AVP, Facilities Operations

University of Washington•Seattle, WA

2d•Hybrid

About The Position

UW Facilities has an outstanding opportunity for an Associate Vice President of Operations to join their team. Reporting to the Vice President of UW Facilities, the Associate Vice President of Operations (AVP) provides operational and strategic oversight of UW’s Seattle campus infrastructure, landscape and built environment. The position is accountable for providing overall facilities and infrastructure resource stewardship (operations and maintenance/repair), as well as oversight of transportation services and in-house construction projects under $110k in value. This role has responsibility for an annual operating budget of $110 million. The AVP is a key leader in providing operational oversight and direction for the maintenance and operation of critical building/infrastructure resources supporting the University’s mission. The position is responsible for the day-to-day operation of the Seattle campus, providing leadership to a department with over 800 employees. This position is located in the UW Tower and requires a hybrid work schedule that includes working in the office during the business week during regular day shift hours. Regular and predictable attendance is required.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in engineering, business or a related field.
Minimum of 10 years of experience in managing operations and capital improvements of complex institutional facilities and infrastructure, with increasing leadership responsibilities over time.
Excellent written and oral communication skills with the ability to interact effectively with departmental staff as well as campus and university-wide staff and administrators;
Knowledge of facility operations issues, as well as engineering and architectural systems and institutional standards, preferably in a university, hospital, or research laboratory environment.
Strong people skills: tactful, courteous, respectful, inclusive, and inspirational when engaging with peers, senior leaders, direct reports and all UW staff and other stakeholders, regardless of title or position.
Strong collaboration skills to build enduring partnerships with UW staff, faculty and students and representatives and teams from other stakeholder organizations.
Experience in and a commitment to sustainability.
Demonstrated leadership skills in championing inclusivity and leverage team-building skills, while emphasizing individual ownership, responsibility and accountability.
Ability to embrace and lead value-added organizational change.
Ability to successfully manage stressful situations and changing priorities.
Ability to function in an ambiguous work environment.

Nice To Haves

Master’s degree in engineering, business or a related advanced degree.
Three or more years’ experience in management within a large higher education and research institution.
Experience with managing a unionized workforce.
Experience with financial planning, construction management, and sustainability.
Familiar with principles of strategic management.

Responsibilities

Provide strategic leadership by aligning Operations’ performance and values with the University’s commitment to teaching, research, clinical care, and service.
Responsible for an annual operations budget.
Oversee Transportation Services that provides parking and commuter options for over 100,000 faculty, staff, students, and visitors arriving to campus each day.
Oversee the execution and cost management of construction and renovation projects executed by in-house trades staff, with emphasis on minimizing the overall life-cycle cost of facilities.
Oversee the execution of maintenance activities, capital improvements, and facilities-related sustainability projects across the Seattle campus, using a portfolio management methodology to optimally steward the campus facilities and infrastructure.
Promote a high-performing and service-oriented culture, with an environment characterized by respect, professionalism, ownership and accountability, diversity, equity and inclusion, pride and recognition, and collaboration with the unions.
Serve as a member of the UW Facilities Executive Team.
Collaborate with high-level University leadership (VPs, President, Provost) relative to campus facilities operations and capital construction safety requirements.
Present to the Board of Regents, as needed.
Interpret government policies and regulations to ensure compliance and reduction of risk for the institution, including compliance with federal and state clean air and clean water statutes.
Lead the Facilities organization in continuing to improve performance as a service-oriented, professional, and efficient unit capable of addressing the diverse needs of a growing research campus in a complex stakeholder environment.
Ensure the periodic measurement and evaluation of Facilities’ performance by its internal and external customers in order to obtain feedback that supports continuous performance improvement.
This position manages 5 employees.
This position performs essential services and may be required to work during any period of declared suspended operation.