Supervisor, Fire and Compliancy

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Internal deadline for the posting is July 17, 2025 @ 11:59 pm

Job Description:

Primary Purpose

The Supervisor, Fire and Compliancy is accountable to the Associate Director, Utilities for managing the operation and maintenance of the physical assets and infrastructure systems of the university related to Fire systems, Fire extinguishers, elevator compliancy, building generator compliance, air compressors, closed loop heating, cooling, glycol systems, in an efficient, reliable, and safe manner.

University of Waterloo infrastructure comprises over eight million square feet, eighty major academic buildings, and four campuses supporting state of the art teaching and ground-breaking research.

Responsibilities will align with the Plant Operations goal of contributing towards providing a safe and accessible, invitingly clean and comfortable, functionally-enriched and well-maintained campus environment through service excellence.

Key Accountabilities

Strategic Planning

• Assists with and supports the department’s strategic planning efforts addressing stewardship responsibilities and long-term sustainability of the University’s campus, facilities and infrastructure; maximizing opportunities for efficient delivery of campus services and optimal investments in University-wide infrastructure.
• Works closely with other shops to promote compliancy with systems related to campus safety and outside agencies

Operations Planning and Management

• Oversees the planning, management and delivery of services related to fire safety, elevating devices, fostering a client-focused, service-oriented work environment.
• Promotes operational consistency, effectiveness and ensures compliance with all applicable legislation, regulations, codes, and standards related to facilities operations, including occupational health and environmental safety.

• Manages the operation of the campus fire systems, elevating devices ensuring all systems are compliant and safe.
• Provides input to the Maintenance Supervisors and Chief Stationary Engineer regarding the activities of their staff to assist with coordination of their activities as they relate to overall operational requirements and goals.
• Updates capital expenditure forecasts and ensures the section is performing to budget expectations.
• Sources and orders parts and materials required for maintenance and alteration work within a signing authority for purchases up to $10,000.00.
• Coordinates and monitors projects performed by contractors.
• Maintain and oversee all documentation related to regulatory and compliance requirements, ensuring timely updates, accurate record-keeping, and adherence to applicable legislation, standards, and organizational policies.

General Management

Responsible for the workplace health and safety of the section members. This requires the application of safe methods, codes and standards, the creation of job procedures; training, informally during job assignment and formally during safety meetings; the correction of hazards identified through suggestions from the crew; inspection of the workplace and the investigation of accidents.

• Responsible for the productivity, effectiveness, and morale of the section members. This is accomplished by effective assignment of the available resources, clear instructions, training as required, evaluation of results, and corrective action as necessary.
• Provides recommendations on the skills makeup and crew size requirements and recruits to fill these roles.
• Co-ordinates the resources of labour, material and equipment to meet the demands of maintenance and special project work requests.
• Inspects the workmanship, safety and productivity of the section and takes the necessary corrective and disciplinary action to maintain the standards of the department.
• As the first line of supervision, has the responsibility of supervising unionized employees, answering grievances presented as verbal complaints, handling disciplinary actions and communicating on behalf of the University.
• Provides technical support for the section; identification of the need for repairs, upgrades or programming revisions and implementing the required changes. Investigates, trouble-shoots and devises solutions to problems either directly or by having resources to call on.
• Liaise and collaborate with the Safety Office concerning fire safety and regulatory mandates.
• Collaborate with the design department ensuring that accessibility is always provided during fire, elevator services or outages.
• Provides and ensure that assign staff provide high level of customer service to campus wide stakeholders.

Project Management

• Provides project support to clients across the University campus.
• Supports implementation of projects of the Design and Construction team.
• Utilizes specialized technical knowledge in the assigned area to develop scope of work and to support project design & implementation.
• Procures material and services as per University’s internal Procurement guidelines.
• Responsible for scheduling of construction activities and utility shutdowns.
• Oversee job site inspections and commissioning of internal projects.
• Procures contractors and consultants to provide resources and skills unavailable in the section. Coordinates, supervises, and inspects their work.
• Provides input on and assists in delivering energy conservation projects.

Human Resources

• Provides leadership and management to staff within assigned portfolio.
• Fosters responsiveness, collegiality, continuous improvement, and high level of customer service throughout the entire Facilities/Plant Operations group.
• Develops and implements metrics to ensure the organization is operating efficiently and effectively, servicing client needs within budget.
• Ensures that effective health and safety processes are in place: incident prevention by establishing, adhering, and ensuring assigned support staff are following departmental policy, procedures and safe work practices required by the University health, safety, and environmental management system (HSEMS), and in accordance with relevant health and safety legislation, developing and enhancing a safety culture among staff.

Required Qualifications

Education

• A Canadian Fire Alarm Association certificate and/or a Certificate of Apprenticeship and Certificate of Qualification in a field related to maintenance.

Experience

• 3 years of demonstrated progressive technical and staff management experience in a leadership role in a major institutional sector(s).
• Experience working in a unionized environment is a strong asset.

Knowledge/Skills/Abilities

• Excellent communication skills with a deep commitment to customer service.
• Innovative approach to problem solving and a track record for leading high performance delivery teams defined by a culture of excellence and responsiveness.
• Demonstrated ability to take initiative, incorporate innovation and independent thinking.
• Exemplary organizational and analytical skills and attention to detail is essential.
• Ability to exercise prudent judgement and high level of confidentiality is essential
• Sound working knowledge of property and facilities management principles, services. and operations.
• Demonstrated track record of effective leadership and collaboration with various constituents at all levels and ranges of expertise, managing a multidisciplinary group of staff and external contractors to ensure responsive, timely, thorough and cost-effective services are provided to meet the needs of the University community.
• Able to work effectively within the University's unique culture and decentralized environment.
• Proficient in the development of operational specifications, design standards, control sequences, work practices and procedures.
• Thorough knowledge of all applicable codes and regulations (fire, elevating devices, construction, electrical).
• Knowledge and ability to lead assigned section in compliance with MOL standards, OSHA, WHMIS and other applicable codes and regulations.

Equity Statement

The University of Waterloo acknowledges that much of our work takes place on the traditional territory of the Neutral, Anishinaabeg, and Haudenosaunee peoples. Our main campus is situated on the Haldimand Tract, the land granted to the Six Nations that includes six miles on each side of the Grand River. Our active work toward reconciliation takes place across our campuses through research, learning, teaching, and community building, and is coordinated within the Office of Indigenous Relations.

The University values the diverse and intersectional identities of its students, faculty, and staff. The University regards equity and diversity as an integral part of academic excellence and is committed to accessibility for all employees. The University of Waterloo seeks applicants who embrace our values of equity, anti-racism and inclusion. As such, we encourage applications from candidates who have been historically disadvantaged and marginalized, including applicants who identify as First Nations, Métis and/or Inuk (Inuit), Black, racialized, a person with a disability, women and/or 2SLGBTQ+.

Positions are open to qualified candidates who are legally entitled to work in Canada.

The University of Waterloo is committed to accessibility for persons with disabilities. If you have any application, interview, or workplace accommodation requests, please contact Human Resources at hrhelp@uwaterloo.ca or 519-888-4567, ext. 45935.