Builds effective working relationships with University leaders, project sponsors and internal partners to support project governance, decision-making and successful outcomes.
  • Facilitates project communication, stakeholder engagement, governance, and decision-making throughout the project lifecycle.


People Leadership
  • Provides leadership and direction to direct reports, establishing priorities and allocating work in alignment with project demands, operational requirements, employee capabilities, development needs, and available resources.
  • Manages employee performance, development, and workplace matters in accordance with University policies and applicable collective agreements.
  • Coaches and develops employees to support effective project delivery, technical practice and continuous improvement.
  • Fosters a collaborative, service-oriented, continuous improvement-focused work environment.


Health and Safety
  • Ensures infrastructure renewal and maintenance projects comply with applicable health, safety and environmental legislation, regulations, codes, standards and University requirements.
  • Identifies and addresses health, safety, and environmental risks associated with project design, construction and implementation. Promotes safe work practices and supports a culture of health, safety and environmental responsibility within the assigned area.
  • Performs other related duties and responsibilities as assigned and supports departmental activities.


Required Qualifications

Education
  • University degree in Engineering, preferably Mechanical or Electrical, or a related discipline.
  • Professional Engineer (P.Eng) designation is preferred.


Experience
  • Minimum 7 to 9 years of progressive experience in engineering, infrastructure renewal, facility development, building systems, or a related field.
  • 3 to 5 years of experience in a senior leadership role, preferably within a large institutional environment such as post-secondary education, healthcare, or public sector organizations.
  • Experience leading complex infrastructure, engineering or facilities projects involving consultants, contractors and internal stakeholders.
  • Experience with engineering design, building systems and infrastructure within a complex institutional, commercial or comparable environment.
  • Physical Plant design experience within the building construction industry will be considered an asset.


Knowledge/Skills/Abilities

Knowledge
  • Knowledge of infrastructure renewal, building systems, engineering principles, facility development and maintenance practices.
  • Knowledge of applicable building codes, standards, legislation and regulatory requirements related to infrastructure, construction, facilities and health and safety.
  • Knowledge of project management principles and practices, including project planning, risk management, procurement, contract administration and project controls.
  • Knowledge of infrastructure asset condition assessment, lifecycle planning and approaches to prioritizing renewal investments and managing infrastructure risks.
  • Knowledge of contract management practices and principles applicable to infrastructure and construction projects.
  • Proficiency with standard office productivity applications and project management tools.

Skills
  • Demonstrated ability to build collaborative relationships, facilitate decision-making and influence outcomes across organizational boundaries.
  • Demonstrated ability to lead complex projects involving multiple stakeholders, competing priorities, risks and interdependencies.
  • Demonstrated ability to identify opportunities for continuous improvement and support the development and application of consistent practices.
  • Ability to exercise sound judgment, discretion and diplomacy when addressing complex technical, operational and stakeholder issues.

Ability
  • Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with the ability to assess infrastructure risks, operational performance, and financial impacts.
  • Excellent interpersonal and communication skills with the ability to collaborate effectively with diverse internal and external stakeholders, including senior leadership, technical staff, and regulatory authorities.
  • Strong organizational and time management skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities and deadlines.

About University of Waterloo

The University of Waterloo is a public research university with a main campus in Waterloo, Ontario, Canada. The main campus is on 404 hectares of land adjacent to "Uptown" Waterloo and Waterloo Park. The university also operates three satellite campuses and four affiliated university colleges. The university offers academic programs administered by six faculties and thirteen faculty-based schools. Waterloo operates the largest post-secondary co-operative education program in the world, with over 20,000 undergraduate students enrolled in the university's co-op program. Waterloo is a member of the U15, a group of research-intensive universities in Canada. The institution originates from the Waterloo College Associate Faculties, established on 4 April 1956; a semi-autonomous entity of Waterloo College, which was an affiliate of the University of Western Ontario. This entity formally separated from Waterloo College and was incorporated as a university with the passage of the University of Waterloo Act by the Legislative Assembly of Ontario in 1959. It was established to fill the need to train engineers and technicians for Canada's growing postwar economy. It grew substantially over the next decade, adding a faculty of arts in 1960, and the College of Optometry of Ontario, which moved from Toronto in 1967. The university is a co-educational institution, with approximately 36,000 undergraduate and 6,200 postgraduate students enrolled there in 2020. Alumni and former students of the university can be found across Canada and in over 150 countries; with a number of award winners, government officials, and business leaders having been associated with Waterloo. Waterloo's varsity teams, known as the Waterloo Warriors, compete in the Ontario University Athletics conference of the U Sports.
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