Managing Executive, Business, Construction, and Facilities Department

Description

The Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory is seeking a transformational executive leader to help shape the future of how one of the nation's most complex research institutions operates. The Business, Construction, and Facilities Department (BCFD) is responsible for stewarding nearly $3B in annual activity across more than 400 acres of campus, enabling mission‑critical work.

We are looking for a Managing Executive who is energized by complexity, motivated by impact, and driven to redefine what excellence looks like in business and facilities operations. This leader will build and lead a service organization that sets the standard for APL and serves as a national model for how large, mission‑driven institutions operate, invest, and deliver.

Reporting directly to the Chief Financial Officer/BCFD Head, the Managing Executive serves as one of three members of the Business, Construction, and Facilities Department Executive Leadership Team, partnering closely to shape strategy, priorities, and enterprise outcomes. The role includes significant engagement across APL and with Johns Hopkins University stakeholders.

• Provide executive oversight for a multidisciplinary portfolio of business and facilities groups within BCFD, integrating business, operational, construction, and facilities functions to deliver cohesive, high‑quality services at enterprise scale.
• Challenge and modernize existing business and facilities models, moving beyond traditional service delivery to establish best‑in‑class, data‑driven, and customer‑focused operations that set the standard for APL and peer institutions nationwide.
• Build, mentor, and inspire a strong executive and leadership team, ensuring a deep pipeline of future leaders capable of operating at scale, managing complexity, and leading through change.
• Serve as a trusted strategic partner to the Chief Financial Officer, APL Executive Leadership Team, and Johns Hopkins University stakeholders, providing thoughtful analysis, sound judgment, and actionable recommendations to support enterprise decision‑making.
• Lead cultural and organizational change that reinforces service excellence, respect, trust, and accountability, while ensuring staff are supported, developed, recognized, and challenged to perform at their best.
• Represent BCFD in cross‑enterprise initiatives, external engagements, and leadership forums, elevating the department’s role as a critical enabler of APL’s mission and future growth.
• Establish clear expectations, enterprise metrics, and accountability frameworks that drive performance, transparency, and continuous improvement across all business and facilities functions.
• Model executive leadership behaviors consistent with APL’s Leadership Attributes, setting the tone for ethical conduct, collaboration, and results‑oriented leadership.

You meet our minimum qualifications for the job if you have...

• A Bachelor's degree in Finance/Accounting, Management, Business Administration or a relevant discipline or equivalent years of experience
• Fifteen (15) or more years of progressively responsible leadership experience (equivalent to Group Supervisor‑level at APL), in business and/or facilities operations, with demonstrated success leading large, multidisciplinary organizations.
• Demonstrated knowledge and skills in business such as finance, contracting, accounting or facilities management.
• A highly collaborative style; and demonstrated skill and comfort in building relationships with senior level and executive management, peers and staff at all levels.
• Proven ability to lead through complexity, drive organizational change, and deliver results at scale.
• Strong track record of developing leaders, building high‑performing teams, and fostering a culture of accountability and service excellence.
• Exceptional communication, collaboration, and executive presence, with the ability to influence and partner effectively at the most senior levels.
• Thrive in fast paced and changing work environments.
• An active Secret security clearance and can ultimately obtain a TS/SCI level clearance. If selected, you will be subject to a…