Director, Facilities, Space Infrastructure and Capital Planning

Department

PME Pritzker School of Molecular Engineering

About the Department

The Pritzker School of Molecular Engineering (PME) was established in May 2019 and evolved from the Institute for Molecular Engineering, which was founded in 2011. The PME integrates science and engineering to address global challenges from the molecular level up. The PME’s rigorous academic and research programs are made possible through the University of Chicago’s unique partnership with Argonne National Laboratory.

The Pritzker School of Molecular Engineering is the first new school at the University of Chicago in three decades and the first school in the nation dedicated to molecular engineering. In the next phase of growth as a School, the PME will continue to expand its team of world-class faculty researchers and empower students from diverse backgrounds to collaborate with faculty in cutting-edge facilities.

The PME aims to bring solutions for urgent societal problems to the forefront, while training the next generation of scientific leaders and entrepreneurs.

Job Summary

Reporting to the Executive Director of Space, Infrastructure and Facilities, the Director of Facilities, Space Infrastructure and Capital Planning will oversee the development of complex and highly technical space plans and layouts for all PME space across 20 buildings on the University of Chicago campus and sites off campus such as Argonne, Hyde Park Labs, Fulton Labs, and Harper Court.

This position provides leadership and direction for the capital projects delivery process, from the design phase through commissioning and close-out. The role is responsible for managing the construction and renovation of physical assets and bringing assets online in the most efficient and effective manner. The Director will work with faculty and staff to plan and design lab, research, administrative, and other spaces, and develops schedule and budget estimates that meet the tactical and strategic long-range goals of the PME.

The Director will also contribute to overseeing the general day-to-day operations of PME facilities.

Responsibilities

• Leads the development of complex and highly technical space plans and layouts for the renovation, infrastructure augmentation, or remodeling of engineering research labs, core facilities, and teaching labs.
• Works with Human Resources and leadership on the assignment of space.
• Maintains PME database of architectural, infrastructure, and technical plans. Instrumental in the design and development of expansion space and future infrastructure, including the Hyde Park Labs (20,000 sq ft) and New Engineering and Science Building (200,000 sq ft).
• Ensures operational and commissioning standards compliance from internal and external project delivery partners to highly sophisticated and sensitive research environments. Guides FS service delivery in unusual/high-risk or high-impact research environments.
• Oversees the reconfiguration of all PME-assigned office and administrative spaces and relocation of Faculty and their research from one space to another, including the development of logistics plans and coordinating the transfer of specialty scientific equipment and/or hazardous materials.
• Inspects work performed by University of Chicago facilities or other designated 3rd party facilities management vendors, and provides technical assistance to ensure operational compliance within tight control parameters.
• Troubleshoots and competently advises on repair of direct design or implements technical solutions for equipment like optical and laser tables, cryogenics, including dilution refrigerators, biosafety cabinets, fume hoods, and isoflurane chambers, gas manifolds, regulators, and mixing/distribution systems, with moderate guidance from the Executive Director.
• Demonstrates familiarity with monitoring and assessing power consumption, cooling, HVAC, and other mechanical needs. Responds to environmental fluctuations swiftly, to ensure maintenance of tightly controlled humidity, temperature, airflow, and other systems, and prevent compromise of experiments due to system failure with an unshakable 'Safety First' mindset.
• Assists the Executive Director with managing active and passive electromagnetic (EM) shielding for high output magnets and highly sensitive experimental apparatus, flow calculations for flammable gases and solutions.
  
  Assists researchers with the planned installation of rarefied and highly technical equipment, including space and/or infrastructural renovation to accommodate them.
• Routinely conducts inspections of the building for deficiencies scans space for improvements, and works with faculty and Divisional leadership to build out capital projects to address any identified deficiencies. Tracks maintenance and repairs and installations in labs and works to identify and mitigate potential disruption to ongoing research due to environmental perturbation (EM/vibration/noise/dust, etc.).
• Oversees divisional space data information semiannually to ensure…