Director - Facilities Management

Southeast Missouri State University•Cape Girardeau, MO

10d•Onsite

About The Position

The Director of Facilities Management provides strategic leadership for the planning, development, operation, maintenance, service delivery, and continuous improvement of the University's facilities, infrastructure, grounds, and related support services across the main campus, River Campus, and regional campuses and centers. Reporting to executive leadership, the Director is responsible for the technical, operational, financial, contractual, and administrative oversight of Facilities Management, ensuring the reliable, safe, efficient, and sustainable operation of mission-critical building systems and campus infrastructure. The Director leads a comprehensive organization responsible for engineering, maintenance, utilities, capital project support, and related facilities services while overseeing budget development, procurement, contract administration, regulatory compliance, risk management, and organizational performance. This position establishes operational standards, promotes continuous improvement, and fosters a culture of accountability, collaboration, customer service, and safety. Working closely with University leadership, faculty, staff, governmental agencies, contractors, and community partners, the Director ensures that campus facilities and infrastructure support the University's mission, strategic priorities, and long-term institutional goals.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Facilities Management, Construction Management, Architecture, Business Administration, Property Management or a closely related field; a relevant advanced degree is a plus
Minimum of ten (10) years of progressively responsible leadership experience in facilities management, engineering, planning, design, construction, or maintenance within a large, complex organization; Higher education experience is a plus
Demonstrated expertise in facilities operations, capital planning, infrastructure management, risk management, business continuity, emergency management, and regulatory compliance
Demonstrated experience with space management, facilities condition assessments, campus master planning, capital renewal planning, and data-informed facilities decision-making
Demonstrated expertise in building systems with deep knowledge of building structure and envelope, HVAC, plumbing, electrical systems, building automation and fire/life safety
Knowledge of accessibility requirements, ADA compliance, environmental health and safety practices, sustainability principles, energy management, and infrastructure resilience in a complex facilities environment
Demonstrated experience leading teams of technicians while serving as a resource for diagnosing technical issues
Proven experience managing operating and capital budgets, financial stewardship, procurement, RFP development, contract administration, and vendor performance
Experience using facilities technology platforms, such as computerized maintenance management systems, building automation systems, asset management tools, dashboards, and work order reporting systems
Demonstrated success leading multidisciplinary teams, including organizational planning, delegation, performance management, employee development, and fostering a customer service-oriented culture; Experience leading a team represented by a bargaining unit is a plus
Strong knowledge of management principles, including strategic planning, budgeting, organizational leadership, operational excellence, and continuous improvement
Excellent oral, written, interpersonal, and relationship-building skills, with the ability to effectively collaborate with executive leadership, faculty, staff, governmental agencies, contractors, and community stakeholders
Demonstrated ability to build consensus, manage competing priorities, and communicate effectively with diverse constituencies while achieving organizational objectives

Nice To Haves

Preferred professional credentials may include Certified Educational Facilities Professional, Certified Facility Manager, Facility Management Professional, Real Property Administrator, Facility Management Administrator, Project Management Professional, LEED Accredited Professional, Professional Engineer, Certified Plant Engineer or comparable certification is a plus

Responsibilities

Provide strategic leadership and direction for all Facilities Management operations, ensuring services, infrastructure, and initiatives align with the University's mission, strategic priorities, and operational objectives
Direct all Facilities Management functions, including engineering, maintenance, utilities, central plant operations, building services, contracted custodial services, fleet services, central receiving, mail services, risk management, EH&S and other support operations
Lead and approve the planning, design, technical approach, construction, renovation, commissioning, and lifecycle management of campus facilities, ensuring effective transition of capital projects into ongoing operations and maintenance
Develop and administer departmental operating and capital budgets; oversee financial planning, budget requests, deferred maintenance planning, infrastructure renewal, financial controls, and stewardship of University resources
Establish performance expectations, operational standards, key performance indicators, and service-level metrics to promote reliability, continuous improvement, accountability, and customer service excellence
Oversee campus space management practices, including space inventory, utilization analysis, space standards, allocation support, and coordination with academic and administrative leadership to optimize the effective use of University facilities
Lead campus master planning, facilities condition assessments, lifecycle cost analysis, and long-range capital renewal planning to ensure facilities priorities align with institutional strategy and available resources
Oversee recruitment, hiring, supervision, training, performance management, labor relations, employee development, disciplinary actions, and organizational planning for Facilities Management personnel
Ensure safe, reliable, and compliant operation of campus infrastructure through preventive maintenance programs, operational readiness, environmental compliance, regulatory inspections, and adherence to applicable laws, codes, and University policies
Advance preventive and predictive maintenance practices, facility condition indexing, deferred maintenance prioritization, and data-informed asset renewal strategies to improve reliability and extend the useful life of campus infrastructure
Ensure facilities planning, operations, renovations, and capital projects appropriately address accessibility, ADA compliance, physical access, life safety, and inclusive use of campus buildings and grounds
Direct University risk management activities related to facilities, utilities, infrastructure, business continuity, emergency preparedness, and incident response; serve in a leadership or technical advisory role during emergencies and oversee implementation of corrective actions
Lead infrastructure resilience and continuity-of-operations planning, including utility redundancy, critical systems recovery, disaster preparedness, and mitigation strategies for mission-critical facilities
Oversee procurement, competitive bidding, RFP development, contract negotiations, vendor selection, contract administration, consultant management, and supplier relationships to ensure quality services, regulatory compliance, and fiscal responsibility
Manage project delivery, including project scope, budgets, schedules, consultant selection, contract execution, construction oversight, change management, pay requests, and stakeholder communications
Maintain effective communication and collaborative relationships with University leadership, faculty, staff, students, governmental agencies, utility providers, contractors, regulatory authorities, and community partners regarding facilities planning, operations, and infrastructure initiatives
Represent the University in interactions with municipal, state, and federal agencies, including coordination with local government officials on planning, infrastructure, utilities, environmental compliance, and development initiatives
Negotiate and administer agreements with utility providers, major suppliers, contractors, and labor organizations to ensure cost-effective operations and long-term service reliability
Oversee inventory management, equipment replacement, asset management, requisitioning, and maintenance of facilities-related equipment, supplies, and infrastructure assets
Oversee facilities technology systems and data governance, including computerized maintenance management systems, work order reporting, building automation data, asset databases, dashboards, and performance reporting
Maintain official University real estate records, deeds, easements, and other property documentation in coordination with institutional and foundation requirements
Develop and maintain facilities policies, design standards, maintenance standards, construction guidelines, space-use procedures, and service expectations to support consistent and transparent facilities governance
Provide executive-level analysis and recommendations to senior leadership regarding facilities operations, infrastructure investment, capital planning, regulatory compliance, risk mitigation, sustainability, and long-term campus development strategies
Champion sustainable operations, including energy conservation, utility optimization, waste reduction, environmentally responsible procurement, and strategies that reduce operating costs while supporting institutional sustainability goals