Assistant Vice President of Operations

Classification Title Assistant Vice President for Facilities and Operations

As a key member of the University Facilities’ senior leadership team, the Assistant Vice President of Operations (Asst. VP) provides strategic leadership and oversight for the repair, maintenance, and operations of the university’s physical facilities within a dynamic, research-intensive institution.

The University at Buffalo spans three distinct campuses, North, South, and Downtown, comprising more than 110 buildings that range from historic early 20th-century structures to modern facilities. This diverse portfolio requires robust operational strategies to ensure effective maintenance, regulatory compliance, infrastructure reliability, and uninterrupted campus operations.

University Facilities encompasses Capital Planning, Campus Planning, Design & Construction, Environment Health & Safety, Energy Management & Decarbonization, Facilities Finance, Facilities Operations, and Real Estate & Property Management. As such, the Asst. VP Facilities Operations reports directly to the Associate Vice President of University Facilities.

The Asst. VP leads a workforce of 500–600 unionized employees and is responsible for managing operations across the three campuses, totaling approximately 13 million gross square feet and 600 acres of grounds. Departments reporting to the Asst. VP include skilled trades, utilities operations, warehouse and storeroom management, customer service, fleet operations, grounds maintenance, and custodial services.

The Asst. VP supports the development and oversight of the Facilities’ Operations operating budget (not the full University Facilities budget) which approximates $30 million in annual payroll and $15 million in maintenance, repair, and operations ( MRO ) expenses. This includes providing financial forecasts and variance analysis to the Director of Finance and maintaining appropriate oversight of related service and maintenance contracts.

This role also helps to inform the Director of Capital Planning & Deferred Maintenance, who manages the minor critical maintenance capital funds, of capital-related maintenance needs.

Although the Asst. VP is not expected to personally respond during all off‑hours incidences, they are accountable for maintaining continuous operational coverage and organizational readiness for 24/7/365 response, including emergencies, and may be required to respond as needed when circumstances require leadership presence, employee support, or when designated responders are unavailable.

Consistent with the operational and response-driven nature of the Operations department, this position is designated as on-site only and is ineligible for remote or telecommuting arrangements.

Specific to Facilities Operations (verses University Facilities), key responsibilities of this role include but are not limited to:

• Develop and implement a comprehensive operations strategy aligned with institutional and departmental priorities and research needs.
• Foster a culture of accountability, safety, and service excellence in a dynamic, demanding environment.
• Operational Oversight
  • Direct and manage skilled trades, utilities operations, grounds, fleet, warehouse operations, and custodial services across three campuses.
  • Ensure compliance with all applicable codes, regulations, and safety standards.
  • Oversee reactive, preventive and predictive maintenance programs for critical infrastructure.
• Emergency Response & Continuity
  • In coordination with the Environment, Health, and Safety team, establish and maintain emergency response plans for facilities-related incidents, including power outages, weather events, and critical system failures.
  • Ensure teams are trained and equipped to respond promptly to emergencies at any time.
• Performance Management
  • Establish, monitor, and report on Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) and tools for data visualization and performance tracking for all operational areas.
  • Conduct root cause analysis for recurring issues and implement corrective actions.
  • Drive continuous improvement through benchmarking and best practices.
• Process Development
  • Develop and maintain Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for…