Career Center

As a UW employee, you have a unique opportunity to change lives on our campuses, in our state and around the world. UW employees offer their boundless energy, creative problem solving skills and dedication to build stronger minds and a healthier world.

UW faculty and staff also enjoy outstanding benefits, professional growth opportunities and unique resources in an environment noted for diversity, intellectual excitement, artistic pursuits and natural beauty.

UW Facilities manages the University’s buildings, infrastructure and land, with more than 1,100 employees in a variety of fields. The Asset Management group includes Capital & Space Management, Real Estate, Sustainability and other teams responsible for planning and workload management. The Operations group includes Project Delivery, Maintenance & Construction, Campus Utilities & Operations, Building Services, Transportation Services and Safety. Supporting these groups, as well as the separate Emergency Management team, are the Business Intelligence & Information Technology group and the Finance & Administration group.

Maintenance & Construction (M&C) is responsible for general maintenance, repair, and renovations of all University of Washington (UW) Seattle campus facilities including building interiors, exteriors, and grounds, as well as logistics, moving, and disposal of surplus equipment and furniture. Most work is self-performed by a unionized work force using a combination of geographic zone shops and campus wide trade shops.

We have an outstanding opportunity for an Executive Director, UW Facilities Maintenance & Construction to direct all aspects of the operational, fiscal, planning and personnel activities of Maintenance & Construction, an organization of 385 FTE and biennial funding exceeding $80 million dedicated to the maintenance, repair, alteration, renovation and preservation of Seattle campus buildings (approximately 295 buildings exceeding 14 million gsf) and grounds (643 acres) in support of the University’s teaching, research and public service programs. Directs and ensures well-managed and cost-effective maintenance, alteration, renewal and continual stewardship of valuable and historical facilities with a replacement value of approximately $5.5 billion.

The Executive Director reports directly to the Associate Vice President, Chief Operations Officer for UW Facilities, and directs the work of a Director of Program Operations, four Assistant and Deputy Director level positions for groups managing Customer Care, Material Management, In House Construction, Zone Maintenance shops and Campus wide maintenance shops. The Executive Director sets strategic direction for the organization in concert with UW Facilities and University of Washington strategic objectives, and serves as part of the UW Facilities senior leadership team to. This position coordinates and interacts daily with a wide variety of University constituents, consultants, contractors and regulatory officials.

Primary Duties and Responsibilities

•Direct the development, implementation and application of policies and procedures for all aspects of the operation of Maintenance & Construction, an organization of more than 385 FTE and total funding exceeding $80 million per biennium.
•Proactively ensure that a highly diverse unit of unionized skilled and semi-skilled trades personnel work in an environment that provides equitable and fair treatment and opportunity.
•Prepare and manage an operating / maintenance budget in excess of $55 million per biennium and a customer rechargeable maintenance program for in excess of $13 million per biennium. This includes preparing Capital Budget requests, specifically the Minor Repairs request, for buildings, building infrastructure systems and grounds, development and execution of a campus-wide Preventive Maintenance program and identifying facilities and system deficiencies and/or improvements with appropriate corrective actions.
•Direct personnel administration including broad issues of classification/compensation, recruitment, training, discipline and labor relations (including collective bargaining negotiations). 
•Direct the operation of a self-sustaining alterations unit, accomplishing small alterations projects (<$90,000 improvement value per project) that total more than $11 million per biennium and the self-sustaining Materials Management group conducting moving services and disposal of surplus items with a budget of $2M per biennium. 
•Direct the operation of the elevator, fire alarm shop, grounds, and various maintenance shops as well as the after-hour maintenance response crew.
•Develop and direct initiatives and activities to effect pro-active regulatory compliance, environmental stewardship, and sustainability to achieve the long-term protection and preservation of the environment, the University’s capital assets, and the safety and quality of the workplace.
•Manage day to day customer workflow requests and related responses.
•Represent the organization’s interests in committees both within the University and outside, prepare a variety of technical and management reports suitable for review by top-level leadership and coordinate with heads of major academic departments, administrative departments, government agencies, and private companies regarding a variety of operational facilities issues. 
•Perform emergency planning and preparation.
•Other duties as required

Core Competencies

•Demonstrate an appreciation of, a sensitivity to, and respect for a diverse academic environment, inclusive of students, faculty and staff of many social economic, cultural, ideological, racial and ethnic backgrounds. 
•Demonstrate personal integrity and trustworthiness.
•Manage stressful situations and changing priorities effectively.
•Anticipate, recognize and resolve problems.
•Be responsible and accountable.
•Use organizational skills and provide attention to details.
•Maintain a positive, optimistic, and success-oriented attitude.
•Exercise professionalism, which includes being tactful and courteous.
•Exhibit a professional work ethic.
•Continuously promote a safe work environment.

Requirements include:

•A Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Architecture, Business Administration or a related field, and a minimum of ten years increasingly responsible experience managing a large organization responsible for the maintenance, repair and alterations of building and grounds in a campus setting.
•Management experience in personnel administration, fiscal management, project design and management, and material inventory control.
•Excellent written and oral communication skills are required.
•Demonstrated leadership abilities and effective management skills, including an ability to work effectively in a large and complex organization are essential.
•Possession of a valid Washington State driver’s license.

Equivalent education/experience will substitute for all minimum qualifications except when there are legal requirements, such as a license/certification/registration.

Desired:

•Experience managing complex facilities at a large research university is desirable.


Conditions of Employment:

•Position requires a flexible work schedule to deal with emergency issues and meetings related to University facilities and operations.
•Recurring workloads, seasonal peaks and short lead-time deadlines routinely require work beyond 40 hours per week.
•Must be able to work in a non-smoking environment.
•Partial teleworking is available but regular and predictable on-site attendance is required.


As a UW employee, you will enjoy generous benefits and work/life programs. For a complete description of our benefits for this position, please visit our website, click here.



Application Process:

You will be asked to submit a cover letter AND your response [In a separate “Cover Letter Assessment” to the following (limited to 900 characters)]:

"We would like to know more about your experience with diversity, race and equity, and social justice. Please tell us about your experience engaging and working with diverse communities – particularly in the context of your professional, volunteer, or civic work. Please also address efforts you have made or been involved with to foster diversity competence and understanding."

The application process for UW positions may include completion of a variety of online assessments to obtain additional information that will be used in the evaluation process.  These may include Work Authorization, Cover Letter and/or others.  Any assessments that you need to complete will appear on your screen as soon as you select “Apply to this position”. Once you begin an assessment, it must be completed at that time; if you do not complete the assessment, you will be prompted to do so the next time you access your “My Jobs” page. If you select to take it later, it will appear on your "My Jobs" page to take when you are ready. Please note that your application will not be reviewed, and you will not be considered for this position until all required assessments have been completed.