Plumbing Supervisor (Maintenance Supervisor II)

Full Job Description

The Department of General Services – Facilities Maintenance Division is responsible for maintaining, repairing, and supporting the operational integrity of City of Norfolk facilities citywide. This includes administrative buildings, public safety facilities, recreation centers, libraries, the Central Energy Plant, City Hall, schools, pools, the Virginia Zoo, Nauticus, and the City’s major cultural and entertainment venues under SevenVenues. Facilities Maintenance delivers essential trade services—including plumbing, HVAC, electrical, carpentry, and general maintenance—while managing preventive maintenance programs, emergency response, regulatory compliance, and coordination with contractors and vendors.

Within Facilities Maintenance, the Plumbing Shop, based out of Dana Street, provides centralized plumbing supervision and services across the City’s entire facility portfolio. The Plumbing Supervisor oversees plumbing staff supporting diverse building types and systems, ranging from high-occupancy public assembly venues and secure facilities to plant operations and administrative buildings. This role is critical to ensuring safe, code-compliant plumbing systems, efficient service delivery, proper documentation in Asset Essentials, and responsible stewardship of materials, inventory, and public resources.

The Maintenance Supervisor II – Plumbing Supervisor is responsible for planning, directing, and supervising all operations of the Facilities Maintenance Plumbing Shop. Reporting to Facilities Maintenance leadership, this position provides technical and administrative supervision to plumbers and plumbing apprentices while overseeing in-house work and contracted plumbing services citywide. The Plumbing Supervisor serves as the department’s subject matter expert for plumbing systems, code compliance, permitting requirements, and safety standards.

This role ensures plumbing work is completed safely, correctly, and efficiently the first time by assigning work orders, inspecting completed repairs, enforcing quality standards, and following up when deficiencies are identified. The Plumbing Supervisor is accountable for ensuring all work is accurately documented in Asset Essentials, including labor, materials, corrective actions, and follow-up needs. In addition, this position manages plumbing inventory stored across multiple locations, reviews existing stock prior to approving purchases, and coordinates procurement in accordance with City purchasing policies.

The Plumbing Supervisor also supports emergency response, preventive maintenance planning, contractor coordination, and staff development. Responsibilities include performance management, training, corrective action when necessary, and supporting apprenticeship progression. This position plays a key leadership role in maintaining continuity of plumbing services for critical facilities such as the Central Energy Plant, City Hall, SevenVenues, and public safety buildings.

Requirements

Plumbing Shop Operations & Oversight

• Plans, assigns, and supervises all daily operations of the Facilities Maintenance Plumbing Shop in support of City of Norfolk facilities, including City Hall, the Central Energy Plant, SevenVenues, public safety facilities, administrative buildings, and other municipal properties.
• Utilizes Asset Essentials to assign work orders, establish priorities, monitor progress, and ensure all plumbing work is completed accurately, efficiently, and closed with complete documentation.
• Implements and oversees preventive maintenance (PM) programs, ensuring routine inspections, scheduled servicing, and corrective actions are completed to reduce emergency failures and service disruptions.
• Reviews completed plumbing repairs to ensure work meets quality, safety, and code standards; identifies deficiencies and ensures corrective action is taken when repairs must be redone.
• Responds to plumbing emergencies, assesses conditions, deploys resources, and ensures timely restoration of service while maintaining safety and regulatory compliance.
• Makes informed decisions to repair or replace plumbing components based on system condition, lifecycle considerations, operational impact, and cost effectiveness.
  

Inventory, Procurement & Asset Management

• Oversees plumbing tools, equipment, and materials inventory stored across multiple Facilities Maintenance locations; ensures inventory is tracked, organized, and reviewed prior to approving purchases.
  
• Evaluates existing stock and available materials before authorizing procurement to prevent unnecessary or duplicate purchases.
• Coordinates procurement activities in accordance with City Finance and Purchasing policies and assists with drafting and administering plumbing-related contracts.
• Tracks shop expenditures and material usage to ensure operations remain within approved budgets and financial controls.
  
• Ensures plumbing vehicles and assigned equipment are maintained in proper working condition and receive required preventive maintenance.
  

Supervision, Performance Management & Training

• Provides direct supervision to plumbers and plumbing apprentices, including assigning work, monitoring productivity, approving time and leave, and ensuring adequate staffing coverage.
• Conducts performance evaluations, provides coaching and corrective feedback, and recommends disciplinary action when necessary to address workmanship, productivity, or compliance issues.
• Ensures employees receive required safety, technical, and compliance training; supports onboarding and apprenticeship progression using established checklists and training plans.
• Promotes a culture of accountability, safety, and quality workmanship by clearly communicating expectations and following up on performance outcomes.
  

Contractor Coordination & Quality Assurance

• Acts as liaison between Facilities Maintenance, customers, and plumbing contractors.
• Coordinates contractor schedules, ensures work aligns with contract scope and specifications, and inspects completed work for quality and compliance.
• Reviews and approves contractor invoices only after verifying work completion and adherence to standards.
  

Staffing & Emergency Preparedness

• Manages plumbing shop vacancies by completing required hiring documentation, participating as a lead panel member during interviews, and making hiring recommendations.
• Leads plumbing staff in preparing for and responding to weather-related and facility emergencies, including reviewing staffing plans, checking supplies, assessing damage, and coordinating repairs in accordance with emergency protocols.
  

Qualifications

Work requires knowledge of a specific vocational, administrative, or technical nature which may be obtained with six months/one year of advanced study or training past the high school equivalency. Junior college, vocational, business, technical or correspondence schools are likely sources. Appropriate certification may be awarded upon satisfactory completion of advanced study or training.

Required:

• Three (3) years of experience as a Maintenance Technician or Supervisor.
• One (1) year of experience supervising or leading plumbing personnel, including assigning work, reviewing work quality, approving time, and managing productivity

Preferred:

• Seven (7) or more years of progressively responsible experience as a licensed plumber, including work in commercial, institutional, or municipal facilities.

Additional Information

• Valid Driver's License required.
• State-issued Master Plumber License preferred.