Deputy Director of Facilities & Operational Services

The Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) is seeking a strategic and experienced leader to serve as the Deputy Director of Facilities and Operational Services. Reporting to the Director of Operational Services, this position provides statewide leadership for facility operations, operational support services, business continuity, and emergency preparedness efforts that support the agency's mission and service delivery across Nebraska.

This role is primarily focused on the oversight and continuous improvement of facility operations and operational services across a diverse portfolio of office locations, healthcare facilities, and 24-hour environments. The Deputy Director will partner with agency leadership, facility administrators, and operational teams to support safe, efficient, and reliable operations while advancing long-term operational and facility priorities.

Under the leadership of the Director of Operational Services, this individual will contribute by:

• Providing oversight for facility operations, maintenance planning, infrastructure improvements, and operational support services across DHHS facilities statewide.
• Collaborating with division leadership, facility administrators, and operational teams to ensure facilities are safe, functional, compliant, and capable of supporting uninterrupted service delivery.
• Contributing to the development, implementation, and ongoing evaluation of emergency preparedness programs, including Continuity of Operations Plans (COOP), Emergency Action Plans, training exercises, and incident response coordination.
• Conducting operational assessments, facility reviews, after-action evaluations, and continuous improvement activities to strengthen agency resilience and operational effectiveness.
• Leading long-term facility planning efforts, including capital improvement initiatives, space utilization assessments, infrastructure modernization, and operational enhancement projects.
• Developing and implementing strategies to improve facility performance, operational efficiency, workplace safety, and customer service across agency locations.
• Providing oversight and direction for physical security programs, facility access controls, security assessments, and operational readiness initiatives.
• Contributing to agency fleet management efforts, including vehicle utilization, replacement planning, safety standards, compliance requirements, and operational effectiveness.
• Monitoring facility-related regulatory requirements and ensuring compliance with applicable state, federal, accreditation, and life-safety standards.
• Providing oversight of agency safety programs, promoting a culture of workplace safety through policy development, training, risk mitigation, and continuous improvement initiatives.
• Coordinating with local, state, and federal partners regarding facility operations, safety, emergency preparedness, and security-related initiatives.

Minimum Qualifications: Bachelor’s degree in Facilities Management, Business Administration, Public Administration, Construction Management, Engineering, Operations Management, Emergency Management, or a related field, and a minimum of five years of progressive leadership experience in facility operations, building maintenance, infrastructure management, operational services, security administration, emergency management, or related fields

NOTE:

Leadership experience may be substituted for the educational requirement on a year-for-year basis.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Relevant certifications such as Certified Facility Manager (CFM), Facility Management Professional (FMP), Project Management Professional (PMP), Certified Emergency Manager (AEM/CEM), Certified Protection Professional (CPP), OSHA certifications, or similar
• Demonstrated experience leading cross‑functional teams and coordinating operations across multiple facilities, locations, or divisions.
• Experience developing and implementing emergency preparedness programs, continuity planning, and incident response protocols.
• Knowledge of physical security programs, access control systems, fleet operations, or environmental health and safety practices.