Job of the Week: Collections Group Leader

This week, MSU Human Resources is featuring a job posting as the Collections Group Lead for MSU Infrastructure Planning and Facilities (posting 868217). If you want to make an impact on your community and Michigan State’s beautiful campus, this may be the job for you. You’ll play a huge role in our mission to manage MSU’s waste as a resource while pursuing professional development. 

Infrastructure Planning and Facilities builds, maintains, and beautifies MSU’s physical campus environment to support the university’s education, research, missions, and long-term infrastructure planning goals. The experienced team of over 1,000 professionals keeps MSU running 24/7 by continuously supporting the needs of Michigan State’s campus. 

This in-person role’s main responsibilities include leading the collections team in moving, sorting, transporting, unloading, counting, storing, and preparation of recycling, surplus, and refuse materials. This position will oversee and train all types of employees (student, temporary, or full-time) and direct the daily work of staff, drivers, and co-pilots.

As Collections Group Leader, you will most importantly divert material from local landfills by employing the highest use of reduction and recycling. Additionally, you will assist the Operations Supervisor with daily labor tasks and scheduling. As a leader for the Collections Group, you’ll exude excellent customer service by responding to incoming emails and phone calls. You will also safely operate university vehicles and equipment to process material in addition to tracking weights and material for data collection.

The education, experience and skills desired for this role includes a high school diploma or equivalent, expert knowledge of recycling operations, the recycling and reuse program. You should also have three years of work experience in recycling machinery, receiving, and shipping large material volumes. You will frequently lift 26 to 75 pounds and sometimes more. You’ll also need training certifications within the first six months, including MSU forklift, Bobcat operator and First Responder/First Aid.

Learn more about MSU Infrastructure Planning and Facilities here. To learn more about this position or if you are interested in applying online, please visit the Careers at MSU website for more information! Applications require a current resume and a letter expressing interest and qualifications and should be submitted by August 6th. 

Spartans of Impact: Keeping Campus Safe This Winter

This article was written by Sean Keast, Communications Coordinator for the Offices of the EVPA & Senior VP, CFO and Treasurer.

With over 50,000 students, and over 10,000 staff and faculty, MSU is comparable to a small city. Since its footprint is so large, MSU is home to a large variety of experts required not only for important research and academia but for daily operations as well. Recently, this expertise was displayed during adverse weather conditions, such as snow, ice, and freezing temperatures that MSU is all too familiar with. The winter weather can pose commuting hazards and delays, especially when driving on a blustery day. It’s no small feat to clear the over 200 miles of roads and sidewalks around the campus, MSU Infrastructure Planning and Facilities Landscape Services department runs snow crews night and day to combat the elements.

“Our snow removal crew is exceptional, and they get the job done.” said Dan Bollman, Senior Vice President for Strategic Infrastructure Planning and Facilities, “On any given snow day, we deploy sixty-plus people across all of campus to ensure that students, faculty and staff can safely get to where they need to go.”

Christina Brogdon, Vice President and Chief Human Resources Officer, said “The impact and significance of the Landscape Services team cannot be overstated. Dedicated and talented employees like them, are truly what makes MSU a special place to work – where every person, role, and contribution matters.”  

Outside of their regular campus maintenance duties throughout the year, snow and ice removal is handled primarily by the Landscape Services team. MSU’s “Snow Season” is between Nov. 1 and April 1, and during that period the staff at Landscape Services are on call in the event of snowfall. Year by year the demands change greatly, and rapid changes in weather conditions can cause shifts to be handed out with an hour’s notice or scheduled in eight-to-sixteen-hour blocks starting any time, day or night. During the winter months, Landscape Services staff start at five in the morning.

“We start that early so that we can beat the commute – people going to work, classes, etc. The crews take a lot of pride in it,” said Matthew Bailey, Service Manager for Landscape Services. “As a manager, taking care of the crews is just as important as the snow itself, and we work to keep the crews fed and comfortable during their odd hours. Whenever we have to call the crews in overnight, we give Brody Hall a call and let them know that we will have 60 or so people coming in for breakfast.” He laughed, “We’ve even run around with burgers or doughnuts before, making sure everyone gets fed.”

The commitment and pride demonstrated by the Landscape Services staff, under the leadership of individuals like Matthew Bailey, exemplifies a collective endeavor to navigate the unpredictable challenges the elements pose. Their dedication not only underscores the significance of teamwork but also mirrors the exceptional community spirit that defines Michigan State University.

Job of the Week – Power Plant Technician I

This week’s job of the week is a Power Plant Technician I (#636218) for MSU’s Infrastructure Planning and Facilities (IPF), specifically for the IPF Power and Water department. This position is seeking a results-oriented individual with strong problem-solving skills who possesses the ability to work both independently and within a team.

The responsibilities for this role include performing routine preventative maintenance functions such as overhaul and calibration of pressure gauges, transmitters, flow meters, pressure regulating valves, fluid control valves, mechanical operators, and other associated equipment. Additional responsibilities of this role include operating test equipment such as manometers, O2 analyzers, thermometers, and voltmeters, and operating power tools such as drills, grinders, hacksaws, tubing benders, etc.

This position requires an associate’s degree in an electronics or chemistry-related program of study; experience with distributed control system; and experience with emissions monitoring equipment and regulatory reporting processes.

For more details on the responsibilities of this position, and to view all our current postings, visit careers.msu.edu. Internal applicants should access postings through the Careers @ MSU tile in the EBS Portal.