Director of Housing Facilities, University Housing Services

Cal Poly Pomona•Pomona, CA

3d•Onsite

About The Position

University Housing Services (UHS) is a large, complex self-support operation dedicated to providing safe, inclusive, and engaging residential communities that foster student success. The department oversees three residential communities comprised of 11 buildings, in addition to a satellite office and maintenance shop, totaling more than 746,522 square feet of managed facility space. UHS provides housing for over 2,800 students and is supported by a workforce of more than 50 professional staff and approximately 100 student leaders and student assistants. Together, these teams deliver comprehensive services including residential education, facilities maintenance, custodial operations, assignments, and community development. Operating as a self-supporting enterprise, UHS manages an annual operating budget of roughly $45–50 million, while also supporting significant annual debt service obligations. The department maintains a healthy reserve balance, positioning it to reinvest in facilities, infrastructure, and enhancements to the student experience. Through its integrated approach to operations, facilities stewardship, and student engagement, University Housing Services plays a critical role in fostering a vibrant living and learning environment that enhances retention, belonging, and overall student success.

Requirements

Bachelor's Degree
Minimum of five (5) years of Facilities Management experience required.
Demonstrated experience managing capital projects and operational budgets.
Experience leading trades professionals and managing MEP systems.
Knowledge of safety and risk mitigation practices related to facilities operations.
Comprehensive knowledge of facilities management in a residential housing environment, including skilled trades and custodial operations.
Advanced understanding of MEP systems and the ability to assess issues and propose effective solutions.
Expertise in project planning, budgeting, staffing, scheduling, and quality control.
Ability to read and interpret blueprints, specifications, and technical documents.
Strong understanding of building codes, life-safety systems, ADA compliance, and regulatory requirements.
Experience supervising in a unionized environment.
Excellent analytical, organizational, and crisis-management skills.
Ability to oversee multiple complex projects simultaneously in high-pressure environments.
Strong written and verbal communication skills.
Proficiency with Microsoft Office, facilities management systems, and resident management systems (e.g., StarRez).
Demonstrated commitment to equity-minded leadership and inclusive service delivery.
Ability to effectively engage and communicate with an ethnically and culturally diverse campus community.
Commitment to university policies related to safety, civility, information security, and non-discrimination.
Occasional evening or weekend work may be required to address emergencies or operational needs.

Nice To Haves

Master’s degree preferred
Minimum of seven (7) years of progressively responsible experience in housing, student services, or related university environments strongly preferred
Minimum of five (5) years of custodial services management experience strongly preferred.
Experience supervising in a unionized environment strongly preferred.
OSHA certification preferred.

Responsibilities

Direct and coordinate all managerial and administrative activities of the UHS Facilities Unit, including Maintenance and Custodial Services.
Develop and implement short- and long-term operational goals aligned with departmental and institutional priorities.
Lead long-range facilities planning, including capital renewal, deferred maintenance strategies, infrastructure modernization, and risk mitigation efforts.
Serve on the UHS leadership team, contributing to policy development, crisis response planning, and institutional initiatives.
Represent UHS Facilities in cross-divisional meetings and campus partnerships.
Provide executive oversight of integrated facilities services across all residential communities.
Establish and maintain a comprehensive preventative maintenance program.
Oversee routine maintenance, structural repairs, MEP (mechanical, electrical, plumbing) systems, custodial operations, and emergency response services.
Ensure compliance with all applicable safety and building regulations, including OSHA, ADA, and California Titles 19, 22, and 24.
Monitor quality control standards for all facilities and custodial work.
Coordinate work in varied environments, including mechanical rooms, confined spaces, and outdoor areas.
Build strong partnerships with UHS Business Services, including Conferences, and Residence Life staff, student leaders, campus partners, and external stakeholders.
Communicate regularly with building representatives to align goals, address concerns, and proactively resolve issues.
Take the lead in communicating with residents, parents/families, departmental staff, and campus stakeholders regarding facilities issues, construction, outages, and emergencies, ensuring timely, clear, and coordinated information that supports student safety, minimizes disruption, and aligns with departmental and university priorities.
Model professionalism, diplomacy, and responsiveness in diverse and multicultural settings.
Engage professionally and responsively with students, parents, and families regarding facilities-related concerns, ensuring timely resolution, transparency, and alignment with university policies while maintaining appropriate privacy standards.
Lead staffing functions including recruitment, selection, onboarding, training, performance evaluation, coaching, and disciplinary processes.
Supervise and support a diverse and multi-skilled workforce, including unionized employees.
Establish staffing models that maximize operational efficiency and service quality.
Promote a culture of safety, accountability, continuous improvement, and professional development.
Ensure compliance with HR policies, labor agreements, and safety regulations.
Prepare, allocate, and manage the UHS Facilities operating and project budgets in conjunction with the UHS leadership team.
Monitor expenditures, cost projections, and financial performance.
Utilize facilities management systems, databases, and reporting tools to inform data-driven decisions including StarRez.
Identify cost-saving opportunities while maintaining service quality and safety standards.
Oversee major and minor capital projects, renovations, construction, and infrastructure improvements.
Manage project scope, scheduling, staffing, and budget performance.
Review blueprints, job specifications, and technical reports to ensure alignment with operational standards.
Develop proposals, cost estimates, and long-range renovation strategies.
Monitor project costs and mitigate overruns using departmental systems and reporting tools.
Collaborate with campus Facilities Planning & Management, Risk Management, Environmental Health and Safety, and external contractors.
Provide leadership for facilities-related emergency management and crisis response impacting residential communities, including coordination of emergency repair services and response to critical infrastructure failures such as utility outages, mechanical system failures, and structural concerns.
Coordinate after-hours facilities response and on-call operations to ensure timely assessment and resolution of urgent maintenance, infrastructure, and life-safety issues affecting UHS facilities and residents.
Partner with campus emergency management, Environmental Health & Safety, and public safety units to support emergency preparedness planning, drills, and incident response protocols.
Ensure compliance with fire and life-safety regulations, coordinate inspections and corrective actions, and serve as the primary liaison with regulatory authorities including the State Fire Marshal and other oversight agencies.
Participate in incident management and post-incident recovery efforts to restore facilities operations and maintain safe residential environments.