Executive Director, Physical Facilities

University of Akron•Akron, OH

About The Position

The Executive Director of Physical Facilities provides strategic leadership, administrative oversight, and operational management for the institution’s physical campus and facilities infrastructure. The role is responsible for the maintenance, repair, and stewardship of campus buildings, grounds, utilities, and related physical assets, ensuring facilities are safe, functional, sustainable, accessible, and supportive of the institution’s academic mission, student experience, research activities, and administrative operations. The Executive Director oversees facilities personnel, operating and capital budgets, preventative maintenance programs, vendor contracts, regulatory compliance, and long-term facilities planning. Working collaboratively with executive leadership, academic departments, student services, finance, campus safety, information technology, and external partners, the position develops and implements facilities strategies that promote operational excellence, fiscal responsibility, sustainability, and effective use of institutional resources. The role also directs campus facilities operations and maintenance, budget and financial management, compliance and risk management, sustainability initiatives, personnel development, grounds and space management, stakeholder engagement, and the use of facilities technology and data. It has department-wide operational responsibility and may require on-site inspections and responses to facilities emergencies outside normal business hours. The position is based in Ohio; the University expects work performed as an employee to be performed in Ohio.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in facilities management, engineering, construction management, or a closely related field.
At least 6 years of progressively responsible experience in facilities management, physical plant operations, campus operations, building maintenance, construction, or infrastructure management.
Demonstrated leadership experience supervising professional, technical, skilled trades, and/or operational personnel.
Experience developing and managing operating budgets, capital budgets, contracts, and facilities improvement projects.
Knowledge of building systems, preventative maintenance, construction practices, safety requirements, and regulatory compliance.
Demonstrated ability to lead cross-functional teams, manage competing priorities, solve complex operational problems, and communicate effectively with senior leadership.
Strong organizational, analytical, project management, customer service, and decision-making skills.
Experience working in a labor-management environment and administering applicable collective bargaining agreements where appropriate.
Ability to perform a combination of office-based administrative work and on-site campus inspections, including walking buildings and outdoor areas and accessing mechanical and utility spaces.
Availability for occasional evening, weekend, holiday, or on-call work to support institutional operations may be required.
Work performed as a University of Akron employee is expected to be performed in Ohio.
Employment offers are contingent upon verification of credentials and satisfactory completion of a criminal background check; some positions may require additional credit investigation and a pre-employment driving record search.

Nice To Haves

Professional certification such as Certified Facility Manager (CFM), Facility Management Professional (FMP), Project Management Professional (PMP), or a relevant engineering or construction credential is strongly preferred.
Master’s degree in facilities management, engineering, construction management, business administration, or a related discipline.
Experience managing facilities within a college, university, healthcare, government, or similarly complex institutional environment.
Experience with energy management, sustainability initiatives, building automation systems, and computerized maintenance management systems.
Knowledge of applicable state and local building codes, accessibility requirements, fire and life safety standards, and environmental regulations.

Responsibilities

Develop and implement a facilities management strategy aligned with the institution’s strategic plan, campus master plan, and long-term operational priorities.
Lead the development and implementation of facilities policies, procedures, performance standards, and service delivery objectives.
Assess current and future facilities needs and recommend priorities for maintenance, renewal, and modernization.
Advise senior administration on facilities conditions, infrastructure risks, deferred maintenance, and capital investment requirements.
Establish measurable performance indicators for departmental effectiveness, service quality, operational efficiency, and customer satisfaction.
Oversee daily operation, maintenance, repair, and upkeep of campus facilities.
Direct preventative, predictive, and corrective maintenance programs for buildings, mechanical and electrical systems, plumbing, HVAC, elevators, and other critical infrastructure.
Ensure effective operation and maintenance of campus utilities and building systems.
Establish work order procedures, maintenance schedules, response standards, and prioritization protocols.
Monitor facility conditions and develop strategies to reduce equipment downtime, emergency repairs, and long-term operating costs.
Coordinate facilities support for academic schedules, special events, commencement, summer operations, and other institutional activities.
Develop, manage, and monitor annual operating budgets, capital budgets, and long-range facilities expenditure plans.
Identify cost savings, energy efficiency, procurement improvements, and more effective resource allocation.
Monitor expenditures, approve purchases within delegated authority, and provide budget reports and financial forecasts.
Develop business cases and funding recommendations for major repairs, equipment replacement, and infrastructure renewal.
Oversee vendor agreements, service contracts, warranties, and procurement in accordance with institutional policies.
Balance immediate operating needs with long-term asset preservation and financial sustainability.
Ensure facilities operations comply with applicable building codes, fire and life safety requirements, environmental regulations, accessibility standards, occupational safety requirements, and institutional policies.
Coordinate inspections, testing, certifications, corrective actions, and documentation required by regulatory authorities.
Work with environmental health and safety, campus police, emergency management, and other departments on facilities-related risks.
Maintain emergency response procedures for utility failures, severe weather, flooding, equipment breakdowns, and other facilities emergencies.
Identify infrastructure vulnerabilities and develop risk mitigation, business continuity, and emergency preparedness plans.
Promote safety, accountability, regulatory compliance, and continuous improvement.
Develop and implement energy conservation, utility management, waste reduction, and sustainability initiatives.
Monitor utility consumption, operating costs, and building performance to identify improvement opportunities.
Evaluate energy-efficient equipment, building automation systems, renewable energy opportunities, and sustainable maintenance practices.
Support institutional sustainability goals and applicable environmental reporting requirements.
Integrate lifecycle cost analysis and sustainable design principles into facilities planning and capital project decisions.
Recruit, supervise, develop, and evaluate facilities personnel, including maintenance, trades, grounds, custodial, building operations, and administrative staff, as assigned.
Establish performance expectations, service standards, staffing priorities, and professional development objectives.
Develop staffing plans, training programs, succession strategies, and cross-training opportunities.
Promote teamwork, communication, accountability, customer service, and a respectful workplace.
Lead labor-management matters involving Physical Facilities employees, including labor-management discussions and administration of applicable collective bargaining agreements.
Ensure adequate staffing and on-call coverage for emergencies and critical campus operations.
Oversee campus grounds, landscaping, exterior maintenance, sidewalks, parking areas, roads, signage, and related infrastructure, as assigned.
Coordinate seasonal services, snow and ice removal, storm response, and outdoor event support.
Support campus accessibility, appearance, functionality, and overall environmental quality.
Build productive relationships with faculty, staff, students, administrators, contractors, vendors, and community partners.
Establish communication channels for reporting facilities issues, tracking work requests, and communicating service interruptions.
Respond promptly and professionally to facilities concerns while balancing urgency, cost, safety, and institutional priorities.
Participate in campus committees, planning meetings, emergency preparedness activities, and institutional initiatives as assigned.
Provide senior leadership with reports, recommendations, and briefings on facilities performance, project status, budgets, and emerging risks.
Oversee effective use of computerized maintenance management systems (CMMS), building automation systems, asset management tools, and facilities reporting platforms.
Use data to evaluate maintenance trends, equipment reliability, utility consumption, work order completion, and operational performance.
Maintain records and documentation for planning, budgeting, audits, regulatory compliance, and institutional reporting.
Evaluate emerging facilities technologies and management practices that improve service delivery, efficiency, and lifecycle asset performance.
Establish continuous improvement through regular assessment, benchmarking, and process refinement.
Complete on-site campus inspections, including walkthroughs of buildings and outdoor areas, access to mechanical and utility spaces, and attendance at construction sites.
Respond to facilities emergencies outside normal business hours when required.