Description

Do you enjoy leading technical teams responsible for the safe, reliable, and continuous operation of critical facility infrastructure? Are you passionate about developing people, improving operational performance, and ensuring building and utility systems are ready to support mission needs around the clock? Do you thrive in an environment where safety, reliability, customer service, and continuous improvement are essential to mission success?

If so, we're looking for someone like you to join our team at APL.

We are seeking a Section Supervisor for Building Operations to lead a multidisciplinary team responsible for the continuous operation, monitoring, maintenance, and optimization of critical building and utility systems across the Laboratory. The section includes Operating Engineers and Building Automation System (BAS) technicians who work together to maintain reliable facility operations and respond to changing operational conditions.

As Section Supervisor, you will provide leadership and direction for 24/7/365 building operations, central utility plant operations, building automation and controls, operational response, and associated maintenance activities. You will partner with maintenance organizations, engineering teams, project managers, contractors, and facility customers to ensure building and utility systems are operated safely, reliably, efficiently, and in support of APL's mission.

As the Section Supervisor, you will work with the Group Supervisor to establish the vision, priorities, and performance expectations for the Building Operations Section. You will be accountable for the people, processes, and resources necessary to support continuous facility operations while strengthening operational reliability and resiliency.

You will develop the section's workforce, establish operating priorities, improve business and maintenance processes, manage resources, strengthen partnerships, and ensure the organization is prepared to respond effectively to planned and unplanned operational events. Your leadership will directly contribute to the reliability and stewardship of APL's facilities infrastructure and the success of the Laboratory's mission.

As a Building Operations Section Supervisor, you will...

Support Building Operations

• Provide technical and administrative leadership for a multidisciplinary workforce consisting of Operating Engineers and BAS technicians supporting continuous facility operations.
• Provide leadership and oversight for 24/7/365 building and utility operations, including shift operations, nights, weekends, holidays, planned outages, utility interruptions, emergency response, and other operational contingencies.
• Oversee the safe and reliable operation of central utility plant equipment and associated building systems, including boilers, chillers, pumps, cooling towers, compressed air, HVAC systems, and related mechanical and utility infrastructure.
• Provide oversight of Building Automation Systems and associated controls used to monitor, command, troubleshoot, and optimize building mechanical and utility systems.
• Ensure appropriate operating rounds, system monitoring, equipment inspections, alarm response, operating logs, and other activities are performed to identify abnormal conditions and maintain reliable operations.
• Establish expectations for the safe isolation, shutdown, startup, changeover, and restoration of building and utility systems during planned maintenance, construction activities, outages, and emergency events.
• Coordinate closely with maintenance sections, engineering organizations, project managers, contractors, and facility customers to plan work, resolve operational issues, and minimize impacts to Laboratory operations.
• Provide leadership during facility emergencies, equipment failures, utility interruptions, and other events requiring coordinated operational response and restoration.

Drive Operational Excellence

• Establish section goals, priorities, staffing plans, work schedules, and performance expectations aligned with Facilities Maintenance and Operations objectives.
• Develop, maintain, and continuously improve operating procedures, technical standards, maintenance practices, and processes that promote safety, reliability, maintainability, operational resiliency, and lifecycle performance.
• Oversee preventive and corrective maintenance activities associated with central utility plant operations, BAS, HVAC controls, and other systems assigned to the section.
• Provide oversight of BAS maintenance, troubleshooting, controls integration, planned installations, system replacements, modernization efforts, and building performance optimization.
• Review and approve operating procedures, technical standards, equipment selections, drawings, specifications, O&M documentation, and design packages affecting systems operated or maintained by the section.
• Use CMMS information, BAS data, equipment history, reliability trends, operational metrics, and customer feedback to identify recurring issues, improve system performance, and establish priorities.
• Identify opportunities to improve operational resiliency, infrastructure reliability, energy performance, equipment lifecycle management, and overall facility performance.
• Promote consistent execution of safety requirements, environmental requirements, operating procedures, regulatory requirements, and Laboratory standards.

Develop People

• Lead, mentor, coach, and develop Operating Engineers, BAS technicians, and other assigned personnel while fostering a culture of safety, accountability, collaboration, technical excellence, and continuous improvement.
• Establish clear roles, responsibilities, and performance expectations and provide employees with regular feedback and coaching.
• Manage employee performance, recognition, professional development, and career growth while addressing performance concerns in a timely and constructive manner.
• Develop workforce and succession plans that maintain the technical skills, licenses, certifications, and institutional knowledge necessary to support continuous facility operations.
• Identify technical and leadership development opportunities that strengthen individual capabilities and overall section performance.
• Promote cross-training and knowledge transfer between Operating Engineers, BAS technicians, maintenance personnel, and other technical organizations to improve organizational resiliency.
• Build a collaborative work environment where employees understand how their individual responsibilities contribute to safe and reliable Laboratory operations.
• Develop future technical and operational leaders capable of assuming increased responsibility within Facilities Maintenance and Operations.

Qualifications

You meet our minimum qualifications for the job if you...

• Possess a Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Facility Management, Construction Management, or another related technical field with at least five (5) years of progressively responsible experience in facility operations, maintenance, central utility systems, building systems, or a related technical environment OR in lieu of degree Nine (9) years of progressively responsible experience in facility operations, maintenance, central utility systems, building systems, or a related technical environment
• Have demonstrated experience leading, supervising, or providing technical direction to skilled trades, technicians, operating personnel, or other technical professionals.
• Possess experience in supporting facility operations within an institutional, industrial, commercial, research, healthcare, higher education, critical, or similarly complex operating environment.  
• Possess working knowledge of central utility and building mechanical systems such as boilers, chillers, pumps, cooling towers, HVAC equipment, and associated utility distribution systems.
• Possess working knowledge of Building Automation Systems, HVAC controls, building system integration, and the use of automation systems to monitor and control facility equipment.
• Have experience supporting preventive maintenance, corrective maintenance, operational troubleshooting, outages, and emergency response activities.
• Have experience reviewing technical drawings, specifications, schematics, equipment diagrams, O&M manuals, procedures, and construction documents.
• Have experience utilizing a Computerized Maintenance Management System (CMMS) to manage or evaluate maintenance and operational activities.
• Demonstrate strong leadership, organizational, interpersonal, problem-solving, and written and verbal communication skills.
• Are able to provide leadership and operational support outside normal working hours when required to support facility emergencies, outages, and other critical operational events.
• Are proficient with Microsoft Office applications.
• Requires valid state-of-residence driver’s license in good standing.
• Hold US Citizenship or permanent resident status, as required to access APL’s facilities and networks, subject to applicable laws.

You'll go above and beyond our minimum requirements if you...

• Have seven (7) or more years of progressively responsible experience in facility operations, maintenance, central utility plant operations, building systems, or a related technical environment.
• Have three (3) or more years of supervisory or people-leadership experience leading skilled trades, operating personnel, technicians, engineers, or other technical staff.
• Have experience leading scheduled shutdowns, service disruptions, urgent incident management, or restoration of critical facility systems.  
• Possess relevant professional certifications or licenses such as IFMA CFM, FMP, SFP, Certified Energy Manager (CEM), Stationary Engineer licensing, or advanced BAS platform certifications.

About Us

Why Work at APL?

The Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory (APL) brings world-class expertise to our nation’s most critical defense, security, space and science challenges. While we are dedicated to solving complex challenges and pioneering new technologies, what makes us truly outstanding is our culture. We offer a vibrant, welcoming atmosphere where you can bring your authentic self to work, continue to grow, and build strong connections with inspiring teammates.

At APL, we celebrate our differences of perspectives and encourage creativity and bold, new ideas. Our employees enjoy generous benefits, including a robust education assistance program, unparalleled retirement contributions, and a healthy work/life balance. APL’s campus is located in the Baltimore-Washington metro area. Learn more about our career opportunities at https://www.jhuapl.edu/careers.

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, creed, color, religion, sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, age, physical or mental disability, genetic information, veteran status, occupation, marital or familial status, political opinion, personal appearance, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law. APL is committed to providing reasonable accommodation to individuals of all abilities, including those with disabilities. If you require a reasonable accommodation to participate in any part of the hiring process, please contact Accessibility@jhuapl.edu.

The referenced pay range is based on JHU APL’s good faith belief at the time of posting. Actual compensation may vary based on factors such as geographic location, work experience, market conditions, education/training and skill level with consideration for internal parity. For salaried employees scheduled to work less than 40 hours per week, annual salary will be prorated based on the number of hours worked. APL may offer bonuses or other forms of compensation per internal policy and/or contractual designation. Additional compensation may be provided in the form of a sign-on bonus, relocation benefits, locality allowance or discretionary payments for exceptional performance. APL provides eligible staff with a comprehensive benefits package including retirement plans, paid time off, medical, dental, vision, life insurance, short-term disability, long-term disability, flexible spending accounts, education assistance, and training and development. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis.

Minimum Rate

$62,900 Annually

Maximum Rate

$180,300 Annually