Manager, Critical Environments Management (CEM) - Labs

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What this job involves - We are seeking an experienced and technically proficient Manager of Critical Environment Management (CEM) to lead both the operational oversight of a mission-critical Research & Development (R&D) laboratory portfolio and a dedicated team of facility professionals. This portfolio includes a diverse range of environments, from low-level bench labs to highly critical clean-room spaces dedicated to microprocessor and data chip performance testing.

This is a hybrid leadership role serving as a vital bridge between front line technical execution and operational strategy. You will act as both a subject matter expert managing a subset of critical facilities and a people leader responsible for coaching, mentoring, and developing a high-performing team of Critical Facilities Managers (CEMs). You will ensure the reliability, up-time, and safety of all critical Mechanical, Electrical, Plumbing (MEP), and life safety systems across the portfolio while driving consistency, risk mitigation, and talent growth.

Key Responsibilities -

People Leadership & Team Development

- Direct People Management: Lead, mentor, and develop a team of CEMs, fostering a culture of accountability, collaboration, and operational excellence.
- Talent & Workflow Optimization: Define training standards and competency requirements for the team. Guide CEMs to ensure balanced workload distribution, effective vendor logistics, and seamless incident response.
- Technical Mentorship: Serve as an escalation mentor for complex technical challenges, helping junior team members navigate vendor issues, high-risk work, and system interactions.

Technical & Operational Management

- Serve as the subject matter expert on the lab's critical MEP infrastructure, understanding interconnections and potential impact on research activities.
- Maintain comprehensive oversight of system capacity, load, and redundancy to ensure continuous operation of lab equipment.
- Ensure 24/7 reliability of all building systems supporting labs, including HVAC (AHUs, CRACs, Chillers), Electrical (UPS, PDUs, Generators), and Plumbing/Water systems (RODI, Process Cooling, Sump Pumps).
- Lead root cause analysis (RCA) investigations for major facility-related incidents across the portfolio, implementing corrective actions and sharing learnings across the team.
- Direct the implementation of disaster recovery, crisis mitigation, and business continuity plans for critical facility operations.

Compliance, Documentation & Standardization

- Ensure all lab utility infrastructure complies with local, state, and federal laws and regulations.
- Establish consistent, portfolio-wide standards for engineering logs, MOPs, SOPs, and system performance documentation.
- Prepare and present regular reports on system performance, vendor activities, team KPIs, and incident metrics to senior leadership.

Financial & Strategic Plannin g

- Assist in the development, management, and tracking of operational (OpEx) and capital (CapEx) budgets for the lab facilities portfolio.
- Participate in capacity planning, lifecycle strategy, and technical input for infrastructure upgrades, lab expansions, and new construction projects.
- Identify and implement operational efficiency improvements to reduce costs and enhance system reliability.

Qualifications

Required:

- Experience: 10–12 years of experience in critical facilities operations and management, preferably in laboratory, cleanroom, pharmaceutical, or semiconductor manufacturing environments.
- Leadership Experience: 2–4+ years of direct people management or technical team leadership experience (managing engineers, CEMs, or critical operations staff).
- Education: Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical or Electrical Engineering, Facilities Management, or a related technical field; equivalent professional experience will be considered.
- Technical Knowledge: In-depth, system-level knowledge of critical MEP systems including UPS, generators, power distribution, HVAC (chillers, cooling towers, AHUs), and fire/life safety systems.
- Process Management: Strong mastery of change management controls, MOPs, SOPs, and risk mitigation protocols in live critical environments.
- Core Skills: Exceptional leadership, problem-solving, communication, and cross-functional collaboration skills.

Preferred:

- Master’s degree in Mechanical/Electrical Engineering or a related field.
- Experience with Building Management Systems (BMS), Building Automation Systems (BAS), and Computerized Maintenance Management Systems (CMMS).
- Knowledge of lab-specific utility systems such as Reverse Osmosis Deionized (RODI) Water, Clean Dry Air (CDA), Process Exhaust, and Gas/Chemical monitoring systems.
- Professional certifications such as Certified Facilities Manager (CFM), Certified Data Center Professional (CDCP), Professional Engineer (PE), or similar credentials.
- Experience managing operational and capital budgets.

This position does not provide visa sponsorship. Candidates must be authorized to work in the United States without sponsorship.

Expected compensation for this position:

167,200.00 – 219,980.00 USD per year

Final compensation packages are determined by various considerations including but not limited to candidate qualifications, location, market conditions, and internal considerations.

Location:

On-site –Mountain View, CA

If this job description resonates with you, we encourage you to apply, even if you don’t meet all the requirements.  We’re interested in getting to know you and what you bring to the table!

Personalized benefits that support personal well-being and growth:

JLL recognizes the impact that the workplace can have on your wellness, so we offer a supportive culture and comprehensive benefits package that prioritizes mental, physical and emotional health. Some of these benefits include:

- 401(k) plan with matching company contributions
- Comprehensive Medical, Dental & Vision Care
- Paid parental leave at 100% of salary
- Paid Time Off and Company Holidays
- Early access to earned wages through Daily Pay

At JLL, we harness the power of artificial intelligence (AI) to efficiently accelerate meaningful connections between candidates and opportunities. Using AI capabilities, we analyze your application for relevant skills, experiences, and qualifications to generate valuable insights about how your unique profile aligns with the specific requirements of the role you're pursuing.

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