Director, Regional Operations and Maintenance

Overview

Director, Regional Operations and Maintenance Wayne State University is searching for an experienced Director, Regional Operations and Maintenance 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.

• Leadership and Management (20%):
  Hire, mentor and supervise the management team of associate directors, managers, supervisors and planners; develop and implement a planned and preventive maintenance culture; develop and monitor team goals and objectives including performance evaluations and job ratings; develop and implement technical training to enhance the skills of the operations team; foster a culture of safety, accountability and continuous improvement.
• Strategic Planning (10%):
  Identify and manage facility capital upgrades and improvements with a focus on reducing and eliminating deferred maintenance; collaborate with academic, administrative and faculty departments to align facilities management with institutional goals; implement sustainability initiatives to reduce environmental impact of campus operations.
• Operations and Maintenance (20%):
  Oversee maintenance and repair of buildings, grounds and equipment; ensure compliance with local, state and federal regulations including OSHA and environmental standards; review scope of work and perform field walk-downs to ensure safety, training and job plan compliance; coach, motivate and lead teams toward high preventive maintenance compliance; review and manage backlog reports and develop plans to recover missed items;
  
  manage Campus Commitment metrics and report campus-wide KPIs monthly.
• Budget and Resource Management (20%):
  Work with the BAO team to prepare and manage the annual fiscal budget for facilities operations and maintenance; track O&M costs by building, district and region against budgets; monitor and approve requisitions for materials, labor and contracted services; report on expenditures and pursue reductions in contracted services for routine repairs; optimize resource allocations; prepare and present reports to senior leadership.
• Project Management (5%):
  Partner with Design and Construction services project managers to coordinate construction, renovation and refurbishment projects; liaise with contractors, architects and engineers.
• Safety and Compliance (20%):
  Ensure facilities comply with health, safety and environmental regulations and policies; conduct regular inspections and audits to identify and mitigate risks; respond, develop and implement emergency response plans; maintain a safety-first culture for all employees, staff, faculty and students across campus.
• Stakeholder Engagement (5%):
  Collaborate with academic and administrative departments to understand and meet facility needs; communicate effectively with stakeholders including faculty, staff, students and external partners; represent Facilities Planning and Management in meetings and committees; implement quality standards through stakeholder surveys to drive continuous improvement.

Education: Bachelor's degree

• Minimum requirement: a bachelor’s degree in Facilities Management, Engineering, Business Administration or a related field OR 7–10 documented years of leadership experience in facilities operations and maintenance.
• An advanced degree in business management and/or a licensed professional in mechanical, electrical or skilled trades is preferred.

Experience: Expert (7+ years)

• Bachelor’s degree in Facilities Management, Engineering, Business Administration, or a related field.
• Minimum of 7–10 years of experience in facilities operations and maintenance, with at least 5 years in a leadership role.
• Strong knowledge of building systems, maintenance practices, and regulatory requirements; experience coordinating technical field services in a facilities environment.
• Previous hands-on experience as…