Director of Chill Water Operations

Mako Industries is hiring a Director of Chilled Water Operations that will provide strategic, technical, and operational leadership for the organization's chilled water production and distribution systems. This position ensures safe, reliable, and energy-efficient delivery of chilled water to support mission-critical facilities, including academic campuses, healthcare environments, data centers, and district energy customers. The Director oversees all aspects of plant operations, maintenance, system optimization, and long-term capacity planning, while fostering innovation and sustainability in cooling infrastructure.

Operational Leadership

• Direct and coordinate the daily operation and maintenance of multiple central utility plants, chillers, cooling towers, pumps, and distribution piping networks.
• Maintain system reliability and performance to meet fluctuating cooling loads for diverse customer environments, including research facilities, hospitals, data centers, and campus buildings.
• Manage water treatment, environmental compliance, and refrigerant programs.
• Implement preventive and predictive maintenance programs.

Strategic Planning & Capital Program Management

• Develop long-term chilled water master plans, including plant expansions, redundancy improvements, and modernization initiatives.
• Lead major capital projects, from conceptual design through commissioning, in coordination with internal engineering, construction, and sustainability teams.
• Evaluate new technologies (e.g., thermal energy storage, variable-speed drives, AI-based optimization, free cooling) to improve energy efficiency and resilience.
• Develop and manage operational and capital budgets, cost recovery models, and customer billing programs (if applicable).

Performance, Data & Energy Management

• Oversee performance monitoring systems, such as SCADA or Building Automation Systems (BAS), to ensure optimal efficiency and reliability.
• Track and report key performance indicators (KPIs), including kW/ton, supply/return delta-T, and distribution losses.
• Implement continuous improvement initiatives that reduce energy consumption, carbon footprint, and operating costs.
• Support integration of renewable and sustainable energy sources into chilled water systems.

Leadership & Staff Development

• Lead and mentor a multidisciplinary team of field service chilled water technicians.
• Promote a culture of safety, accountability, and operational excellence.
• Ensure proper training, certification, and professional development for all team members.
• Collaborate effectively across departments, including Facilities, Energy Management, IT, and Environmental Health & Safety.

Safety, Compliance & Risk Management

• Maintain compliance with local, state, and federal environmental and safety regulations, including refrigerant management, chemical handling, and OSHA standards.
• Develop and execute emergency response and system redundancy strategies to minimize service interruptions.
• Ensure system readiness for critical applications such as hospital life-safety cooling, data center uptime, and laboratory research continuity.

Education:

• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Energy Systems, Facilities Engineering, or a related discipline required.
• Master's degree in Engineering, Business Administration, or Energy Management preferred.

Experience:

• Minimum 10 years of experience in central plant, chilled water, or district energy system operations, with at least 5 years in a leadership or management role.
• Proven experience with large-scale chiller systems (centrifugal, absorption, scroll, screw, or magnetic bearing), distribution networks, and advanced control systems.
• Demonstrated success managing complex projects, technical teams, and multi-million-dollar budgets.

Skills & Competencies:

• Deep knowledge of thermodynamics, heat transfer, and energy optimization principles.
• Strong leadership and team-building abilities across diverse operational environments.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder engagement skills.
• Commitment to safety, sustainability, and operational excellence.

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