Sr. Assistant Director Facility Operations

University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign•Urbana, IL

About The Position

The Sr. Assistant Director Facility Operations directs the daily operational management of the Facility Operations student staff and manages departmental communication between Connect2 Facility Management Software and Campus Recreation. The role assists with departmental scheduling and inventory management software (Connect2) and manages recreational facility bookings through the Fusion Portal (Active Illini). The position supervises Facility Operations staff, including hiring, training, scheduling, evaluating, and developing student employees and a graduate hourly program lead. It develops training materials and staff development plans, communicates policies and operational updates, and coordinates with Campus Recreation teams to support safe, consistent facility operations. The role manages facility bookings, collaborates with Event Management and Intramural Sports, and maintains schedules for courts, multipurpose rooms, and the reflection and recovery room. It serves as the subject matter expert for Connect2 staff scheduling and inventory management tools, providing training, consultation, and implementation support across Campus Recreation. Additional duties include collecting and reporting assessment data, managing the facility operations budget, monitoring staff certifications and incident reporting, attending conferences, serving on committees, and supporting departmental planning and special projects. This is a 100% full-time Civil Service 5002 - Program Coordinator position appointed on a 12-month basis. The expected start date is as soon as possible after November 16, 2026. Salary is $70,000–$76,000, commensurate with experience. The position is not eligible for work-authorization sponsorship.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Higher Education, Recreation, Sports and Tourism, or a related field.
Three years (36 months) of combined education, training, and/or work experience in facility operations.
Demonstrated experience supervising student staff in a higher education setting.
Effective communication skills and ability to understand information and presented ideas.
Ability to develop goals and plans, prioritize and organize work, and accomplish tasks.
Ability to work effectively with staff, the public, and outside constituency groups.
Ability to plan, delegate, and supervise the work of others.
Ability to work independently and exercise judgment when analyzing and investigating questions or problems.
Ability to analyze and develop guidelines, procedures, and systems.
Ability to occasionally move or transfer items weighing up to 50 pounds.
Occasional work outside scheduled business hours for events, workshops, and similar activities.

Nice To Haves

Master’s degree in Higher Education, Recreation, Sports and Tourism, or a related field.
Two years of work experience performing reservation or bookings management and/or facility operations work within a Campus Recreation setting.

Responsibilities

Direct daily operational management of Facility Operations student staff and manage departmental communications between Connect2 and Campus Recreation.
Develop and implement staff training materials, including instruction on fitness equipment, safe patron assistance, facility policies, and staff development.
Hire, train, supervise, and evaluate Facility Operations employees, including a graduate hourly program lead, student coordinators, building managers, facility supervisors, and facility assistants.
Set staffing goals and strategic plans, assess patron adherence to facility policies, and recommend changes as needed.
Conduct shift audits and observations, provide feedback and corrective actions, lead monthly staff meetings, and delegate duties to part-time employees.
Coordinate with the Evening Member Services Coordinator and other Campus Recreation teams regarding staffing expectations, operational changes, and bookings management.
Collaborate with Risk Management and SATech to streamline Connect2 software and webtools report forms.
Recruit, hire, train, and manage a graduate hourly program lead and oversee building manager hiring, training, and management with relevant colleagues.
Develop and implement a comprehensive facility bookings management plan that minimizes disruption to Campus Recreation activities.
Coordinate with Event Management and Intramural Sports to gather event information, keep booking schedules accurate, and communicate changes to stakeholders.
Create booking schedules for courts, multipurpose rooms, and the reflection and recovery room; prevent double bookings and monitor bookings daily with student staff.
Serve as the subject matter expert for Connect2MyTime staff scheduling and C2IT inventory management software; develop training, onboarding, consultation, and update communications.
Develop a cross-program-area staff scheduling system for Campus Recreation employees.
Ensure injury, illness, and incident reports are completed properly and followed up on, in coordination with Aquatics and Risk Management.
Collect, analyze, and report facility operations assessment data and manage the annual facility operations and Connect2-related budget.
Attend state and regional leadership conferences and workshops, including accompanying student participants.
Serve as the primary contact for facility operations employment inquiries and monitor required staff certifications with Risk Management and HR.
Chair or co-chair departmental searches, serve on assigned department, division, or university committees, and manage assigned special projects.
Participate in developing and implementing policies, procedures, programs, departmental objectives, and long-range plans.