Facilities Manager, Operations

Department

OPS Facilities Campus Properties Management

Department

OPS Facilities Campus Properties Management

About The Department

Facilities Services supports the mission of the University of Chicago through efforts to maintain and enhance the University campus and environment and provide superior client service to our community including faculty, students, staff, neighbors, and visitors.



Job Summary

Reporting to the Director, Residential Properties, the Facilities Manager is responsible for creating and proactively maintaining partnerships with clients, internal and third party service providers and other University partners in an assigned campus area. The Facilities Manager may directly supervise staff in campus facilities, but primarily accomplishes results by identifying clients’ needs and gaps in service to assist colleagues and vendors in providing appropriate services and prioritizing efforts.

The Facilities Manager has expert knowledge in clients’ business and develops strategies to increase the value that the Facilities Services (FS) organization provides and to minimize the adverse impact FS has on their activities and those of the entire University community. The Facilities Manager is an accomplished communicator and easily transitions and adapts style to his/her environment. Proactive identification of substandard conditions and services and assisting in developing corrective actions are essential to success.

Work is accomplished through regular client interaction and continual observation of the assigned portfolio of facilities and spaces.

Collaborates routinely with engineering shop supervisors, trades shop supervisors, project managers, central utility plants staff, sustainability coordinators, services manager and vendors. Also collaborates with University partners such as Events Services, Environment Health and Safety, Transportation and Parking, etc. as needed.

Facilities Managers may have residence hall or dining facilities within their assigned portfolio or campus region. Facilities management teams, maintenance and housekeeping staff, in strong collaboration with Campus and Student Life (CSL) staff and various support personnel within FS, are responsible for property management for a 3,000-bed residence hall portfolio located in twelve buildings. The work of the unit is seasonal, with time in the spring, summer and early fall to plan and execute student room turnover, short-term conference and guest room activity and common space improvements.

Other seasons have opportunities for planning, inspections, budgeting, preventive repairs, new initiatives, and proactive service delivery.

Responsibilities

• Communicate regularly with clients and service providers to appreciate needs and activities resulting in a comprehensive understanding in order to provide proactive communication and prevent negative impacts.
• Utilize systematic approach to maintain client concerns to ensure timely resolution through judicious escalation when appropriate.
• Create and manage service agreements to ensure clarity in what and how services are provided and what is considered a basic service versus an additional cost.
• Tour prospective tenants through spaces, provide input on leases, manage relationship with tenants, review budgets and prioritize space improvement opportunities (lease administration).
• Develop quantifiable measures of performance and client satisfaction; monitor, communicate and participate in the development of strategies to improve where necessary.
• Provide clients with necessary reports addressing charges (re-charges) and basic service activity as required.
• Evaluate and appropriately advocate for client needs and requests.
• Coordinate small projects requiring single or multiple trades/contractors.
• Conduct regular inspections in assigned facilities and spaces to identify outstanding maintenance needs prior to client escalation and effect resolution.
• Identify operating alterations and renovations projects based on observations and client request.
• Conduct regular inspections in assigned facilities and spaces to compare conditions with standards for activities, such as cleaning.
• Coordinate project work for…