Facilities and Support Services Manager

Contact Information

Michele Blakeman
michele.blakeman

The Upham Woods Facilities and Support Services Manager develops, coordinates, and implements strategies and objectives for buildings, equipment, and grounds operations at Upham Woods Outdoor Learning Center to meet the needs of the university, its employees, and user groups. The Manager oversees the operations of buildings, technology needs, maintenance needs, nature center/animal care oversight, land management objectives, and equipment operations, and includes oversight of on-site vehicles and boats at Upham Woods.

The position directs day-to-day operations of the facility and support services unit to provide technical advice, problem solving assistance, and unit goals and policy interpretation. The role interfaces with multiple UW work units (Legal, Risk Management, Facility Planning & Management) to ensure optimum efficiency and compliance with appropriate policies, procedures, and specifications. The Manager supervises and manages performance of kitchen, maintenance, and custodial teams, and serves as the lead coordinator with external contractors, risk management, and university facility contacts.

The position coordinates land management and conservation volunteers, prepares the facility & operations unit budget, approves unit expenditures, and reports to the Center Director. The Manager shares responsibility as emergency on-call and on an as-needed basis for evening and weekend facility issues, flexing work hours during the typical work week (M‑F) to accommodate evening or weekend hours. The successful candidate must hold a valid driver’s license to drive university fleet vehicles and obtain Adult/Child/Infant CPR/AED, First Aid, and Food Handler certification within 3 months of employment, if not already certified.

• Ability to lift 50 pounds to shoulder height
• Ability to work outside in inclement weather

• Identify, propose, and implement new or revised unit operational policies and procedures
• Implement and evaluate existing strategies and objectives for building and grounds operations and make recommendations to unit leadership for program or function enhancement
• Exercise supervisory authority, including hiring, transferring, suspending, promoting, managing conduct and performance, discharging, assigning, rewarding, disciplining, and/or approving hours worked of at least 2.0 full‑time equivalent (FTE) employees
• Develop and implement land management priorities including forest management and trail development/construction/maintenance
• Identify and leverage internal and external sources of funding to implement facility upgrades toward energy efficiency and renewable technologies
• Seek professional development opportunities to obtain or maintain certification in various areas (motorized and non‑motorized boater safety, food handler training, low‑element challenge course construction, maintenance, and facilitation, advanced medical and water safety training, shooting sports certification, chainsaw safety, prescribed fire management)
• Schedule logistics and secure resources for program activities across multiple work units to ensure optimum efficiency and compliance with appropriate policies, procedures, and specifications
• Monitor the unit budget and approve unit expenditures
• Prepare periodic reports and financial statements, and record progress, status, or other special reports for leadership or external agencies
• Direct day‑to‑day operations of the unit to provide technical advice, problem‑solving assistance, and unit goals and policy interpretation

The minimum annual (12 months) starting salary for the position is $76,000, but is negotiable based on experience and qualifications.

This position offers a comprehensive benefits package, including generous paid time off, competitively priced health/dental/vision/life insurance, tax‑advantaged savings accounts, and participation in the nationally recognized Wisconsin Retirement System (WRS) pension fund.

• At least 3 years of relevant professional work experience related to the responsibilities of the…