Department

SSD: Academic Administration: Staff and Temporary Employees

About the Department

Consistently ranked among the top ten social science research universities in the world, the Division of Social Sciences has repeatedly transformed the social sciences since its founding in 1930. The Division leverages its facilities to support and enhance its research and teaching missions. Comprised of faculty offices, research laboratories, meeting and collaboration rooms, and related support spaces, the Division’s facilities total approximately 1,000 rooms (200,000 square feet) across 20 campus buildings.

Job Summary

The job manages a team of professional staff responsible for facility development, maintenance, policies, procedures and expansion to support the strategic mission of the unit. Manages day-to-day operations of facilities services, safety, and maintenance.

Reporting to the Associate Dean and Chief of Staff, the Director of Divisional Facilities will oversee and execute on the development of complex and highly technical space plans and layouts for all SSD space across 20 buildings on the University of Chicago campus. This position provides leadership and direction for the ongoing facilities needs and capital projects delivery process, from the design phase through commissioning and close-out. The role is responsible for managing the maintenance, construction and renovation of physical assets and bringing assets online in the most efficient and effective manner. The Director will work with faculty and staff to plan and design lab, research, administrative, and other spaces, and develop schedule and budget estimates that meet the tactical and strategic long-range goals of the SSD. The Director will oversee and respond to the general day-to-day operations of SSD facilities, maintain a log of projects underway, track budgets, and keep a current roster of SSD units and departments and contacts within each SSD building.

Responsibilities

• Leads the development of complex and highly technical space plans and layouts for the renovation, infrastructure augmentation, and/or remodeling of office space, research labs, core facilities, and teaching labs.

• Works with the Associate Dean and leadership on the assignment of space. 

• Maintains a database of architectural, infrastructure, and technical plans.

• Instrumental in the strategic considerations, design and development of expansion space and future infrastructure.

• Ensures operational and commissioning standards compliance from internal and external project delivery partners to highly sophisticated and sensitive research environments. Guides Facility Service  delivery in maintenance work and in unusual/high-risk and/or high-impact research environments.

• Oversees, as needed, the reconfiguration of all SSD-assigned office and administrative spaces and relocation of Faculty and their research from one space to another, including the development of logistics plans and coordinating the transfer of specialty scientific equipment and/or hazardous materials.

• Inspects work performed by University of Chicago facilities or other designated 3rd party facilities management vendors and provides technical assistance to ensure operational compliance within tight control parameters.

• Troubleshoots and competently advises on repair of direct design or implements technical solutions with moderate guidance from the Associate Dean and/or Dean.

• Demonstrates familiarity with monitoring and assessing power consumption, cooling, HVAC, and other mechanical needs. Responds to environmental fluctuations swiftly, to ensure maintenance of tightly controlled humidity, temperature, airflow, and other systems, and prevent compromise of experiments due to system failure with an unshakable 'Safety First' mindset. 

• Assists researchers with the planned installation of rarefied and highly technical equipment, including space and/or infrastructural renovation to accommodate them.

• Routinely conducts inspections of the building for deficiencies scans space for improvements and works with faculty and Divisional leadership to build out capital projects to address any identified deficiencies. Tracks maintenance and repairs and installations in labs and works to identify and mitigate potential disruption to ongoing research due to environmental perturbation (EM/vibration/noise/dust, etc.).

• Oversees divisional space data  semiannually to ensure informational accuracy and regulatory compliance essential for space audits, indirect cost negotiations, and Division-wide planning.

• Monitors the development of functional/architectural design solutions. Manages, plans and participates in multi-unit teams addressing space use and space planning issues. Manages consultants and consultant selection process; negotiates and manages contracts, budgets and capital renovation projects.

• Works with Campus Security and Facility Services to ensure real-time awareness of all natural disaster and/or safety incidents which occur in any SSD building, and is point person for resolution and communication of these incidents to the relevant faculty, staff, and students.

• Develops facilities maintenance policies and procedures. Plans renovation and other facilities-related projects, including ensuring projects are completed on time and within budget. Receives requests for facilities services and supervises delivery of appropriate services.

• Manages movement of equipment and materials, maintains building security, and maintains information on building blueprints, space utilization data and equipment.

• Performs other related work as needed.

Minimum Qualifications

Education:

Minimum requirements include a college or university degree in related field.

Work Experience:

Minimum requirements include knowledge and skills developed through 7+ years of work experience in a related job discipline.

Certifications:

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Preferred Qualifications

Education:

• Bachelor's degree, preferably in facilities planning, design, architecture, or engineering, or in a social sciences discipline.

Experience:

• Preference for candidates with formal training or experience in project management and space planning or a willingness to take formal training as employer-sponsored professional development.
• Five years of experience with facilities planning and management, preferably in a university setting.
• Professional experience working in higher education.

Preferred Competencies

• Knowledge of building operations and building codes and building automation systems.
• Familiarity with general business practices.
• Demonstrated ability to create and modify space plans using CAD or similar modeling tools.
• Ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously, set priorities, and meet deadlines.
• Budget management skills. Knowledge of relevant building systems and maintenance techniques.
• Ability to read and interpret documents such as blueprints, safety rules, operating and maintenance instructions, and procedure manuals. Analytical skills. Decision-making skills.
• Verbal and written communication skills. Customer service skills. Negotiations skills. Ability to work independently with a high degree of initiative and as part of a team.
• Proficiency with computers. Demonstrated problem-solving skills. Ability to effectively manage multiple projects simultaneously while meeting schedule and budget goals.
• Ability to work collaboratively and effectively across the division and university. Ability to manage independently as well as work effectively with others.
• Demonstrated experience communicating project status. Demonstrated effective organizational skills.
• Excellent and highly detailed project management skills and the ability to work with and continually communicate with many consituencies.

Working Conditions

• On-call and available to work nights, weekend, and holidays as necessary.

Application Documents

• Resume/CV (required)
• Cover Letter (required)
• Professional References Contact Information (3) (required)

Job Family

Facilities Management

Role Impact

People Manager

Scheduled Weekly Hours

37.5

Drug Test Required

No

Health Screen Required

No

Motor Vehicle Record Inquiry Required

No

Pay Rate Type

Salary

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FLSA Status

Exempt

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Pay Range

$130,000.00 - $150,000.00

The included pay rate or range represents the University’s good faith estimate of the possible compensation offer for this role at the time of posting.

Benefits Eligible

Yes

The University of Chicago offers a wide range of benefits programs and resources for eligible employees, including health, retirement, and paid time off. Information about the benefit offerings can be found in the Benefits Guidebook.

Posting Statement

The University of Chicago is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, or expression, national or ethnic origin, shared ancestry, age, status as an individual with a disability, military or veteran status, genetic information, or other protected classes under the law. For additional information please see the University's Notice of Nondiscrimination.

 

Job seekers in need of a reasonable accommodation to complete the application process should call 773-702-5800 or submit a request via Applicant Inquiry Form.

 

All offers of employment are contingent upon a background check that includes a review of conviction history.  A conviction does not automatically preclude University employment.  Rather, the University considers conviction information on a case-by-case basis and assesses the nature of the offense, the circumstances surrounding it, the proximity in time of the conviction, and its relevance to the position.

 

The University of Chicago's Annual Security & Fire Safety Report (Report) provides information about University offices and programs that provide safety support, crime and fire statistics, emergency response and communications plans, and other policies and information. The Report can be accessed online at: http://securityreport.uchicago.edu. Paper copies of the Report are available, upon request, from the University of Chicago Police Department, 850 E. 61st Street, Chicago, IL 60637.