Director, Building Maintenance

University of Waterloo•Waterloo, ON

39d

About The Position

Reporting to the Executive Director, Facilities, the Director, Building Maintenance provides leadership and operational oversight for the University of Waterloo’s building maintenance programs across all campuses. The role is responsible for ensuring the safe, reliable, and efficient maintenance of building infrastructure and building envelope systems that support teaching, research, and campus operations. The Director leads teams responsible for maintenance of building structures, building envelope systems, and associated infrastructure including carpentry, masonry, roofing, painting, locksmith services, signage, and building operations at satellite campuses. The position also provides oversight of electrical safety programs and workforce training, safety, and compliance initiatives within the division. The University of Waterloo campus comprises nearly nine million square feet of academic, research, and administrative space across multiple campuses and satellite locations. Maintaining the integrity of building systems is critical to ensuring a safe, functional, and sustainable campus environment. This role contributes to the Plant Operations goal of providing a safe, reliable, accessible, and well-maintained campus environment through operational excellence, effective stewardship of assets, and strong client service.

Requirements

Undergraduate degree in Engineering, Architecture, Construction Management, Facilities Management, or a related discipline, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
Minimum 8–10 years of progressively responsible experience in facilities maintenance or building infrastructure management.
Demonstrated experience leading trades-based maintenance teams.
Experience managing building infrastructure within a large institutional environment, such as post-secondary, education, healthcare, or public sector organizations.
Demonstrated experience with building maintenance program leadership, facilities asset stewardship, and infrastructure renewal planning.
Experience working within a unionized environment.
Demonstrated leadership and organizational management skills with the ability to lead multidisciplinary maintenance teams and skilled trades in a complex institutional environment.
Ability to develop and implement strategic and operational plans supporting building maintenance services and long-term facilities stewardship.
Extensive knowledge of building infrastructure systems, building envelope components, construction practices, and facilities maintenance operations.
Strong financial and operational management skills including budgeting, resource allocation, and oversight of building maintenance programs and infrastructure renewal initiatives.
Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with the ability to assess infrastructure risks, deferred maintenance priorities, and operational service needs.
Excellent interpersonal and communication skills with the ability to collaborate effectively with diverse internal and external stakeholders including senior leadership, technical staff, and contractors.
Knowledge of facilities asset management practices, maintenance planning methodologies, and infrastructure lifecycle management.
Familiarity with relevant legislation and technical standards including Building Code, Fire Code, occupational health and safety legislation, and applicable regulatory requirements.
Familiarity with facilities management and maintenance tracking systems (e.g., ARCHIBUS or similar platforms).
Ability to exercise sound judgement, manage competing priorities, and maintain confidentiality when dealing with operational, financial, and personnel matters.

Nice To Haves

Professional designation (e.g., P.Eng., CET, PMP, FMP) considered an asset.
Graduate degree in engineering, business, management, or a related field considered an asset.

Responsibilities

Strategic Planning Leads the development and ongoing refinement of long-term maintenance strategies for building infrastructure and building envelope systems across campus in alignment with the University’s long-term academic, research, and campus growth objectives.
Contributes to the development of Facilities strategic planning and capital renewal planning related to building systems and infrastructure lifecycle management.
Identifies priorities related to deferred maintenance, infrastructure risk, and asset lifecycle renewal to mitigate risks associated with aging buildings.
Provides strategic advice to the Executive Director, Facilities and senior leadership on issues related to building conditions, maintenance priorities, and infrastructure risk management.
Develops performance indicators and operational metrics to support efficient delivery of building maintenance services.
Monitors industry trends related to building envelope systems, construction practices, building materials, and regulatory changes, and assesses their potential impact on campus building maintenance strategies and infrastructure stewardship.
Building Maintenance Operations Provides leadership and oversight for building maintenance services including carpentry, masonry, roofing, painting, locksmith services, signage, and building operations at satellite campuses.
Ensures the safe, reliable, and efficient operation of building maintenance services supporting campus facilities.
Oversees the coordination of maintenance activities to ensure minimal disruption to teaching, research, and administrative operations.
Ensures that maintenance activities comply with relevant building codes, safety regulations, and University policies.
Ensures effective response to building-related incidents including water infiltration, structural issues, vandalism, and other facility failures.
Works collaboratively with other Facilities units to coordinate maintenance activities affecting building systems.
Infrastructure Renewal Provides leadership in the identification and prioritization of building infrastructure renewal initiatives, including roof replacements, envelope repairs, structural improvements, and interior system upgrades.
Directs the preparation of business cases and capital funding requests related to building maintenance and infrastructure renewal.
Collaborates with the Design and Construction team to ensure maintenance considerations are integrated into renovation and capital projects.
Oversees assessment of building condition risks and lifecycle planning to support long-term campus infrastructure sustainability.
Ensures coordination between maintenance teams and capital projects to maximize operational efficiency.
Project Management and Procurement Provides oversight of maintenance-related projects delivered through internal trades staff and external contractors.
Ensures that projects and contracted services follow University procurement policies and industry best practices.
Supports the development of project scopes, contractor selection processes, and project oversight.
Ensures projects adhere to safety protocols and regulatory requirements.
Financial Management Develops and manages the operating and capital budgets for the Building Maintenance division.
Monitors operational expenditures including labour, materials, and contracted services.
Identifies opportunities for operational efficiencies and cost optimization.
Supports financial forecasting and reporting related to maintenance programs and infrastructure renewal activities.
Ensures appropriate financial tracking and reporting for projects and operational activities.
People Leadership Provides leadership, mentorship, and strategic direction to managers, supervisors, and technical specialists responsible for building maintenance services across campus.
Oversees performance planning and review processes for direct reports and supports consistent leadership practices across maintenance teams and trades operations.
Leads workforce planning, recruitment, and succession planning to ensure the division maintains the skilled trades and technical expertise required to support campus facilities.
Promotes a culture of safety, service excellence, collaboration, and continuous improvement within building maintenance operations.
Maintains effective labour relations and ensures compliance with the CUPE Local 793 collective agreement while supporting constructive union–management relationships.
Health, Safety, and Compliance Ensures that all building maintenance operations comply with health and safety legislation, building codes, and University policies.
Oversees divisional safety programs and workforce training initiatives in collaboration with the Training, Safety and Compliance Specialist.
Provides oversight of electrical safety programs and regulatory compliance in coordination with the Electrical Safety Engineer.
Ensures appropriate workplace inspections, hazard assessments, and safety procedures are implemented.