Job Description

At a glance

⚡ Michigan Electrical & Facilities Leaders — what if your next role gave you roughly two months of paid time off each year? Another Source is partnering with Oakland University in Rochester, MI to find their next Manager of Electrical & Plumbing Department. Why take a look? 🏖 Approximately 5 weeks of vacation + 3 weeks of University holidays — roughly 2 months of paid time off each year❤️ Excellent healthcare with low employee contributions💰 $97,000 salary + generous University 403(b) contribution🎓 Tuition assistance for employees and eligible dependents⚖️ Strong work-life balance in a stable university environment⚡ Work with Oakland’s 13.2kV medium-voltage distribution system, switchgear, substations & generators👷 Lead a team of 9 skilled electrical and plumbing professionals🛠 Help strengthen preventive maintenance and reliability of critical campus infrastructure📍 Rochester, Michigan | Full-time, onsite If you’re coming from manufacturing, industrial facilities, utilities, healthcare, or another complex environment, this is an opportunity to continue doing meaningful, technically challenging work while gaining significantly more time for family, interests, and life outside of work. We’re especially interested in candidates with 13.2kV or similar medium-voltage distribution experience. A Michigan Master Electrician License is preferred, but not required for the right candidate. Know someone who fits? Tag them, share this post, or reach out to me directly.

Description: What you'll be doing

Another Source's client, Oakland University, is recruiting a Manager of Electrical and Plumbing Department to join their team in Rochester, Michigan.

Why Oakland University?

Oakland University offers an exceptional work-life balance, including approximately five weeks of vacation plus three weeks of University holidays — roughly two months of paid time away each year. In practical terms, you're working approximately 10 months of the year while earning your full annual salary and benefits.

Beyond time off, Oakland offers an outstanding total rewards package, including comprehensive medical coverage with very low employee contributions, dental and vision coverage, a generous University contribution to a 403(b) retirement plan, and tuition assistance for employees and eligible dependents.

If you're coming from manufacturing, industrial facilities, contracting, or the skilled trades, this opportunity offers something that can be difficult to find: the ability to use your technical expertise while gaining significantly more time for life outside of work.

For an experienced electrical or facilities professional ready to step away from the demands of manufacturing, contracting, or around-the-clock industrial operations, Oakland University offers the opportunity to continue doing meaningful, technically challenging work while having more time for family, interests, and life outside of work.

Here's a little about Oakland University:

Located on 1,443 acres in scenic Oakland County between the cities of Rochester Hills and Auburn Hills, Oakland University is a public research university serving more than 18,000 students. Since its founding in 1957, the University has grown into a vibrant academic community offering more than 275 degree and certificate programs across a wide range of disciplines.

Oakland University is known for its strong commitment to student success, community engagement, and workforce development throughout Southeast Michigan. With schools spanning business, engineering, health sciences, nursing, medicine, education, and the arts, the University plays a critical role in preparing the region's next generation of leaders while fostering innovation and collaboration across campus and the broader community.

About this role:

The Manager of Electrical and Plumbing Department is an opportunity for an experienced electrical and facilities leader to take ownership of critical infrastructure that keeps Oakland University's campus operating safely, reliably, and efficiently.

As part of Facilities Management, you will lead a team of nine skilled trades employees across electrical and plumbing operations while supporting the University's complex electrical infrastructure and overseeing elevator service contracts.

Electrical expertise is at the heart of this position. You'll help lead the operation and maintenance of Oakland University's 13.2kV medium-voltage electrical distribution system, including switchgear, substations, generators, and related infrastructure. You'll also have the opportunity to strengthen preventive maintenance programs and champion improvements to critical campus systems.

You do not need to be a plumbing expert. You'll have an experienced plumbing team and outside resources to support more complex work. What matters most is bringing strong electrical knowledge, experience with medium-voltage distribution, and the leadership skills to effectively manage experienced skilled trades professionals.

How you will spend your time:

• Lead and supervise a nine-person skilled trades team, including electricians and plumbers.
• Provide day-to-day leadership to bargaining unit employees, including work assignments, priorities, timekeeping, work orders, and team accountability.
• Support the operation and maintenance of Oakland University's 13.2kV medium-voltage electrical distribution system.
• Oversee and help strengthen preventive maintenance programs for switchgear, substations, backup generators, and related electrical infrastructure.
• Coordinate maintenance priorities to support safe and reliable operation of critical campus systems.
• Apply your knowledge of electrical infrastructure, controls, PLCs, and building systems to troubleshoot and resolve complex issues.
• Provide management oversight to the University's plumbing operation, with outside contractors available for more complex work.
• Oversee the University's elevator maintenance/service contract and collaborate with internal technical partners on larger elevator projects.
• Partner with Facilities Management, Capital Planning, skilled trades employees, vendors, and campus stakeholders on maintenance and infrastructure projects.
• Help identify and champion opportunities to improve the reliability and long-term performance of Oakland University's infrastructure.

What we're looking for:

• Experience working with medium-voltage electrical distribution systems, ideally including 13.2kV systems, switchgear, substations, and related infrastructure.
• At least six years of experience in facilities maintenance, electrical operations, industrial maintenance, or a related environment.
• At least two years of supervisory or management experience, ideally leading electricians, skilled trades, or facilities employees.
• Experience working in a large or complex environment such as manufacturing, industrial facilities, higher education, healthcare, utilities, or other institutional settings.
• Knowledge of electrical safety, switching procedures, preventive maintenance, and troubleshooting.
• Working knowledge of PLCs and controls.
• Experience supervising bargaining unit employees is highly valued.
• Ability to organize competing maintenance priorities, manage work orders and resources, and maintain strong service to internal customers.
• Strong organizational, analytical, communication, and people-leadership skills.
• Computer proficiency, including email, Microsoft Excel and Word, and computerized maintenance management systems.
• Valid driver's license and a driving record acceptable to Oakland University and its insurance carrier.
• Associate degree relevant to maintenance, electrical or building systems, or a related area; an equivalent combination of education and/or experience may be considered.

Preferred qualifications:

• Current Michigan Master Electrician License.
• Experience with 13.2kV electrical distribution.
• PLC troubleshooting or programming knowledge.
• Experience with generators and electrical preventive maintenance programs.
• Experience leading skilled trades employees in a bargaining unit environment.
• Exposure to plumbing systems and/or elevator operations.

Don't have a Michigan Master Electrician License? We still encourage you to apply. Oakland University is particularly interested in experienced electrical leaders who bring strong medium-voltage distribution experience, technical credibility, and the ability to effectively lead skilled trades professionals.

Unless otherwise required by an applicable collective bargaining agreement, all minimum, additional, and desired qualifications are preferred. Qualifications, degrees, and/or experience deemed comparable and/or equivalent may be considered by Oakland University in its sole and exclusive discretion.

What's in it for you:

The annual salary for this position is $97,000, along with a comprehensive Oakland University benefits package designed to support you and your family.

Highlights include:

• Approximately five weeks of vacation
• Approximately three weeks of University holidays
• Comprehensive medical coverage with low employee contribution amounts
• Dental and vision plans at no cost to employees
• Generous University contribution to a 403(b) retirement plan
• Tuition assistance for employees and eligible dependents
• Free access to the Campus Recreation Center and workout facilities
• Wellness programs
• A stable university environment with a strong commitment to work-life balance

Learn more about Oakland University's employee benefits:

https://www.oakland.edu/hr/benefits/

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement:

Oakland University is committed to advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion in an environment of mutual trust and respect at all levels of the institution and facilitating opportunities and success for all community members.

We are an equal opportunity employer and encourage applications from individuals of all backgrounds and experiences.

Another Source's role:

Another Source works with our clients on a retained project basis. We are committed to building inclusive candidate pools as we partner with hiring teams. As you read through the job posting and review the list of qualifications (required and/or preferred), please do not self-select out if you feel you do not meet every qualification. No one is 100% qualified. We encourage you to apply and share your story with us.

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