POSITION SUMMARY

Reports to the Executive Vice President for Finance and Chief Financial Officer with a dotted line to the President, the Vice President of Facility Services and University Planning is responsible for the comprehensive planning and management of all facilities operations and the physical infrastructure at the University’s main and regional campuses. The Vice President oversees architectural planning and design, capital projects, sustainability and energy management programs, infrastructure maintenance, skilled trades services, landscape design and ground maintenance, and parking and transportation operations. The Vice President of Facility Services and University Planning also provides strategic direction for business activity through sound financial management and staff oversight.

The organizational purview of the Vice President of Facility Services and University Planning extends over five major operational units: Business Services, Facilities Operations, Utility Operations and Energy Management, University Project Administration, and Logistics.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

Departmentwide Leadership

• Provides strategic vision and execution in leading the organization with a strong focus on responsiveness, transparency, and communications. Proactively seeks and considers feedback from the community, stakeholders, and department staff.
• Establishes and maintains positive long-term relationships with executive administrators, faculty, staff, students, and members of a multi-campus community, with the objective of fostering critically important communications, collaborations and partnerships needed for the successful delivery of complex maintenance and capital improvement projects in a shared governance environment.
• Consults on a regular basis with campus constituents to identify needs and services and explores opportunities for operational improvement.
• Develops University and operational policies that cross unit lines consistent with strategic planning initiatives, goals and principles. Works collaboratively with departmental leadership to implement and evaluate policies, identify problems and areas for improvement and additional needs; institutes changes, as needed.
• Responsible for the development and oversight of the operating and capital budgets for all units within the department. Directs the monitoring, review and administration of detailed budgets for all units within Facility Services and University Planning. Responsible for internal allocation, capital funding expenditure approval and the financial success of the department and major initiatives.
• Oversees the selection process for contract personnel, services and activities to assure that satisfactory and acceptable performance standards, specifications, material and labor costs, work schedules, etc. are maintained. Authorizes payment for contracted services in accordance with University policies and procedures.
• Manages staff with the goal of enhancing personal and professional growth.
• Fosters a culture of teamwork across all staff.
• Establishes, assesses, and maintains appropriate staffing levels given current and projected initiatives.

University Planning Centric

• Develops and maintains a comprehensive Master Plan of the physical facilities for long-term periods identifying major land uses, building sites, location of utilities, flood control, parking and transportation, open and recreational spaces, community and residential impact. Ensures renovations, repairs, and construction projects are compliant with the Master Plan and applicable codes.
• Directs the team accountable for performing project designs and plan review to include surveying buildings and inspecting job sites; analyzing and determining scope, potential problems and finalizing details of requirements.
• Proactively ensures University Planning works with end-users and user groups to perform needs assessment for renovations or new construction, review of site, selection, functional usage, building needs and spatial requirements. Ensures designs to meet requirements; evaluates feasibility, risk and cost involved in architectural alternatives. Serves as the principal liaison officer between the University building users, project managers, architects/engineers and retained professionals and contractors.

Facilities Services Centric

• Directs the development and management of the University-wide maintenance and capital improvement plans, including project administration, custodial, and trade services to effectively meet the infrastructure and maintenance needs of the University.
• Oversees implementation of building maintenance repairs and renovation projects. Prioritizes projects and resources to ensure that requested repairs, modifications, and/or maintenance activities are properly accomplished in an economical and timely manner.
• Accountable for utility operations to ensure the University is continuously supplied with sustainably sourced, high reliability water, electricity, steam, chilled water, and reclaimed water services.
• Oversees energy management operations, accountable for implementing energy and water conservation measures to reduce consumption and Greenhouse House Gas emissions.
• Oversees parking and transportation services to include oversight of teams administering parking management and enforcement, vehicle maintenance, busing, and public transportation programs.
• Accountable for the University’s central warehouse, surplus, and mail operations, which includes the receipt, handling, and shipping of various (to include hazardous) materials, the management of the University’s supply chain structure, inventory control, and mail distribution.

EDUCATIONAL REQUIREMENTS

A Bachelor’s degree in Facilities Management, Architecture, Engineering or related discipline.

PROFESSIONAL CREDENTIALS

• Minimum of ten (10) years’ experience with increasing responsibility in Facilities, Project Management or related field, two (2) years of which must be at senior level management.
• Demonstrated experience and the ability to prepare, analyze and manage complex, multi-faceted department/division budgets.
• Extensive experience identifying key issues in complex situations, evaluating options and initiating strategies for resolution.
• Proven ability to build effective operational teams that emphasize teamwork, participation, partnership and collaboration through a variety of direct and indirect strategies to influence desired outcomes.

PREFERRED EDUCATION AND CREDENTIALS

• Master's degree.
• Experience in a senior leadership role in higher education in the public sector or similar environment.
• Experience working in a unionized workforce and managing personnel.
• Licensed engineer or architect in the State of Connecticut or the ability to obtain such licensing through reciprocity from license(s) in another state.