Executive Director, Physical Facilities

The University of Akron•Akron, OH

About The Position

The Executive Director of Physical Facilities provides strategic leadership, administrative oversight, and operational management of the institution’s campus and facilities infrastructure. The position stewards campus buildings, grounds, utilities, and related physical assets to ensure they are safe, functional, sustainable, accessible, and supportive of academic, research, student, and administrative activities. The Executive Director oversees facilities personnel, operating and capital budgets, preventive maintenance programs, vendor contracts, regulatory compliance, and long-term facilities planning. Working with executive leadership and campus departments, the role develops and implements facilities strategies that promote operational excellence, fiscal responsibility, sustainability, and effective use of institutional resources. The position combines office-based administrative work with on-site campus inspections. The Executive Director may visit buildings, outdoor areas, mechanical and utility spaces, and construction sites, and may respond to emergencies outside normal business hours. Occasional evening, weekend, holiday, or on-call availability may be required. The position is based in Ohio, where the University expects employees to perform their work.

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 and capital budgets, contracts, and facilities improvement projects.
Knowledge of building systems, preventive maintenance, construction practices, safety requirements, and regulatory compliance.
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.
The position involves walking through buildings and outdoor areas and accessing mechanical and utility spaces and construction sites.
The University expects work performed as an employee to be performed in Ohio.
Employment offers are contingent upon credential verification 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.
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.
Experience working in a labor-management environment and administering applicable collective bargaining agreements, where appropriate.

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 present and future facilities needs and recommend maintenance, renewal, and modernization priorities.
Advise senior administration on facilities conditions, infrastructure risks, deferred maintenance, and capital investment requirements.
Establish performance indicators for departmental effectiveness, service quality, operational efficiency, and customer satisfaction.
Oversee daily operations, maintenance, repair, and upkeep of campus facilities.
Direct preventive, predictive, and corrective maintenance for buildings and their mechanical, electrical, plumbing, HVAC, elevator, and other critical systems.
Ensure effective operation and maintenance of campus utilities and building systems.
Establish work-order management procedures, maintenance schedules, response standards, and prioritization protocols.
Monitor facility conditions and implement strategies to reduce equipment downtime, emergency repairs, and operating costs.
Coordinate facilities support for academic schedules, special events, commencement, summer operations, and other institutional activities.
Develop, manage, and monitor annual operating and capital budgets and long-range facilities expenditure plans.
Identify cost savings, energy-efficiency opportunities, improved procurement practices, and 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 operational needs with long-term asset preservation and financial sustainability.
Ensure facilities operations comply with building codes, fire and life safety requirements, environmental regulations, accessibility standards, occupational safety requirements, and institutional policies.
Coordinate inspections, testing, certifications, corrective actions, and regulatory documentation.
Work with environmental health and safety, campus police, emergency management, and other departments to address facilities-related risks.
Maintain emergency response procedures for utility failures, severe weather, flooding, equipment breakdowns, and other facility 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 opportunities for improvement.
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 participation in 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 the overall quality of the campus environment.
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 to facilities concerns promptly and professionally 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 accurate records and documentation for planning, budgeting, audits, regulatory compliance, and institutional reporting.
Evaluate facilities technologies and management practices that can improve service delivery, efficiency, and lifecycle asset performance.
Promote continuous improvement through regular assessment, benchmarking, and process refinement.