Director of Facility Operations

Metropolitan State University of Denver•Denver, CO

3d•$130,000 - $142,500•Hybrid

About The Position

The Director of Facility Operations provides strategic and operational leadership across the university’s physical infrastructure and capital assets, as well as emergency management and environmental health and safety programs. The role oversees building operations, maintenance, lifecycle asset management, maintenance strategies, emergency management, and environmental health and safety in a collaborative urban campus environment. Reporting to the Chief Operating Officer, the Director drives operational excellence and partners with administrative and academic units. The Director serves as a key campus contact, particularly with the Auraria Higher Education Center (AHEC), which owns and manages shared campus grounds and general-use facilities. The role directly leads two senior facilities managers, an environmental health and safety manager, a fiscal and office manager, and a forthcoming emergency manager, and oversees the third-party management company for the university’s new residence hall. This is a full-time, exempt position scheduled for 40 hours per week, Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Evening and weekend work is rare. The hybrid schedule requires most work to be performed in person, with some remote-work flexibility; travel is minimal.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience in Management, Engineering, Architecture, Public Administration, Business Administration, or a closely related field.
At least 7 years of progressively responsible leadership experience in facilities management, physical plant operations, or a corporate or higher-education environment.
Experience directly supervising, coaching, and mentoring a multidisciplinary team, including building a collaborative culture, setting clear performance expectations, and driving team success.
Applicants must clearly describe in their resumes how their experience meets all required qualifications.

Nice To Haves

Master’s degree in a related field.
Experience in a higher-education or public-sector environment.
Professional certification such as Certified Facility Manager (CFM), Project Management Professional (PMP), Professional Engineer (PE), or Certified Energy Manager (CEM).
Experience evaluating and applying APPA level standards.
Experience with TMA.
Experience managing facilities operations in higher-education housing or high-density residential environments.

Responsibilities

Direct day-to-day operations and maintenance programs across university-owned, leased, and operated facilities to provide safe, functional, and efficient environments.
Oversee third-party property managers, outsourced service providers, and specialized trade contractors; establish performance benchmarks and service-level agreements; and ensure contract compliance, accountability, and cost control.
Oversee the residence hall property management contract, including responsive and planned operations and maintenance, space turnover, and collaboration with Housing and Residence Life.
Develop and maintain a capital asset management plan focused on maximizing asset useful life and prioritizing investment.
Evaluate equipment conditions, conduct lifecycle analysis, plan end-of-life replacements, estimate costs, and optimize asset replacement cycles.
Prioritize, track, and execute preventative, deferred, and controlled maintenance plans; incorporate facility condition assessments into multi-year capital budget requests; and establish thresholds for maintaining assets versus running them to failure.
Apply code-specified preventative maintenance frequencies and use predictive maintenance techniques to extend asset life.
Manage CMMS corrective actions, repairs, and work-order requests.
Determine total cost of ownership for proposed capital developments, major renovations, and new academic or operational programs, including long-term utility, custodial, maintenance, and capital renewal costs.
Collaborate with university leadership on capital intake processes and readiness for upcoming facility openings.
Partner with Planning, Design, and Construction to coordinate facilities operations with campus physical-environment initiatives.
Build relationships with academic departments, student affairs, athletics, housing partners, and executive leadership to align facilities operations with institutional mission and enrollment goals.
Serve as the primary operational liaison with AHEC teams on shared building operations, infrastructure projects, grounds maintenance, and tri-institutional spaces.
Represent the university on campus-wide capital, safety, and facilities committees.
Direct the university’s EHS program through the EHS Manager and ensure compliance with OSHA, EPA, state, and local regulatory standards.
Promote campus safety and partner with AHEC’s Emergency Preparedness, Coordination, and Recovery Committee in monthly tri-institutional coordination on emergency readiness, safety policies, and recovery strategies.
Develop the framework for the future Emergency Management function, including response protocols for campus crises, severe weather, and facility emergencies.
Lead, coach, and manage the performance of the Facilities Operations team.
Foster proactive service delivery, rapid issue resolution, continuous improvement, and operational excellence.
Develop, manage, and monitor annual operating, maintenance, and capital expenditure budgets.
Manage administrative office staff and departmental purchasing, work-order dispatching, contract administration, and customer service operations.
Champion CADRE values-based leadership, set expectations, elicit feedback, coach across departments, ensure accountability, and manage conflict.
Align operations across teams by optimizing resources, maintaining compliance, and enabling leaders to deliver measurable outcomes.
Translate university strategy into coordinated action by guiding decisions, prioritizing initiatives, and adjusting plans for long-term progress.
Build cross-functional partnerships, share information, and facilitate dialogue to advance university goals.
Promote belonging through equitable leadership and talent processes, feedback, and accountability.
Drive innovation by aligning initiatives with university priorities, anticipating change, and enabling sustainable improvements.