Director of Facilities - Office of the Vice Provost Division of Student Success - UTK

University of Tennessee•Knoxville, TN

7h•$95,000•Onsite

About The Position

The Director of Student Success Facilities provides operational leadership and management for the physical, environmental, and logistical operations of the new Student Success Center. Reporting directly to the Director of Assessment & Chief Facilities Officer for Student Success, this role is responsible for ensuring the building operates seamlessly, safely, and at a pristine standard every day. The Director oversees daily building operations and maintenance, leads facility support staff, administers access-control and emergency-preparedness procedures, coordinates facility services and capital repairs with central campus partners, and manages facility-related budgets, procurement, vendor contracts, and assets. During the pre-opening phase leading up to the anticipated Fall 2027 opening, the position will serve as the lead operational coordinator for facility readiness, including furniture, fixtures, and equipment installation; technology infrastructure; staff relocation and move-in logistics; space readiness; and post-occupancy review.

Requirements

Bachelor’s Degree
Minimum of 5 years of progressive experience in facility operations, building management, or facility service logistics, preferably within a university or complex public sector setting.
Comprehensive knowledge of modern facility management practices, facility service operations, building systems (HVAC, lighting, access control), and safety compliance.
Demonstrated skill in managing complex logistical projects, facility fit-outs, staff relocations, and vendor deliverables.
Strong supervisory and team-building skills, with the ability to lead direct reports and manage student staff effectively.
Exceptional interpersonal skills with a proven track record of building effective working relationships across campus units, central maintenance teams, and external vendors.
Excellent organizational skills, attention to detail, and the ability to respond calmly and decisively to emergency facility situations.
Applicants must be legally authorized to work in the United States on a full-time basis without need now or in the future for sponsorship for employment-based visa status.

Nice To Haves

Master’s Degree
Direct experience with new building launches, facility opening transitions, FF&E procurement/installation, and supervising professional or student facility teams.
Experience leading dynamic facility operations within a large public university setting.
A background in higher education administration with a focus on student success, student affairs, and/or student services.

Responsibilities

Direct the day-to-day physical, environmental, and logistical operations of the Student Success Center.
Ensure all spaces within the Student Success Center are clean, safe, welcoming, and highly-functional for all users and occupants.
Serve as the primary operational contact for Facilities Services, Custodial Services, OIT, Public Safety, and external contractors & vendors regarding routine maintenance, emergency repairs, service interruptions, building projects, and operational needs.
Oversee to completion of all maintenance requests, work orders, zone maintenance, inspections, and capital repairs.
Conduct regular & routine facility walk-throughs and comprehensive condition audits to identify maintenance deficiencies, safety concerns, equipment needs, and operational improvement opportunities.
Establish and execute building operating procedures, space-use guidelines, opening and closing protocols, event setups, reservation logistics, and optimal space configurations.
Recruit, hire, on-board, supervise, evaluate, and professionally develop professional facility support staff, facility coordinators, and student facility technicians.
Establish facility staffing structure, position descriptions, training plans, in-services expectations, works schedules, shift coverage, opening and closing assignments, service expectations, and performance standards that ensure optimal operational delivery.
Build a collaborative, responsive, and service-oriented facility culture that supports an inclusive and welcoming environment for students, faculty, staff, and visitors.
Regularly communicate staffing, operational, safety, and resource updates to the Director of Assessment & Chief Facilities Officer.
Develop and maintain emergency action plans, incident-response procedures, evacuation protocols, continuity-of-business plans, and communication processes for building occupants and facility staff.
Lead the operational implementation and ongoing review of facility safety, security, risk-management, and emergency-response procedures in coordination with appropriate university partners.
Direct physical access control, key/keycard distribution, authorized access, building security protocols, and operational hours of opening/closing controls.
Coordinate routine safety inspections, emergency exercises/drills, incident documentation policies & records, corrective actions, and post-incident reviews.
Ensure facility operations and facility staff comply with applicable university policies, safety requirements, and established building procedures.
Serve as the lead operational coordinator for facility construction, fit-out, pre-occupancy, opening, and post-occupancy activities associated with the Student Success Center.
Coordinate operational readiness including the initial reception and installation of all furniture, fixtures, and equipment (FF&E) and facility technology infrastructure.
Partner with incoming units and divisional leadership to ensure seamless staff relocation through staff move-in sequencing & optimal space readiness.
Oversee the delivery, installation, inventory, maintenance, repair, replacement, and life-cycle management of dedicated facility assets, including all FF&E.
Plan and direct a periodic operational facility review to evaluate space-use needs & configurations, identify physical deficiencies, incomplete work orders, and/or warranty concerns in concert with appropriate campus partners and contractors.
Prepare recommendations on capital renewal & facility improvements for the Director of Assessment & Chief Facilities Officer and executive leadership.
Assist the Director of Assessment & Chief Facilities Officer in developing the Student Success Center’s annual operating budget.
Approve and/or initiate expenditures within delegated authority and compliant with university fiscal policies, reconcile facility-related expenses, and recommend resource allocations that support safe, effective, and sustainable building operations.
Manage purchase ordering of all facility supplies, tools, furnishings, equipment, and other operational needs.
Administer external service contracts and monitor vendor performance related to services such as specialized cleaning, plant maintenance, pest control, signage, equipment servicing, and other contracted facility functions.