• Job Type: Officer of Administration
• Regular/Temporary: Regular
• Hours Per Week: 35
• Salary Range: $148,500 - $180,000

Position Summary

Columbia Residential manages a portfolio of 149 graduate and faculty residential buildings around the Morningside Heights campus as well as in Manhattan Valley and Riverdale, Bronx. The department is responsible for routine operations and maintenance of over 5,700 University-owned or managed units which are used to house eligible students, fellows, faculty, and certain eligible officers of research, libraries, and administration.

Reporting to the Executive Director of Columbia Residential, the Director of Residential Maintenance and Trades is responsible for the oversight of post-award financial and compliance activity of a diverse portfolio of over 150 graduate and faculty residential buildings around the Morningside Heights.

Responsibilities

• Oversees and leads projects related to providing mechanical, electrical, and plumbing (MEP) services to the Residential portfolio. They are responsible for obtaining all necessary project information and leading a specialized team to deliver these services.

• Responsible for the vital MEP infrastructure of the University Apartment Housing portfolio, which includes over 150 buildings valued at over $2 billion. This encompasses HVAC systems, pumps, electrical systems, vertical transportation, fire systems, meters, and other building automation systems and controls.

• Ensures the delivery of high-quality and reliable trade services for Columbia Residential by managing the trade shops' work, including carpentry, plumbing, electrical, painting, and masonry.

• Manage the development of the University's capital planning process by recommending projects based on specific building knowledge, reviewing the impact of approved capital plans on trade services, and adjusting programs accordingly. The Director oversees contractors and suppliers, monitors contracts for compliance and cost control, tracks unit expenditures, and performs quality control inspections to ensure adherence to contract specifications and industry standards.

• Controls department operating expenses, develops monitoring standards, conducts cost analysis, and implements auditing programs and reports. They create financial models to forecast and monitor project-related impacts on the Residential Portfolio.

• The Director partners with Residential Directors to implement standardized apartment refreshes throughout the portfolio, focusing on streamlining communications, negotiating pricing with vendors and contractors, and managing furniture inventory within an annual budget of $1 million.

• Serve as the primary contact for any building audits or walkthroughs with local government entities, Con Edison, and the Department of Buildings.

• Develops strategic partnerships with clients, fostering a sense of shared and equitable responsibility for the Residential infrastructure. They maintain effective communication with clients, clearly define leadership roles and responsibilities within the department, and ensure that the organizational structure is understood and communicated at all levels.

• Establishes operational standards and goals, continually assesses performance and results to identify areas for improvement, and collaborates closely with the senior management team to ensure Columbia Residential provides highly reliable and seamless services to clients.

• Support other departments, events, and activities as required, set priorities for the team, manage workload distribution, allocate resources effectively during peak demand periods, and coordinate the development and implementation of preventative maintenance programs.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree required. 

• A minimum of seven years of related experience is required, including specific experience with construction projects and/or contracts financial administration strongly preferred. 

• Extensive knowledge of HVAC systems, and mechanical systems, such as chillers, boilers, cooling towers, heat pumps, and Aqua-therm systems.  Experience with associated equipment including pumps, generators, water treatment, and air handling units.  Experience with standard and enhanced fire alarm systems. 

• Proficient with energy management systems and BMS.  Ability to promote consistent standards in building operation, shop organization, life safety issues, hazmat issues, emergency procedures, confined spaces, and asbestos.  Multi-site management experience. 

• Ability to conduct project cost forecasting and to write progress reports including project histories, problems, recommended solutions, and justifications for recommendations. Experience in residential property management and tenant relations is required; preferably in New York City.

• Strong customer service orientation. Excellent interpersonal, communication, and team-building skills are essential. Demonstrated ability to manage numerous and diverse activities simultaneously, organizing and prioritizing appropriately to meet demands and expectations.

• Successful candidates must be able to work independently, problem solve, make recommendations for change, implement, and provide a strong process perspective. Strong supervisory experience required preferably with Local 32B-J employees. Familiarity with New York City building codes, and housing laws is necessary. Strong computer skills required, including Microsoft Office.  Universal EPA Certification preferred (if not - must obtain within six months of the start date).

Preferred Qualifications

• Advanced degree is desirable. 

Equal Opportunity Employer / Disability / Veteran

Columbia University is committed to the hiring of qualified local residents.

About Columbia University

Columbia University is one of the world's most important centers of research and at the same time a distinctive and distinguished learning environment for undergraduates and graduate students in many scholarly and professional fields. The University recognizes the importance of its location in New York City and seeks to link its research and teaching to the vast resources of a great metropolis. It seeks to attract a diverse and international faculty and student body, to support research and teaching on global issues, and to create academic relationships with many countries and regions. It expects all areas of the university to advance knowledge and learning at the highest level and to convey the products of its efforts to the world.

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