Preventative maintenance is gaining attention within higher education facilities departments due to its numerous, cost-saving benefits. Many universities and colleges are hiring professionals who are experienced in developing and implementing preventative maintenance programs and can provide immediate value to their institutions. Learn the typical responsibilities of these progressive maintenance roles and the skill sets to look for in qualified candidates.

1. March 2013
G rowing Demand for Preventative
Maintenance Professionals
P
reventa3ve
maintenance
has
been
gaining
aHen3on
within
higher
educa3on
facili3es
management
departments
due
to
the
significant
strains
that
deferred
maintenance
can
put
upon
limited
budgets.
Many
ins3tu3ons
have
come
to
realize
that
preventa3ve
maintenance,
while
requiring
an
ini3al
investment,
can
provide
substan3al
long-­‐term
savings.
This
concept
has
proven
itself
as
an
extremely
effec3ve
way
of
maintaining
building
systems
and
extending
equipment
service
life.
While
there
are
numerous
and
diverse
benefits
of
preventa3ve
maintenance,
its
primary
advantages
are:
✓ Maximizing
efficiency.
✓ Increasing
produc3vity.
✓ Improving
performance
and
safety
of
equipment
assets.
✓ Prolonging
the
useful
life
of
equipment.
Although
preventa3ve
maintenance
is
earning
recogni3on
for
the
above,
it
can
be
difficult
to
know
where
to
begin
ini3a3ng
a
program
when
there
has
been
no
prior
plan.
Therefore,
many
universi3es
and
colleges
are
making
efforts
to
hire
experienced
professionals
who
understand
preventa3ve
maintenance
and
who
can
provide
immediate
value
in
helping
to
develop
and
implement
a
comprehensive
and
effec3ve
plan.
These
individuals
are
responsible
for
developing
strategic
preventa3ve
maintenance
programs
that
ensure
safe
physical
environments
for
staff,
faculty
and
students.
They
assist
their
ins3tu3ons
in
priori3zing
projects
to
maximize
preventa3ve
maintenance
dollars
and
establishing
prac3ces
that
improve
the
performance
and
safety
of
equipment
assets.
Typical responsibilities of preventative maintenance managers
‣ Developing
a
strategic
and
comprehensive
preventa3ve
maintenance
program
that
addresses
the
inefficiencies
and
needs
of
all
campus
facili3es
(includes
iden3fying,
forecas3ng
and
budge3ng
short-­‐
and
long-­‐term
facility
requirements).
‣ Developing
and
managing
preventa3ve
maintenance
procedures,
policies,
and
opera3ng
instruc3ons.
‣ Crea3ng
equipment
asset
inventories,
priori3zing
maintenance
and
upgrades,
and
developing
frequency
schedules
and
tasking.
‣ Analyzing
and
interpre3ng
data
for
the
crea3on
of
reports
and
projec3ons.
‣ Capturing
and
formaDng
facility
asset
data
for
use
in
computerized
maintenance
management
systems
(CMMS).
‣ Managing
personnel,
vendors,
and
resources
for
all
projects.
‣ Con3nually
monitoring
and
adjus3ng
program
to
improve
effec3veness
and
efficiency.

2. March 2013
To secure professionals who can perform and make a positive
impact in these roles, higher education institutions need to look
for specific qualifications and skill sets in facilities professionals:
‣ Bachelor’s
degree
in
Engineering
or
related
field.
‣ Extensive
knowledge
of
preventa3ve
maintenance
systems
and
industry
standards
with
the
ability
to
develop,
implement
and
assess
preventa3ve
maintenance
programs.
‣ Understanding
of
CMMS
soUware
and
how
to
develop
databases
and
implement
systems
to
be
u3lized
for
equipment
maintenance
tracking,
work
orders,
inventory
control,
and
building
history.
‣ Thorough
knowledge
of
electrical,
mechanical,
plumbing,
and
building
controls.
‣ Crea3vity
and
adeptness
at
re-­‐engineering
opera3ons
and
procedures,
formula3ng
policies,
and
developing
and
implemen3ng
new
strategies
and
processes.
‣ Knowledge
of
all
codes
and
ordinances,
(federal,
state,
and
local)
and
regula3ons
(OSHA,
safety,
and
fire)
per3nent
to
facili3es
planning,
design,
construc3on,
and
maintenance.
‣ Experience
handling
mul3ple
and
simultaneous
tasks
and
projects.
‣ Experience
training,
managing,
and
mentoring
employees;
priori3zing
work;
and
organizing
resources.
Specific
skill
sets:
‣ Developing
budgets
that
support
data
and
projec3ons.
‣ Analyzing
complex
issues,
and
developing
innova3ve
and
responsive
solu3ons.
‣ Reviewing
and
interpre3ng
schema3cs,
drawings,
and
blueprints.
It
should
be
noted
that
predic3ve
maintenance
is
a
method
that
can
offer
even
more
cost
savings
than
preventa3ve
maintenance
because
it
involves
work
being
done
only
when
it
is
warranted.
While
predic3ve
maintenance
shares
the
same
benefits
as
preventa3ve
maintenance,
its
is
performed
at
a
scheduled
3me
when
the
maintenance
ac3vity
can
be
the
most
cost-­‐effec3ve.
Predic3ve
maintenance
roles
and
desired
candidate
qualifica3ons
are
similar
to
those
of
preventa3ve
maintenance.
Because
these
proac3ve
maintenance
concepts
are
gaining
recogni3on
for
the
value
they
offer
to
higher
educa3on
facili3es
departments,
professionals
who
have
the
capabili3es
to
fulfill
these
roles
are
in
demand
and
can
be
difficult
to
aHract
and
secure.
There’s
no
doubt
that
ins3tu3ons
that
are
successful
in
hiring
individuals
who
can
lead
their
preventa3ve
and
predic3ve
maintenance
ini3a3ves
will
see
real
benefits
in
the
years
to
come.
If
your
ins+tu+on
is
contempla+ng
a
strategic
hire
to
enhance
your
preventa+ve
or
predic+ve
maintenance
capabili+es,
we
invite
you
to
contact
Jim
Lord,
Managing
Director.
Jim
is
highly
knowledgeable
of
maintenance
objec+ves
within
ins+tu+ons
and
of
aArac+ng
professionals
who
can
successfully
develop
and
implement
these
important
strategies.
If
you
are
a
facili+es
professional
who
is
experienced
in
preventa+ve
and
predic+ve
maintenance
and
you
are
seeking
a
new
career
opportunity,
we
encourage
you
to
visit
our
Current
Searches
page
and
submit
your
qualifica+ons
via
our
Resume
Submission
Form.
HELBLING & ASSOCIATES, INC. RETAINED EXECUTIVE SEARCH
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Pittsburgh www.helblingsearch.com 724.935.7500