Facilities Operations Manager, Research

Are you ready to transform lives through academic excellence, innovative research, strong community partnerships and economic opportunity? Kennesaw State University is one of the 50 largest public institutions in the country. With growing enrollment and global reach, we continue to expand our institutional influence and prominence beyond the state of Georgia. We offer more than 190 undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral degrees to empower our 47,000 students to become thought leaders, lifelong learners, and informed global citizens.

Our entrepreneurial spirit, high‑impact research, and Division I athletics draw students from throughout the region and from more than 100 countries across the globe. Our university's vibrant culture, career opportunities, rich benefits, and values of respect, integrity, collaboration, inclusivity, and accountability make us an employer of choice. We are part of the University System of Georgia. We are searching for talented people to join Kennesaw State University in our vision.

Come Take Flight at KSU!

Location

Our Kennesaw campus is located at 1000 Chastain Road NW, Kennesaw, GA 30144. Our Marietta campus is located at 1100 South Marietta Parkway, Marietta, GA 30060.

Responsible for planning, developing, implementing, and overseeing facilities and services in the assigned buildings, office, college, division, and departments. Services include the oversight of projects, operations, and maintenance. Serves as a resource for faculty, staff, and students to support research, class, and lab needs. Also, ensures the physical resources needed are available to support the university's strategic plans when it comes to teaching, research, and service.

Acts as the liaison with other university units to ensure progress towards campus planning goals.

• Serves as the primary liaison for all facilities related needs, issues and/or concerns in iSTEM Building
• Leads procurement strategy for operational and project-related purchases, conducting market analysis and approving submissions to guarantee cost efficiency and alignment with institutional standards
• Oversees financial governance for building operations, ensuring compliance with college and university policies while optimizing resource utilization and transaction accuracy
• Directs and executes preventive and corrective maintenance programs, safeguarding the integrity and functionality of critical infrastructure and research equipment
• Provides management with periodic review of financial status and progress in assigned projects and activities
• Responsible for developing and administering policies and procedures, budgetary decision‑making, extensive scope and impact of decisions on assigned projects
• Provides oversight to ensure the safe operation of all labs and equipment
• Ensures the highest standards of laboratory safety and compliance, implementing rigorous oversight of equipment operation and hazard mitigation protocols
• Leads and manages assigned staff, driving performance through effective workload distribution, coaching, and adherence to time and attendance standards
• Provides consultative support to faculty and administration, offering operational expertise to advance innovative projects and research initiatives
• Provides project management for special projects
• Evaluates and recommends advanced technologies and equipment upgrades, ensuring continuous improvement of research capabilities and operational efficiency
• Works with faculty, staff, and administration to continually improve lab spaces to meet changing curriculum and hands‑on project requirements
• Collaborates with senior leadership to shape long‑term operational strategies, contributing to the vision and utilization of the iSTEM facility
• Ensures contractors are performing tasks safely and as outlined in the contract
• Ensures the proper maintenance and operation of all equipment in coordination with staff
• Collaborates with other units, when necessary, for approved projects and tasks

Bachelor's degree from an accredited institution of higher education in Facilities management, Civil, Mechanical, Industrial…