Who We Are
Founded in 1926, the Colonial Williamsburg Foundation is a private, not-for-profit educational, historic, and cultural institution that owns and operates one of the largest and best-known museum complexes in the world. Our mission is “that the future may learn from the past” through preserving and restoring 18th-century Williamsburg, Virginia’s colonial capital. We engage, inform, and inspire people to learn about this historic capital, the events that occurred here, and the diverse peoples who helped shape a new nation.
Today, Colonial Williamsburg is the largest living history museum in the U.S. The Historic Area is the 301-acre restored colonial capital with 89 original buildings and 525 buildings reconstructed to how they appeared in the 18th century through extensive archaeological, architectural, and documentary research. The Historic Area is staffed by highly trained, historically dressed interpreters and expert tradespeople who bring the 18th century to life. The Foundation also owns and operates two world-class museums, the DeWitt Wallace Decorative Arts Museum, and the Abby Aldrich Rockefeller Folk Art Museum, The Bob and Marion Wilson Teacher Institute, and a renowned research library, the John D Rockefeller Jr Library.
Additionally, Colonial Williamsburg is home to five world class accommodations at the Williamsburg Inn, Williamsburg Lodge Autograph Collection, the Griffin Hotel, the Williamsburg Woodlands Hotels and Suites and the unique Colonial Houses in the Historical Area. Visitors may also indulge in food and drink at our many on site restaurants and taverns that blend a historically inspired dining experience with today’s evolved tastes. Each year over 5 million people visit Williamsburg and another 20 million engage with us digitally.
About the Position
The Console Operator serves as the central communications and monitoring hub for Facilities Maintenance Operations. This position is responsible for monitoring, operating, and adjusting multiple Building Automation Systems (BAS) that control heating, ventilation, air conditioning (HVAC), humidity, and related building systems across the Colonial Williamsburg Foundation and Colonial Williamsburg Corporate properties.
The Console Operator receives and prioritizes maintenance and emergency service requests, dispatches personnel, generates and manages work orders, coordinates utility marking requests, maintains secure key control, and provides technical support to maintenance staff through remote diagnostics and system monitoring. This position plays a critical role in ensuring safety, comfort, operational efficiency, and preservation of Foundation and Corporate facilities. This position is designated as essential personnel and is required to report during emergencies, severe weather events, and Foundation closures.
Essential Functions:
Building Automation Systems (BAS) Operations
- Monitor multiple Building Automation Systems including Johnson Controls, Automated Logic, and Tracer platforms.
- Continuously monitor HVAC, humidity, and environmental conditions throughout Foundation and Corporate facilities.
- Acknowledge, evaluate, and respond appropriately to system alarms.
- Modify BAS programming, schedules, and operating parameters in response to: Historic Preservation requirements, occupant comfort concerns, equipment alarms, emergency situations, planned events, holidays, banquets and special facility operations
- Override equipment controls when necessary to maintain safe and efficient building operations.
- Monitor system performance to support energy conservation and operational efficiency.
HVAC Monitoring and Technical Support
- Analyze BAS data to identify HVAC and environmental control issues.
- Perform remote troubleshooting whenever possible.
- Interpret equipment trends, alarms, and sensor data to assist maintenance personnel.
- Support field technicians by:
- Performing controls testing
- Adjusting system parameters
- Locking or unlocking equipment controls
- Starting or stopping equipment remotely
- Providing historical trend data
- Create detailed work orders that clearly identify equipment issues and include relevant system data.
Work Order Management and Dispatch
- Receive maintenance requests from employees, guests, tenants, contractors, and other customers.
- Prioritize requests based on safety, operational impact, and customer needs.
- Dispatch maintenance personnel using telephone and two-way radio communications.
- Generate and assign work orders through the computerized maintenance management system.
- Route work orders to the appropriate maintenance department, supervisor, technician, or contractor.
- Monitor work order activity and provide updates as needed.
- Maintain current on-call schedules and notify after-hours personnel of emergency maintenance issues.
- Generate and coordinate Miss Utility locate requests and Foundation responses to external utility marking requests.
Data Management and Documentation
- Create, maintain, and interpret BAS trend data to improve system performance and energy efficiency.
- Maintain accurate shift logs to ensure continuity between operators.
- Maintain operational records including:
- Maintenance schedules
- Personnel information
- Contact lists
- Departmental reference information
- Equipment data
- Respond to requests for operational information from employees, contractors, tenants, and guests.
- Maintain accurate documentation supporting maintenance activities and building operations.
Key Control and Security
- Maintain accountability for more than 6,000 building keys.
- Issue and receive keys for authorized employees, contractors, tenants, and vendors.
- Maintain key control logs, card catalogs, and related documentation.
- Follow up on overdue or unreturned keys.
- Provide key issuance records to Security or law enforcement when authorized.
- Maintain security of the Work Control office and key storage areas during assigned shifts.
Emergency Operations
- Respond to emergency situations including:
- Fire alarms
- Smoke conditions
- Flooding
- Power outages
- Severe weather
- Biohazards
- Safety hazards
- BAS critical alarms
- Notify appropriate maintenance, management, security, and emergency personnel.
- Coordinate maintenance response during emergency situations.
- Follow established emergency procedures and operational protocols.
- Maintain situational awareness of building systems during emergency events.
Customer Service
- Serve as the primary point of contact for Facilities Maintenance operations.
- Provide courteous, professional, and timely service to employees, guests, tenants, contractors, and vendors.
- Answer telephone calls, emails, and service requests using sound judgment and professionalism.
- Coordinate access to facilities when required.
- Ensure timely communication regarding maintenance status and emergency situations.
This is a non-exempt position, eligible to receive overtime in accordance with the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA). This position may be subject to overtime during high peak times, etc. as directed and approved by the supervisor.
This job description reflects the general responsibilities of the position and is not intended to be an exhaustive list. Duties and responsibilities may evolve over time based on operational needs.
Required and Preferred Education and Experience:
- High school diploma or equivalent required.
- Must have excellent oral and written communications skills, generally gained through high school diploma or above.
- Must be proficient with Microsoft Office Suite.
Preferred Qualifications:
- Able to read and understand blueprints and schematics
- Able and willing to work nights, weekends, holidays and emergencies as required
- Completion of HVAC vocational program, HVAC training or 2-years’ experience with mechanical/electrical contractors or with a controls company.
- Experience with computerized maintenance management systems (CMMS).
- Knowledge of energy management principles.
- Minimum of one year of experience with a mechanical contractor, electrical contractor, controls company, or building automation systems.
Key Skills / Competencies:
- Working knowledge of HVAC systems and Building Automation Systems.
- Proficiency with computer-based work management systems.
- Excellent organizational and problem-solving abilities.
- Demonstrated ability to prioritize multiple tasks in a fast-paced environment.
- Demonstrated ability sit for extended periods while monitoring computer systems.
- Able and willing to work rotating shifts, nights, weekends, holidays, overtime, and emergency call-in assignments as required.
Physical and Environmental Demands:
Stand Frequently
Walk Frequently
Sit Constantly
Use hands/fingers Constantly
Climb or balance Rarely
Stoop/kneel/crouch/crawl Occasionally
Reach with hands/arms Occasionally
Talk or hear Constantly
Lifting up to 10 lbs. Occasionally
Lifting up to 25 lbs. Occasionally
Lifting up to 50 lbs. (with assistance) Rarely
Lifting up to 100 lbs. (with assistance) Rarely
More than 100 lbs. (with assistance) Rarely
Wet/humid conditions: Rarely
Work near moving mechanical parts: Rarely
Fumes/airborne particles: Rarely
Extreme cold: Rarely
Extreme heat: Rarely
Risk of electrical shock Rarely
Driving requirement: Occasionally
Typical Work Schedule:
Must be willing to work one of the following shifts and rotate/provide coverage based on business need:
1st Shift: 7am-3pm
2nd Shift: 3pm-11pm
3rd Shift: 11pm-7am
Compensation Disclaimer: The compensation listed below for this position represents the anticipated hiring range and is provided in accordance with Virginia pay transparency requirements. Actual compensation will be determined based on factors such as the selected candidate’s skills, qualifications, experience, education, certifications, internal equity, and the specific requirements of the role.
Range: $23.00 to $30.00 per hour
Equal Opportunity Employer
This employer is required to notify all applicants of their rights pursuant to federal employment laws. For further information, please review the Know Your Rights (https://www.eeoc.gov/poster) notice from the Department of Labor.
