Executive Director of Facilities Engineering & Construction

Executive Director of Facilities Engineering & Construction

Job Category: Facilities and Services

Requisition Number: EXECU
002765

• Posted:
  December 22, 2025
• Full‑Time
• On‑site

Lakeview Building – SAIC, 116 S Michigan Ave, Chicago, IL 60603, USA

Hiring Range: $150,000 – $180,000 annually.

The Department of Instructional Resources and Facilities Management consists of five divisions:
Campus Security, Media and Instructional Resources, Facilities Engineering and Construction, Facilities Services, and Instructional Fabrication. Our primary responsibilities include ensuring campus safety and security, managing facility operations, and overseeing key academic resources, including Media Centers, Instructional Shops, and specialized academic facilities. We are dedicated to maintaining and enhancing the built environment of the campus. Collectively, these functions create a cohesive team focused on the effective planning, operation, and delivery of essential support services within our specialized educational institution.

The Department employs approximately 100 full‑time staff, 110 contracted staff, and 300 student employees. We serve a 1.3‑million‑square‑foot campus across nine buildings.

Reporting to the Vice President for Facilities & Campus Operations, the Executive Director of Facilities Engineering & Construction provides leadership for the construction and maintenance of the school’s physical environment. The Executive Director oversees the ongoing maintenance and operations of campus buildings, infrastructure, grounds, and utilities, ensuring a safe, healthy, and high‑performing environment for students, faculty, and staff. The position requires close collaboration with the Vice President for Facilities & Campus Operations and leadership within the Department of Instructional Resources and Facilities Management.

Oversee building maintenance, utilities, and infrastructure to ensure safe, reliable, and efficient operations across campus. Direct engineering services, ensuring compliance with building codes, safety regulations, and best practices in energy efficiency. Maintain a current knowledge of emerging technologies through research and professional conferences.

• Manage and set expectations for a building engineering contractor and the associated team of 15 building engineers. Establish service levels, ensure user satisfaction, and maintain open communication to ensure goals are consistently met.
• Develop, manage, and update preventive maintenance requirements using CMMS and building automation system data to minimize downtime and unscheduled outages while maintaining critical operations. Direct, contract, and assess repairs and replacement of major systems and/or components.
• Energy Conservation Program:
  Implement systematic measures to enhance energy conservation. Aid in the utility purchasing process by providing historical usage trends and projections of changes. Review and approve utility billings for the school facilities.
• Develop and manage annual operating budgets for facilities, collaborating with the Executive Director of Facilities Services throughout the process. Implement data‑driven performance metrics to monitor efficiency, quality, and cost‑effectiveness.
• Conduct inspections of all buildings and systems, ensuring compliance with operating requirements, including PM schedules, water treatment testing, cleanliness, life safety, and work order status. Identify areas for improvement.
• Develop policies and procedures related to project management, asset management, processes, and financial reporting.
• Oversee the procurement, management, and tracking of service contracts for primary systems, including fire life safety testing, emergency generator PM, vertical transportation, HVAC, and water treatment. Work with the Chief Engineer to monitor and administer service contracts.

In close collaboration with the Vice President for Facilities & Campus Operations, as well as departmental leadership. Lead the group that manages capital project delivery, including bid solicitation of architects, engineering consultants, and…