Senior Director of Plant Operations

This range is provided by Insight Global. Your actual pay will be based on your skills and experience — talk with your recruiter to learn more.

$/yr - $/yr

Insight Global is hiring a Senior Director of Plant Operations to join a higher education university in Houston, TX. The Senior Director of Plant Operations provides strategic leadership and operational oversight for all central utility systems serving the university campus. This role drives long‑term planning to modernize aging infrastructure, advance sustainability objectives, improve efficiency, mitigate risk, and ensure utilities are prepared to support the university’s growth.

The Senior Director manages chilled water, steam, electrical distribution, emergency power, and related infrastructure to deliver reliable, efficient, and sustainable services essential to academic, research, residential, and administrative operations.

• Lead and oversee daily operations of the Central Plant and campus utility systems
• Develop and execute short‑ and long‑term plans aligned with sustainability and energy‑efficiency goals
• Drive utility master planning to support campus growth, infrastructure renewal, and carbon‑neutrality objectives
• Serve as the technical authority for operation, maintenance, and optimization of central utility systems, including chilled water, steam, cogeneration, and electrical distribution
• Direct plant upgrades, retrofits, and capital improvement projects in collaboration with engineering consultants and project managers

• Manage multi‑million‑dollar operating and capital budgets
• Monitor utility consumption and cost data to identify savings and efficiency opportunities
• Maintain service contracts with major equipment vendors
• Participate in energy procurement and utility service negotiations
• Ensure compliance with all applicable codes and regulations (TCEQ, EPA, OSHA, air and water quality permits)
• Oversee environmental reporting and enforce safety protocols
• Develop risk‑mitigation strategies for system failures, redundancies, and disaster recovery
• Supervise plant operators, instrumentation technicians, maintenance staff, and administrative personnel
• Promote staff training, certification, and professional development to enhance capability and retention
• Foster a culture of safety, accountability, and operational excellence
• Act as primary liaison for internal and external stakeholders on utility operations and infrastructure planning
• Collaborate with campus planning, sustainability, capital projects, and academic units to align utility services with institutional needs
• Provide regular reports and presentations to senior leadership

• Professional Engineer (PE) license
• Bachelor’s Degree in Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or a related field
• 6+ years of progressively responsible experience in central utility plant operations
• 5+ years of senior leadership experience
• Strong knowledge of thermal and electrical utility systems, central plants, district energy systems, and distribution infrastructure; familiarity with building codes and specifications
• Expertise in budgeting, procurement, and scheduling for large‑scale utility operations
• Strong financial acumen with experience managing large operating budgets and prioritizing multiple projects
• Proven success in designing and implementing energy‑efficiency and optimization strategies, including performance monitoring and reporting
• Exceptional written, verbal, and presentation skills, with the ability to translate technical concepts for diverse audiences
• Skilled in cross‑functional collaboration with internal teams, consultants, and contractors

• 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

This position is a direct hire and the salary ranges between $,000 annually.