Overview
 

Our Team/Summary

The Technical Facility Planning & Engineering (TFPE) Department is responsible for the planning, design, construction, commissioning, outfitting, operation and maintenance of the company’s mission-critical facilities and office spaces with particular emphasis on the power, cooling, and cabling infrastructures that support the company’s information technology (IT), production, post production, broadcast and transmission systems.

The Role

The Director Technical Facility Automation & Controls is responsible for technical, financial and analytical leadership related to the strategic planning, design, programming, installation, commissioning and maintenance of the Facility Monitoring Systems (FMS) and Building Management Systems (BMS) that monitor and control critical power (electrical) & cooling (mechanical) systems.

Responsibilities
 

• Participates in strategic planning sessions; develops electrical, mechanical, network, instrumentation and control infrastructures in support of facility design, construction and renovation efforts; the insertion of new technologies; improvements in system reliability; and business continuity.
• Maintains current knowledge of industry-wide trends and their potential impact or application to the business.
• Provides leadership, direction and consultation to department, other Discovery groups and divisions, and multiple cross-functional project teams of internal and external resources (architects, engineers, project managers, consultants, attorneys, contractors, sales representatives, distributors, equipment manufacturers, etc.) to achieve company goals.
• Interacts, collaborates and consults with senior management from multiple functional groups, departments, divisions and offices re strategic initiatives and decisions re major projects and operational issues.
• Provides overall direction for the Technical Facility Engineering team. This includes: effectively evaluating multiple customer requests within the context of business objectives and maximizing the utilization of resources; scoping projects and estimating resources needed to achieve project objectives; developing and monitoring project schedules to ensure the timely completion of projects; developing department technical, analytical, and professional resources.
• In close consultation with VPs and SVP, establishes departmental vision, values, goals, objectives, policies, processes and procedures.
• Oversees individual contributors, providing goals, guidance and feedback.
• Screens projects based on cost/benefit criteria, develops implementation strategies, and provides accountability for completing projects on time and within budget.
• Participates in the development of annual capital and expense budgets.
• Reviews and / or prepares project plans, budgets, schedules and performance measures including financial statements and progress reports to ensure both departmental and overall project efficiencies.
• Develops Communication Plans for special project rollouts, outages and major Technical Facility initiatives.
• Reviews and approves Construction Documents (CD’s), specifications, Statements of Work (SOW’s), Requests for Proposals (RFP’s), Purchase Requisitions, bids and invoices to ensure the implementation of best technical and cost-effective solutions.
• Provides technical presentations as required.
• Negotiates contract pricing, terms and conditions; manages vendor technical, cost and schedule performance; and reviews vendor deliverables for quality and compliance.
• Develops performance metrics, identifies trends, and collaborates with senior management in other functional groups to ensure, maintain and improve system reliability and availability; and reduce support issues.
• Establishes and maintains a tiered support organization and escalation process that provides a high level of customer service and satisfaction for company wide clients.
• Secures service agreements for critical electrical / mechanical systems and ensures proper and effective execution of both preventive and remedial maintenance procedures to minimize potential downtime and maximize availability.
• Utilizes knowledge and experience in design, construction, commissioning, outfitting and operation of technically complex, high availability, 24 x 7 mission critical, information technology (IT) and television (TV) facilities and electrical, mechanical, and network infrastructures.
• Establishes and oversees the application of standard practices, processes, procedures and conventions to ensure the highest levels of quality, integrity, and interoperability among diverse facilities.

Qualifications
 

• BS. in Electrical, Mechanical or Industrial Engineering or Computer Science; or an equivalent combination of skills, professional training, certification and experience.
• A minimum of 15 years of detailed design and full lifecycle project management experience applicable to the design, construction and operation of technologically complex, high availability, 24 x 7, mission critical, information technology (IT) and television (TV) facilities and electrical, mechanical, inside plant (rack & structured cabling) and network infrastructures.
• Strong practical and theoretical knowledge of: electrical, mechanical and architectural design of data centers, telecommunication / computer / electronic equipment rooms, production and broadcast facilities, and commercial office buildings; electrical / mechanical systems – Uninterruptible Power Supplies (UPS’s), Battery Systems, Static Transfer Switches, Power Distribution Units (PDU’s), 415 Volt Switchgear, Diesel Generators, Computer Room Air Conditioning (CRAC) Units, Drycoolers, Chillers; and Construction Management.
• Ideal candidate will have significant experience related to the design and deployment of modern instrumentation and control systems, Building Management Systems (BMS) and Facility Monitoring Systems (FMS); working knowledge and strong understanding of:
  • IP Network, Server and Digital Storage System Architecture & Hardware
  • Virtual Machine (VM) & Cloud Technologies
  • HMI & PLC Programming
  • Ladder & Relay Logic Control Hardware
  • BACnet Protocol for Building Automation & Control – IP, MSTP
  • Modbus Protocol for Industrial Control – RTU, TCP/IP
  • SQL Database Systems & OBDC Module Configurations
  • Automated Logic WebCTRL (ALC) & Siemens Intelligent Building Systems
• Good analytical skills with regards to plant processes and resilient programming
• Adaptive, strive to find and implement solutions to problems as they arise
• Strong multitask skills to ensure smooth and efficient plant operation across several differing projects and regional offices
• Experience establishing and implementing effective business processes and standard operating procedures.
• A high level of initiative, customer focus, aptitude for learning.
• Detail oriented with exceptional follow-up skills.
• Clear and concise written and oral communication skills.
• Ability to travel to locations in Europe and the US.

  The "Mission Handicap" works along with the Occupational Health Department to ensure inclusion for employees with disabilities throughout their work-life journey. We are able to make workstations or workplace environments adjustments to meet our employees' needs so that they can reach their full potential.