Cooling Plant Operator
University of Alberta — Edmonton, AB, Canada
Posted 2026-11-03
This competition is open to all applicants; however, internal applicants will be given priority consideration based on minimum qualifications, or a combination of experience, skills, and abilities before external applicants are considered.
Location - This role is in-person. Work primarily takes place at North Campus, Edmonton.
The University of Alberta Utilities Department is seeking a Cooling Plant Operator to support Chilled Water Operations. The campus chilled water system includes the Cooling Plant, the Cooling Plant on Campus, and a Thermal Energy Storage facility, providing a combined capacity of 41,000 tons of cooling.
Reporting to the Chilled Water Systems Supervisor, the Cooling Plant Operator is responsible for the safe, reliable and efficient production and distribution of chilled water throughout the Greater Campus Area. This area encompasses North Campus and the adjacent medical precinct, including the University of Alberta Hospital and the Cross Cancer Institute. The position ensures the continuous and stable operation of the chilled water network. That network supports critical institutional operations, including research activities, laboratories, healthcare facilities, and medical and diagnostic equipment.
Operating across three interconnected plants, the successful candidate will work independently on 12-hour shifts, including nights and weekends, applying a broad range of technical knowledge to meet campus utility demands while upholding the highest standards of safety and operational excellence.
- Operate and monitor chilled water production and distribution equipment across the Cooling Plant, Cooling Plant On Campus, and Thermal Energy Storage System facilities, including centrifugal chillers, large-scale pumping systems, cooling towers, and associated piping and filtration systems
- Monitor and make real-time decisions using a sophisticated Distributed Control System (DCS) comprising approximately 2,000 data points and 80 screen displays
- Execute safety and security procedures including equipment inspections, energy isolations, refrigerant monitoring, and confined space entries.
- Prepare and secure equipment for maintenance, and support tradespeople in troubleshooting, repair, and modification of plant equipment
- Perform daily chemical testing and treatment of chilled water and condenser water systems, including handling of industrial chemicals
- Conduct regular physical inspections of plant equipment to identify leaks, vibrations, and bearing issues, and log operating conditions
- Monitor the underground service corridor and support the Working Alone Procedure by tracking staff and contractor locations across all plant areas
- Participate in scheduled maintenance shifts, including hands-on work on pumps, compressors, valves, heat exchangers, and piping systems
- Respond to emergency conditions and execute emergency operating procedures as required
- Provide emergency backup support for Heating Plant Operator IIs as needed
- Valid Third Class Power Engineer certificate
- Additional training in safety equipment, first aid, CPR certification, fire extinguisher training, WHIMIS and SDS is preferred
- Thorough working knowledge of all equipment related to the production of chilled water
- Familiarity with MS Office Suite (Word and Excel) and Google Suite (Gmail, Google docs, Google sheets etc.)
Application Instructions
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This position is subject to all applicable terms and conditions of the collective agreement between the Governors of the University of Alberta and the Non-Academic Staff Association (NASA).
This position offers a comprehensive benefits package.