Systems Manager in Richmond, Virginia at Virginia Union University

Virginia Union University (VUU) is a distinguished private institution founded in 1865 that proudly upholds a legacy of academic excellence and community engagement. With a historic 86-acre campus, it offers a dynamic and nurturing environment for its 1,568 undergraduate and graduate students. Virginia Union University is recognized in the 2024 edition of U.S. News & World Report, holding a prestigious position as #39 among Historically Black Colleges and Universities.

VUU provides a robust array of academic programs, including 35 Bachelor's, 11 Master's, and one Doctoral degree. Virginia Union University remains steadfast in its commitment to offering accessible, high-quality education, instilling a sense of assurance and confidence in its students. It fosters a vibrant intellectual community dedicated to the holistic development of future leaders.

Five fundamental principles (core values) guide Virginia Union University. Each principle is essential to our ability to provide a Best-In-Class educational experience for students, faculty, and staff. These principles help our community understand the right path to fulfilling our institution's mission. The principles are Innovation, Spiritual Formation, Integrity, Diversity & Inclusion, and Excellence.

The Systems Manager for Facilities Management is responsible for the data, technology, and systems that support campus operations within the Division of Infrastructure Management and Planning. This position manages utility billing and consumption data, deploys and maintains IoT sensors that produce building occupancy and space utilization reports, and serves as the department's first line of support for Brightly Asset Essentials, the university's computerized asset management system (CAMS). The Systems Manager will integrate utility, sensor, and work order data into clear reports that guide budget, energy, space, and maintenance decisions, and will collaborate with Facilities staff, University IT, the Comptroller's office, vendors, and university leadership.

Responsibilities

Collect, verify, and maintain monthly utility bills and consumption data (electric, natural gas, water, and sewer) for all campus accounts and meters.Produce monthly and annual utility reports, including cost per square foot, unit rates, and year-over-year trends, to support budgeting, forecasting, and conservation efforts.Identify billing errors, estimated reads, late fees, usage spikes, and accounts at risk of disconnection; coordinate resolution with the Comptroller's office and utility providers.Plan, install, configure, and maintain IoT sensors for occupancy, people counting, temperature, humidity, and indoor air quality, in coordination with University IT.Develop occupancy and space utilization reports for classrooms, offices, labs, and common areas, comparing actual use against scheduled and assigned space.Provide data to support space planning, scheduling, custodial routing, HVAC scheduling, and energy savings.Serve as the day-to-day administrator of Asset Essentials, assisting staff with creating, assigning, updating, and closing work orders, logging labor and parts, and using the mobile app.Maintain Asset Essentials users, buildings, locations, assets, and preventive maintenance schedules; run standard reports on open and overdue work orders, backlog, and PM compliance.Train Facilities staff on systems and data entry standards through simple guides and short sessions.Integrate utility, sensor, CMMS, and building automation data into shared dashboards and recurring reports for divisional and university leadership.Manage vendor relationships for facilities technology, escalate system issues, and track them to resolution.Develop and maintain documentation of data sources, procedures, and system settings; ensure compliance with university IT security and data privacy policies.Evaluate new facilities technology and recommend tools that improve efficiency and reporting.Perform other duties as assigned.

Education

Bachelor's degree in Information Systems, Engineering, Facilities Management, Data Analytics, or a related field required, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.Minimum of 3–5 years of experience managing data, building technology, or business systems, preferably in facilities, energy management, or higher education.Experience with a computerized maintenance management system (CMMS) required; experience with Brightly Asset Essentials preferred.Experience with IoT or building sensors, building automation systems (BACnet), Power BI, or advanced Excel preferred.Certification such as CEM, EBP, or APPA EFP preferred.Valid driver's license required.Must be able to lift 25 pounds and climb ladders to install and service equipment.

Application Process

Candidates are required to submit their resume, four professional references and a cover letter. The application review will begin immediately and continue until the position is filled. A background investigation and reference check will be required prior to employment. For any questions or concerns, please contact Askhr@vuu.edu.

Equal Opportunity Employer

Virginia Union University is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We consider qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, disability, gender identity, protected veteran status, or other protected class.

For more information about Virginia Union University, visit VUU About Page.