Deputy Director, Facilities Operations

Smithsonian Institution • Washington, DC

1d

About The Position

The Deputy Director of Facilities Operations is located in the Office of Facilities Management and Reliability (OFMR) and serves as a senior advisor to the Director of Facilities Management. The position provides executive leadership, direction, planning, management, and administration for complex, agency-wide facilities maintenance and operations, including 24-hour utilities operations.

The Deputy Director leads facilities operations and maintenance across the Smithsonian, including custodial and laborer services; preventive, corrective, and recurring maintenance; building systems such as HVAC; and infrastructure emergency response. The role ensures safety policies and practices are implemented, leads strategic planning and performance improvement, coordinates priorities with museum and research center leaders, and oversees maintenance and operations appropriations and financial controls.

The position represents Smithsonian facilities programs in senior-level policy meetings and dealings with institutional leaders, congressional committees, the Office of Management and Budget, government agencies, and professional organizations. It also monitors developments in facilities management and applies relevant best practices. The Deputy Director directs staff through subordinate supervisors across ten zones and a central maintenance division, overseeing approximately 700 employees. The Director of Facilities Management provides broad policy and program guidance; within that framework, the Deputy Director independently plans and carries out assigned responsibilities.

Requirements

• Meet the basic qualification requirement through either undergraduate or graduate education with major study in engineering, industrial arts, property management, or business administration, or qualifying experience.
• Have at least one year of specialized experience at or equivalent to the GS-15 level managing an extensive building operations and facilities maintenance program, or conducting surveillance of construction and maintenance operations performed by a variety of private contractors.
• Demonstrate experience managing maintenance programs, planning maintenance activities, and developing preventive maintenance programs; or demonstrate qualifying experience conducting contractor surveillance, performing maintenance or construction work, estimating costs, and directing work operations.
• Demonstrate skill leading a facilities management program or organization, including facilities maintenance, custodial services, horticulture or groundskeeping, logistics support, utility systems, and HVAC operations.
• Demonstrate interpersonal skills in building cooperative relationships and negotiating solutions involving complex or opposing interests, and in explaining positions orally and in writing to gain acceptance from colleagues, customers, and leaders.
• Demonstrate knowledge and skill in executive-level program planning, budgetary processes, and resource management, including performance tracking and reporting systems and results-based performance measures.
• Demonstrate experience developing, implementing, and evaluating policies and procedures that govern or support facilities management programs and organizations, applying strategic planning and management to improve efficiency and effectiveness and address complex facilities challenges.
• Demonstrate skill leading, supervising, and managing a multidisciplinary workforce, fostering teamwork and morale, and attracting, retaining, and motivating employees.
• Pass a pre-employment background investigation and, to continue in the position, undergo a comprehensive background investigation and receive favorable adjudication for the Public Trust/High Risk designation.
• Maintain a bank account for direct deposit or electronic transfer.
• Male applicants born after December 31, 1959 must be registered with Selective Service.

Responsibilities

• Advise the Director of Facilities Management and museum and research center directors on facilities operations and maintenance; provide technical advice and management oversight; formulate policies, establish program goals and objectives, and develop resource plans.
• Lead, direct, coordinate, and integrate agency-wide facilities operations and maintenance, including janitorial, custodial, and laborer services; recurring, corrective, and preventive maintenance; 24/7 HVAC and other building-system operations; and snow removal and infrastructure emergency response.
• Ensure adherence to safety policies and develop and implement effective safety procedures and practices; address deficiencies identified through inspections and evaluations and work with stakeholders to improve safety.
• Direct staff through subordinate supervisors across ten zones and a central maintenance division; set performance standards, evaluate individual and organizational performance, recognize contributions, and address performance concerns.
• Lead strategic planning and pursue facilities operations and maintenance goals; develop and use performance measures and tracking methods, direct corrective action as needed, and improve operational concepts, systems, methods, service standards, customer service, and resource use.
• Meet with museum, research center, and other senior leaders to understand requirements, set priorities, and coordinate work; make organizational improvement decisions, including decisions about structure, delegated authorities, and organizational relationships.
• Oversee and administer federal appropriations for OFMR maintenance and operations; establish and apply financial controls, ensure accurate and efficient reporting, monitor fund obligations, and put available funds to work promptly in accordance with applicable policies and procedures.
• Represent Smithsonian facilities management in senior-level policy meetings and conferences and before institutional leadership, the Regents, congressional committees, the Office of Management and Budget, jurisdictional entities, professional associations, the National Park Service, the General Services Administration, and other public-sector organizations.
• Monitor public- and private-sector developments in facilities management, partner and benchmark with other organizations, evaluate applicable developments, and incorporate best practices into Smithsonian facilities programs.
• Recruit, select, develop, guide, and supervise professional and administrative staff, including senior managers; assign and monitor work, communicate expectations, assess performance, address grievances and disciplinary matters, review leave requests, and identify and authorize training.
• Ensure subordinates understand and receive training in safety requirements and comply with safety regulations.

Benefits

• Comprehensive federal and Smithsonian benefits program for eligible employees and their families.
• Smithsonian Early Enrichment Center educational program for children ages 3 months to 6 years.
• Transportation benefits.
• Professional interest groups and employee advocacy groups.
• Special events, including brown bag lunches, an annual picnic, and an annual holiday party.
• Free lectures and behind-the-scenes tours.
• Employee discounts at Smithsonian theaters, shops, and after-hours events.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior