Assistant Director for Facilities and Operations

Rice University•Houston, TX

1d•Onsite

About The Position

The Assistant Director for Facilities and Operations serves as a core administrative leader within the Recreation Center. The position directs overall facility management, building operations, and safety processes across all recreation programs. Key responsibilities include supervising professional and student staff, managing operational budgets, maintaining facility equipment, and supporting campus-wide recreational initiatives.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree.
Two years of professional experience in facility operations, campus recreation, or a related field.
Demonstrated organizational, problem-solving, conflict resolution, and decision-making skills.
Ability to exercise sound judgment and respond calmly and effectively to operational issues and emergencies.
Strong verbal, written, and interpersonal communication skills and the ability to work effectively with students, employees, campus partners, contractors, and vendors.
Demonstrated ability to supervise, train, develop, and mentor professional and student employees.
Ability to manage multiple priorities and independently identify and resolve operational issues.
Proficiency with database systems, web-based applications, and technology used to support facility and recreation operations.

Nice To Haves

In lieu of the experience requirement, additional related education above and beyond what is required may be substituted on an equivalent year-for-year basis.

Responsibilities

Provides leadership and oversight for the daily operation, management, maintenance, and safety of Campus Recreation facilities and operational spaces across campus.
Monitors facility conditions, building operations, resource allocation, and operational standards to ensure safe, effective, and consistent delivery of recreation programs and services.
Recruits, hires, trains, supervises, evaluates, and develops 40+ full-time, student, and temporary employees; establishes clear expectations and promotes accountability, teamwork, professional development, and high standards of customer service.
Identifies operational and facility issues, develops practical solutions, and recommends and implements improvements to policies, procedures, and operating practices.
Provides oversight of facility maintenance, repairs, preventive maintenance, improvements, and operational projects, working with university departments, contractors, and vendors to address priorities and resolve more complex facility needs.
Supports emergency preparedness and response for Campus Recreation facilities and operations.
Contributes to the development and implementation of strategic and operational goals for Campus Recreation facilities.
Assists with the development and management of facility and operations budgets and helps ensure the responsible allocation of departmental resources.
Maintains appropriate equipment inventories and assists with the evaluation, selection, purchase, replacement, and installation of recreation and fitness equipment.
Serves as an active member of the Recreation Center staff and contributes to department-wide planning, decision-making, programs, and special events.
Collaborates with departmental staff on facility scheduling, rental requests, special events, and the appropriate use of recreation spaces.
Develops and maintains effective working relationships with university departments, contractors, vendors, and other partners supporting facility operations.
Maintains current knowledge of Campus Recreation operations, university policies, and relevant industry practices.
Responsible for teaching classes, attending meetings, and maintaining the policies and procedures associated with both the Lifetime Physical Activity and Summer Youth Activity Programs.
Assists with contracts, proposals, presentations, research, operational reports, special projects, and other departmental initiatives.
Represents Campus Recreation on university committees and at appropriate professional meetings and conferences.
Performs other duties as assigned.