Building Services Director

University of Michigan; Ann Arbor (MI); Hybrid; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

The University of Michigan School of Public Health seeks a Building Services Director to provide strategic leadership and operational oversight for more than 300,000 square feet across three buildings. This role leads the facilities team to ensure a responsive and safe physical environment for education, research, and public service missions.

Reporting to School leadership, the director will develop long-term facilities strategies, manage budgets and vendors, and collaborate with faculty, EH&S,

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in facilities management, engineering, architecture, construction management, business administration, or a related field.
• 8+ years of facilities management experience in a large, complex organization with capital or renovation projects.
• At least 1 year of experience leading and developing teams.
• Knowledge of facilities and laboratory safety, regulatory compliance, and emergency preparedness.
• Ability to manage budgets, service providers, and partnerships across diverse teams.
• Experience with construction, renovation, space planning, and capital projects.

Responsibilities

• Develop long-term facilities strategies aligned with the School's priorities.
• Advise leadership on space utilization, infrastructure renewal, deferred maintenance, operational risk, and capital investments.
• Lead a customer-focused facilities team and direct daily operations, including building maintenance, custodial and grounds services, shipping and receiving, room scheduling, event support, access control, laboratory infrastructure, and shared equipment.
• Establish service standards and ensure resolution of maintenance and operational issues.
• Partner with faculty, researchers, laboratory managers, and Environment, Health & Safety to support safe and compliant research environments.
• Manage laboratory renovations, relocations, start-ups, specialized utilities and equipment, hazardous waste activities, and regulatory inspections.
• Represent the School on construction, renovation, infrastructure, space-planning, and capital projects from planning through occupancy.
• Lead facilities-related emergency preparedness, continuity planning, building security, and incident response.
• Develop and administer the facilities budget and oversee contracts, procurement, service agreements, and vendor relationships.
• Use operational metrics, financial data, and customer feedback to improve services and resource stewardship.

Skills

8+ years facilities management

1 year leadership experience

laboratory safety & compliance

budgeting & vendor management

space planning & project coordination

Education

Bachelor's degree in facilities management / related field

Job description

Job Summary

Since 1941, the University of Michigan School of Public Health has pursued a healthier, more equitable world through education, research, and action. The School educates more than 1,000 students and includes more than 170 faculty and researchers across six academic departments and numerous centers and institutes.

The Building Services Director provides strategic leadership and operational oversight for more than 300,000 square feet of research, laboratory, instructional, and administrative space across three buildings. The Building Services Director will lead the facilities team and ensure the School's physical environment is responsive to its education, research, and public service missions.

Responsibilities

• Develop long-term facilities strategies aligned with the School's academic, research, and administrative priorities


• Advise School leadership on space utilization, infrastructure renewal, deferred maintenance, operational risk, and capital investments


• Lead a customer-focused facilities team and direct daily operations, including building maintenance, custodial and grounds services, shipping and receiving, room scheduling, event support, access control, laboratory infrastructure, and shared equipment


• Establish service standards and ensure resolution of maintenance and operational issues


• Partner with faculty, researchers, laboratory managers, and Environment, Health & Safety to support safe and compliant research environments


• Manage laboratory renovations, relocations, start-ups, specialized utilities and equipment, hazardous waste activities, and regulatory inspections


• Represent the School on construction, renovation, infrastructure, space-planning, and capital projects from planning through occupancy


• Lead facilities-related emergency preparedness, continuity planning, building security, and incident response


• Develop and administer the facilities budget and oversee contracts, procurement, service agreements, and vendor relationships


• Use operational metrics, financial data, and customer feedback to improve services and resource stewardship

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in facilities management, engineering, architecture, construction management, business administration, or a related field, or an equivalent combination of education and experience


• 8+ years of progressively responsible facilities management experience in a large, complex organization, including capital or renovation projects, space planning, budgets, and service providers


• At least 1 year of experience leading and developing teams


• Knowledge of facilities and laboratory safety, regulatory compliance, and emergency preparedness


• Understand complex projects, manage budgets and service providers, and establish effective partnerships across diverse teams and organizations


• Assess complex operational issues, prioritize solutions, and lead effective responses to facilities-related disruptions or emergencies

Why Work at Michigan?

Benefits

• Generous paid time off


• A retirement plan with two-for-one matching contributions and immediate vesting


• A variety of comprehensive health insurance options


• Life insurance


• Long-term disability coverage


• Flexible spending accounts for healthcare and dependent care expenses

Modes of Work

Positions that are eligible for hybrid or mobile/remote work mode are at the discretion of the hiring department. Work agreements are reviewed annually at a minimum and are subject to change at any time, and for any reason, throughout the course of employment. Learn more about the work modes.

Work Schedule

This position requires regular on-site presence and movement throughout academic, research, laboratory, mechanical, and construction areas. Occasional early-morning, evening, night, weekend, or after-hours emergency response may be required. Reasonable accommodations will be provided to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the position's essential functions.

Application Deadline

Job openings are posted for a minimum of seven calendar days. The review and selection process may begin as early as the eighth day after posting. This opening may be removed from posting boards and filled any time after the minimum posting period has ended.

U-M EEO Statement

The University of Michigan is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We are committed to providing an environment of mutual respect where equal employment opportunities are available to all applicants, including protected veterans and individuals with disabilities.