University of Waterloo

Manager, Mechanical Services

University of Waterloo$75K — $95K *
Education, Government & Non-Profit
5 - 7 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • College diploma in engineering technology, construction management, or facilities management, or equivalent experience.
  • Minimum 5-7 years in facilities operations or infrastructure management, preferably in large institutions.
  • Experience managing mechanical teams and programs.
  • Knowledge of mechanical building systems and maintenance practices for institutional facilities.
  • Ability to manage financial resources and monitor expenditures effectively.

Responsibilities

  • Lead operational management of mechanical services across campus facilities.
  • Oversee mechanical maintenance programs and service delivery by technical staff.
  • Establish and prioritize operational standards and work planning for mechanical services.
  • Coordinate maintenance activities to enhance reliability of mechanical systems.
  • Support development of preventative maintenance programs and asset management strategies.

Benefits

  • Ongoing professional development opportunities.
  • Supportive work environment promoting health and safety.
  • Engagement in continuous improvement initiatives within the team.
Full Job Description
Job Requisition ID:


Time Type:
Full time

Employee Group:
Staff

Job Category:
Facilities Planning and Logistics

Employment Type:
Permanent

Department:
Facilities

Hiring Range:

Posting Information:This posting is for an existing vacancy.

The internal posting deadline for this position is Thursday, June 11, at 11:59PM

Job Description:

Primary Purpose

Reporting to the Director, Energy & Infrastructure, the Manager, Mechanical Services is responsible for the operational management of mechanical services across campus, ensuring the effective delivery of maintenance programs that support the reliability, safety, and performance of the University's mechanical infrastructure.

The Manager oversees the Supervisor, Mechanical Services, building operators, and technical staff responsible for the maintenance, repair, and operation of mechanical systems and infrastructure across campus facilities. This includes mechanical distribution systems, pumps, piping networks, and associated equipment that support building operations and campus infrastructure.

The Manager ensures that preventative maintenance programs, corrective maintenance activities, and service requests are delivered efficiently and in accordance with University standards, applicable legislation, and safety requirements. The role coordinates mechanical maintenance priorities, manages operational resources, and supports infrastructure renewal initiatives to ensure the continued reliability and sustainability of campus facilities.

Key Accountabilities

Strategic Planning and Asset Stewardship
  • Supports the Director, Energy & Infrastructure in the development and implementation of long-term strategies for the maintenance, reliability, and renewal of the University's mechanical infrastructure assets.
  • Contributes to lifecycle planning and capital renewal strategies for mechanical infrastructure including piping systems, pumps, mechanical distribution components, and associated mechanical equipment supporting campus facilities.
  • Identifies infrastructure risks, deferred maintenance priorities, and opportunities to improve reliability, maintainability, and lifecycle value of mechanical assets.
  • Provides operational and technical input into campus infrastructure planning, facilities asset management initiatives, and infrastructure renewal programs.
  • Supports the development of maintenance standards, operational practices, and service delivery approaches that promote efficient and sustainable facilities operations.


Operations Management
  • Provides operational leadership for mechanical services responsible for the maintenance, repair, and reliability of mechanical infrastructure across campus facilities.
  • Oversees the Supervisor, Mechanical Services and associated technical staff responsible for mechanical maintenance and service delivery.
  • Establishes operational priorities, service standards, and work planning processes to ensure mechanical services are delivered safely, efficiently, and in alignment with institutional expectations.
  • Ensures work requests, preventative maintenance activities, and repair work are prioritized and coordinated to maintain the reliability of mechanical infrastructure and minimize disruption to teaching, research, and administrative operations.
  • Coordinates mechanical maintenance activities with other Facilities units to support efficient service delivery and effective use of staff resources.
  • Ensures effective response to equipment failures, infrastructure incidents, and emergency maintenance situations affecting mechanical systems.


Preventative Maintenance and Asset Management
  • Oversees the development, implementation, and continuous improvement of preventative and predictive maintenance programs for mechanical infrastructure and associated equipment.
  • Supports infrastructure inspections, condition assessments, and asset evaluations used to inform maintenance planning and infrastructure renewal priorities.
  • Ensures preventative maintenance programs align with regulatory requirements, manufacturer recommendations, and industry best practices.
  • Works with the Supervisor, Mechanical Services to monitor asset performance, identify recurring maintenance issues, and implement corrective strategies to improve reliability and lifecycle performance.
  • Supports the use of facilities management systems and asset management tools to track maintenance work, inspections, and asset condition data.


Maintenance Work and Project Coordination
  • Oversees the delivery of maintenance-related renovation work, mechanical repairs, and infrastructure improvement projects across campus facilities.
  • Coordinates internal technical staff and external contractors to ensure projects are delivered safely, efficiently, and in accordance with established standards.
  • Supports project planning activities including scope development, work scheduling, procurement coordination, and implementation of mechanical infrastructure work.
  • Ensures mechanical maintenance activities are effectively coordinated with other Facilities units including building maintenance, utilities, and capital project teams.
  • Maintains relationships with campus stakeholders to support service delivery and coordination of maintenance activities.


Financial Management
  • Supports the Director, Energy & Infrastructure in the development and management of operating budgets and contributes to capital planning related to mechanical infrastructure renewal.
  • Monitors operational expenditures including labour, materials, equipment, and contractor services to ensure responsible financial stewardship.
  • Approves operational expenditures within delegated authority and ensures procurement activities follow University policies and procedures.
  • Tracks operational and financial performance indicators to support effective management of mechanical maintenance programs and resources.


Staff Leadership
  • Provides leadership, direction, and operational guidance to the Supervisor, Mechanical Services and associated mechanical services staff.
  • Ensures effective workforce planning, staffing, and scheduling to support operational service requirements.
  • Establishes performance expectations and supports employee development through coaching, training, and performance management processes.
  • Promotes positive labour relations and ensures compliance with the CUPE collective agreement and University employment policies.
  • Supports succession planning and knowledge transfer within the mechanical services workforce.


Health and Safety
  • Ensures mechanical services operations are conducted in compliance with applicable health, safety, and environmental legislation and University policies.
  • Promotes and maintains a strong safety culture within the mechanical services team.
  • Ensures staff follow safe work practices and receive appropriate training related to mechanical infrastructure maintenance and operational environments.
  • Supports incident reporting, investigations, and corrective actions to address workplace hazards and prevent recurrence.
  • Works collaboratively with the Training, Safety and Compliance Specialist and University safety personnel to support safe facilities operations.


Other
  • Supports continuous improvement initiatives across Facilities operations and within the Energy & Infrastructure team.
  • Contributes to departmental planning, operational reviews, and service delivery improvements.
  • Performs other related duties as assigned.


Required Qualifications

Education
  • College diploma in engineering technology, building systems, construction management, facilities management, or a related discipline, or a Certificate of Apprenticeship and Certificate of Qualification in a relevant trade, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
  • Additional professional or facilities management designations considered an asset.

Experience
  • Minimum 5-7 years of experience in facilities operations or infrastructure management, preferably within a large institutional environment.
  • Demonstrated experience managing mechanical teams and programs.
  • Experience working in a unionized environment preferred.


Knowledge/Skills/Abilities
  • Knowledge of mechanical building systems, infrastructure operations, and maintenance practices supporting large institutional facilities.
  • Demonstrated leadership and team management skills in supervising technical staff and coordinating operational service delivery.
  • Strong organizational, analytical, and problem-solving skills with the ability to assess infrastructure issues, operational risks, and maintenance priorities.
  • Ability to plan, coordinate, and prioritize maintenance activities across multiple facilities while managing competing operational demands.
  • Ability to manage financial resources responsibly, including monitoring operational expenditures and supporting infrastructure renewal planning.
  • Strong interpersonal, communication, and collaboration skills with the ability to work effectively with technical staff, campus stakeholders, and external service providers.
  • Knowledge of relevant legislation, codes, and standards governing facilities operations, mechanical systems, and occupational health and safety.
  • Familiarity with facilities maintenance systems, asset management practices, and maintenance tracking platforms used to support infrastructure operations.
  • Ability to exercise sound judgment and respond effectively to operational issues in a complex institutional environment.

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.
Learn more about University of Waterloo

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