Operations and Maintenance Analyst

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Why join Harvard University Central Administration?

Harvard University's Central Administration (CADM) is a 5,000+ employee organization that supports the university's overall excellence by understanding and serving the needs of its schools, students, faculty, staff, alumni, and surrounding communities. Through dynamic and collaborative partnerships, CADM provides high-quality and efficient services to the schools to help them achieve their goals.

Energy & Facilities (E&F) operates and manages Harvard’s energy supplies, district energy plants, and utility infrastructures on the Cambridge/Allston campuses, as well as a 24/7 facilities-related call, alarm monitoring, and dispatch center. E&F also provides a broad portfolio of labor-based services, including building maintenance, landscaping, and custodial, to a large portion of the University, as well as engineering, technical, and sustainability services. Within E&F, Engineering & Utilities (E&U) operates and manages energy supplies, district energy plants, and utility infrastructures on the Cambridge/Allston campuses, a 24/7 facilities-related call, alarm monitoring, and dispatch center, and provides engineering and technical services.

The Operations and Maintenance Analyst is a key member of Harvard’s Engineering & Utilities group, which owns and operates the University’s central utility systems, including:

• Steam production and distribution 
• Chilled water production and distribution 
• 15kV electric generation and distribution 

The Analyst provides data-driven insight and operational support to ensure safe, reliable, efficient, and cost-effective utility service to the Harvard campus. This position is responsible for analyzing operational data, supporting maintenance planning and optimization, developing and maintaining performance dashboards, and assisting in the continuous improvement of work processes, asset management practices, and regulatory compliance.

Job-Specific Responsibilities:

Operations Performance & Analytics

• Collect, validate, and analyze operational data from steam, chilled water, and electric systems, including plant performance, distribution system performance, and reliability metrics. 
• Develop and maintain operational dashboards, scorecards, and routine reports for leadership and plant operations teams. 
• Monitor key performance indicators (KPIs) such as system efficiency, energy consumption, reliability indices, and outage metrics; identify trends, anomalies, and opportunities for improvement. 
• Support root-cause analysis of operational issues, unplanned outages, equipment failures, and performance deviations; document findings and recommended corrective actions. 
• Develop and maintain data models and tools that support forecasting, load profiling, and capacity planning for steam, chilled water, and 15kV electric systems.

Maintenance Planning & Asset Management

• Support the development, implementation, and continuous improvement of preventive, predictive, and reliability-centered maintenance programs across all utility plants and distribution networks. 
• Work with supervisors, planners, and craft personnel to optimize maintenance schedules, ensuring efficient use of resources and minimal disruption to utility services. 
• Analyze maintenance history, failure data, and work-order information to recommend changes to maintenance strategies, task frequencies, and spare parts holdings. 
• Assist in the configuration, administration, and reporting of the Computerized Maintenance Management System (CMMS), ensuring high-quality asset and work-order data. 
• Collaborate with Engineering staff on asset criticality assessments, life-cycle planning, and capital renewal prioritization.

Business Processes, Compliance & Documentation

• Document and standardize key operations and maintenance workflows, including work management processes, outage planning, and change management. 
• Assist with environmental, safety, and regulatory compliance reporting related to utility plant and distribution system operations. 
• Maintain accurate records of system performance, maintenance activities, and asset attributes to support audits, permitting, and internal reviews. 
• Support the development and maintenance of operating procedures, maintenance procedures, and training materials for utility systems.

Projects & Continuous Improvement

• Participate in and, where appropriate, lead cross-functional initiatives to enhance reliability, safety, energy efficiency, and customer service. 
• Support commissioning, performance testing, and post-project evaluation for new or upgraded equipment and systems. 
• Evaluate and recommend tools, technologies, and analytical methods (e.g., condition monitoring, advanced metering, fault detection, data visualization) to improve operational effectiveness. 
• Collaborate with campus stakeholders (Facilities, Schools, departments, building managers) on issues related to utility performance, reliability, and customer concerns. 

General

• Other duties as assigned.

Working Conditions:

• This is an on-campus position (not hybrid or remote) based in Cambridge and Allston, Massachusetts. Work location is responsive and subject to change based on business needs.
• Primarily office-based with frequent visits to utility plants, mechanical spaces, and distribution system infrastructure across campus. 
• Exposure to industrial environments, including noise, heat, rotating equipment, and high-voltage areas; requires use of appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE). 
• May be required to support off-hours response to significant utility events, outages, or emergencies. 
• Some on-call, evening, or weekend work may be necessary to support critical operations or scheduled outages.

Emergency Status Designation: Critical Operations Personnel (required to provide on-site support during emergency situations as determined by management).

Basic Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering (Mechanical, Electrical, Industrial, or related), Facilities Management, Data/Analytics, or a closely related field. 
• 2+ years of relevant experience in utility operations, power generation, district energy, industrial operations, facilities engineering, or maintenance planning/analysis. 
• Experience working with complex mechanical and/or electrical systems, preferably in a campus, hospital, industrial, or utility setting. 
• Demonstrated experience with data analysis and reporting, including proficiency in Excel and at least one data visualization or reporting tool (e.g., Power BI, Tableau, or similar). 
• Experience with CMMS/EAM systems (e.g., Maximo, Infor, SAP PM, or similar) in an operations or maintenance environment.

Additional Qualifications and Skills:

• Master’s degree in Engineering, Operations Research, Data Analytics, or a related discipline. 
• Experience in central utility plants, cogeneration, district steam and chilled water, or medium-voltage (15kV) electric systems. 
• Familiarity with reliability-centered maintenance (RCM), condition-based maintenance (CBM), and/or asset management frameworks (e.g., ISO 55000). 
• Knowledge of energy management, thermodynamics, heat balance, and system efficiency analysis. 
• Exposure to GIS tools and utility mapping for steam, chilled water, and electrical distribution systems. 
• Experience with SQL or other query languages; comfort working with large datasets from SCADA, BMS, or metering systems. 
• Professional Engineer (PE), Certified Energy Manager (CEM), or similar credential is a plus.
• Strong analytical and quantitative skills, with the ability to translate complex technical data into clear, actionable insights. 
• Understanding of industrial safety practices and applicable codes/standards for utility operations (e.g., OSHA, NFPA, electrical safety, pressure equipment). 
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to communicate effectively with operators, engineers, managers, and non-technical stakeholders.
• Strong organizational skills and attention to detail; able to manage multiple tasks, priorities, and deadlines in a dynamic environment. 
• Demonstrated ability to work both independently and collaboratively in cross-functional teams. 
• Commitment to continuous improvement, sustainability, and high-quality service to campus customers.

Standard Hours/Schedule: 40 hours per week

Visa Sponsorship Information: Harvard University is unable to provide visa sponsorship for this position

Pre-Employment Screening: Identity, Education, Criminal, Drug Test, References

Other Information:

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Work Format Details

This position has been determined by school or unit leaders that some of the duties and responsibilities can be effectively performed at a non-Harvard location. The work schedule and location will be set by the department at its discretion and based upon operational needs. When not working at a Harvard or Harvard-designated location, employees in hybrid positions must work in a Harvard registered state in compliance with the University’s Policy on Employment Outside of Massachusetts. Additional details will be discussed during the interview process. Certain visa types and funding sources may limit work location. Individuals must meet work location sponsorship requirements prior to employment.

Salary Grade and Ranges

This position is salary grade level 058. Please visit  Harvard's Salary Ranges  to view the corresponding salary range and related information. 

Benefits

Harvard offers a comprehensive benefits package that is designed to support a healthy work-life balance and your physical, mental and financial wellbeing. Because here, you are what matters. Our benefits include, but are not limited to: 

• Generous paid time off including parental leave 
• Medical, dental, and vision health insurance coverage starting on day one 
• Retirement plans with university contributions 
• Wellbeing and mental health resources 
• Support for families and caregivers 
• Professional development opportunities including tuition assistance and reimbursement 
• Commuter benefits, discounts and campus perks 

Learn more about these and additional benefits on our Benefits & Wellbeing Page. 

EEO/Non-Discrimination Commitment Statement

Harvard University is committed to equal opportunity and non-discrimination. We seek talent from all parts of society and the world, and we strive to ensure everyone at Harvard thrives. Our differences help our community advance Harvard's academic purposes.

Harvard has an equal employment opportunity policy that outlines our commitment to prohibiting discrimination on the basis of race, ethnicity, color, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, veteran status, religion, disability, or any other characteristic protected by law or identified in the university's non-discrimination policy. Harvard's equal employment opportunity policy and non-discrimination policy help all community members participate fully in work and campus life free from harassment and discrimination.