Facilities and Operations Specialist, Housing and Residential Life

Wayne State University•Detroit, MI

8d•$58,000 - $65,000•Onsite

About The Position

Wayne State University is searching for an experienced Facilities and Operations Specialist, Housing and Residential Life at its Detroit campus location. Wayne State is a premier, public, urban research university located in the heart of Detroit, Michigan where students from all backgrounds are offered a rich, high-quality education. Our deep-rooted commitment to excellence, collaboration, integrity, diversity and inclusion creates exceptional educational opportunities which prepare students for success in a global society. Job Purpose Reporting to the Senior Director, the Facilities and Operations Specialist coordinates the operational functions that support a safe, functional, high-quality residential living and dining environment within the university's student auxiliary facilities. The position serves as the primary liaison among residents, campus departments, and external service providers to ensure timely resolution of facility-related needs and effective delivery of support services. The Specialist oversees facility operations processes, manages residence hall opening, closing, and transition activities, monitors building conditions and service quality, and collaborates with stakeholders to promote operational efficiency, regulatory compliance, and an exceptional student residential and dining experience. This position reports to the Senior Director, Housing and Residential Life.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree from an accredited institution or 4 years equivalent facilities experience.
Minimum 3 years of experience coordinating facility or building processes, preferably in a higher education housing setting.
Strong task management and project management skills with the ability to prioritize competing deadlines.
Effective problem‑solving skills and the ability to analyze facility‑related data to identify trends and inform decision‑making.
Demonstrated collaborative approach and ability to build strong working relationships with internal and external partners.
Excellent interpersonal communication skills and the ability to engage with residents in a supportive, solutions‑focused manner.
Understanding of quality control principles and experience with facilities quality control programs.

Responsibilities

Collaborate with campus partners such as Facilities Planning & Management (FP&M), third‑party housing partner Corvias, and dining partner SodexoMagic to ensure student needs are met, facility issues are resolved, and departmental goals and needs are supported.
Communicate regularly with staff and residents to understand facility concerns and assist with resolution.
Work closely with in‑building teams (Area Managers, Community Directors, Assistant Area Coordinators, Resident Assistants, Dining Managers and Supervisors) to assess building conditions and identify ongoing needs.
Oversee and manage dining equipment repair vendor arrangements, including developing scope of work, soliciting pricing, and ensuring appropriate completion of work.
Oversee the renovation and brand refresh work needed in dining facilities. This includes scope definition and review, pricing, and coordination with WSU ERM, EHS and FP&M.
Oversee facilities repair and maintenance and renovation funding.
Serve as the day-to-day contract administration point of contact with Corvias.
Represent HRL and Dining in assessing and approving building‑wide system outages with partners and ensure staff and residents receive timely and accurate notifications about impacts.
Oversee planning and executing cyclical building readiness and inspections, including fall move in, spring move out, and mid semester transitions.
Determine operational needs and coordinate with internal partners (Parking, FP&M, Corvias, SodexoMagic, etc.) and external partners to ensure smooth processes.
Responsible for departmental equipment such as vehicles, carts, and wagons, including inventory and maintenance tracking.
Oversee departmental facilities quality control program. Work with partners to perform regular facility walk‑throughs, document issues, and report both positive observations and items requiring correction to appropriate partners. Ensure follow-up and correction based on contract standards.
Review staff and resident‑submitted work orders to identify trends and collaborate with partners to address recurring issues.
Oversee and maintain accurate facility records, including inspections, issue tracking and resolution, building transition documentation, and equipment inventories.
Provide recommendations for facility capital repair and replacement projects based on observed conditions, trend analysis, and long‑term facility needs.
Provides ongoing and cyclical training on facilities-related topics, processes, and procedures for staff.
Oversees fire drills in residence halls in accordance with Michigan law and BFS requirements and ensures all state reporting is completed accurately and on time.
Oversees kitchen equipment testing, certification, repair, and maintenance, ensuring dining ANSUL and exhaust hood equipment is tested and certified annually, filing needed reports with the City of Detroit and WSU ERM & EHS.
Serve in the after-hours on-call rotation to respond to issues and concerns in the residence halls.
Responsible for room condition reporting system set-up, processes, and documentation.
Oversee departmental pre- and post‑move‑out room inspection timing and processes. Coordinate with internal and external partners to achieve established goals.
Oversee departmental building security, including key management, cameras, and electronic access.
Oversee damage assessments with facilities partners, review damage documentation, and verify billing amounts for posting to student accounts by designated staff.
Supervises and leads a team of student staff in support of facilities-related work for both HRL and Dining facilities.
Perform other related duties as assigned.