Cooling Tower Cleaning & Maintenance Division Manager

At Kelso Building Services, we believe in empowering our team members with the tools, training, and support they need to succeed. You’ll be part of a company that values integrity, innovation, and customer satisfaction—and you’ll have the opportunity to grow your career in a dynamic and rewarding environment. 

Position Summary:

Lead and manage all operations of the cooling tower cleaning and maintenance division in the Phoenix area. Responsible for planning, scheduling, budgeting, quality, regulatory compliance, safety, and client relationships for commercial and industrial cooling tower services. Ensure reliable, efficient, and safe service delivery in a high-heat environment.

Key Responsibilities:

• Provide day-to-day leadership and supervision of technicians, supervisors, and administrative staff; hire, train, coach, and evaluate team members.


• Plan, schedule and prioritize cleaning, inspection, repair, and maintenance work across multiple sites to meet client SLAs.


• Develop, implement, and maintain standard operating procedures, quality checklists, and maintenance schedules.


• Ensure compliance with federal, state, and local regulations.


• Own safety program for division: conduct safety trainings, enforce PPE and confined-space protocols, manage incident reporting and corrective actions.


• Oversee water treatment programs, microbiological control (legionella prevention), chemical usage, and documentation of treatment results.


• Manage budgeting, cost controls, billing accuracy, and procurement of materials, chemicals, and equipment.


• Maintain equipment fleet, tools, and spare parts inventory; coordinate preventative maintenance of service vehicles and major equipment (pumps, fans, fill media).


• Serve as primary client contact for escalations, proposals, contract renewals, and site surveys; build and maintain strong customer relationships.


• Track KPIs (uptime, response times, customer satisfaction, safety metrics, revenue, margins) and produce regular operational reports.


• Coordinate with subcontractors and specialty vendors for major repairs, media replacement, or structural work.


• Participate in business development: estimate proposals, scope writing, and technical sales support.

Required Qualifications:

• 5+ years technical experience with cooling towers/HVAC water systems, with at least 2 years in a supervisory/management role (or equivalent combination).


• Strong knowledge of cooling tower mechanics, water treatment, legionella risk management, and industry standards (ASHRAE, CTI preferred).


• Working knowledge of OSHA confined space, fall protection, hazard communication, and workplace safety programs.


• Proven experience in scheduling, workforce management, budgeting, and vendor management.


• Excellent communication and customer-service skills; ability to interact with building owners, facilities managers, and regulatory agencies.


• Valid driver’s license; ability to travel locally across Phoenix-area sites.

Preferred Certifications:

• Certified Cooling Tower Inspector/Technician (CTI) or similar


• Water Treatment certification (e.g., AWT, NACE, or state equivalent)


• OSHA 30-hour, Confined Space Entry, First Aid/CPR


• Legionella Risk Assessment or Water Management Program training

Education:

• High school diploma or GED required; technical degree or associate’s in HVAC, mechanical technology, or related field preferred.

Performance Metrics:

• Safety incident rate reduction


• On-time service completion


• Customer satisfaction scores


• Contract retention and profitability targets


• Regulatory compliance and documentation accuracy