Facilities Operations Manager - Lincoln University

Austin Grill LLC; Northern (KY); Hybrid; USD 85,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

Lincoln University is seeking an experienced Facilities Operations Manager to support the campus facilities management function in a higher education setting. The role reports to the Director of Facilities and will lead day-to-day operations, special projects, and after-hours response.

Thompson Hospitality, a partner in university facilities services, emphasizes safe, efficient environments and strong service delivery across campus.

Qualifications

• 5+ years of progressive experience in facilities management, operations management, or related field, preferably in higher education.
• 3+ years of supervisory or management experience leading staff, vendors, or multi-trade operations.
• Ability to communicate with engineers, architects, contractors, and campus stakeholders.

Responsibilities

• Coordinate day-to-day campus maintenance, custodial, grounds, fleet, and contracted services.
• Lead in the Director's absence and support after-hours emergencies.
• Manage special projects from planning through closeout and monitor budgets and schedules.
• Oversee vendor and contractor performance, safety, and quality standards.
• Prepare operational reports and cost summaries for leadership.

Skills

Facilities leadership

Vendor management

Budgeting

Communication with stakeholders

Team supervision

Education

Bachelor's degree preferred

Tools

CMMS

Microsoft Office

Work order management

Job description

Overview

Facilities Operations Manager - Facilities Management Lincoln University

Thompson Facilities Services

At Thompson Hospitality, we are committed to delivering high-performance facilities management solutions that create safe, efficient, and well-maintained campus environments. Through leadership, innovation, and operational excellence, Thompson Facilities Services supports colleges and universities in maintaining world-class learning and working spaces. We are currently seeking an experienced Facilities Operations Manager to support facilities management functions on a college campus.

Position Summary

The Facilities Operations Manager serves as a key member of the Facilities Management team and provides direct support to the Director of Facilities. This position is responsible for coordinating day-to-day campus operations, managing special projects, overseeing vendor and contractor performance, and ensuring a high level of service delivery across campus. The Facilities Operations Manager serves as the primary operational lead in the Director's absence and supports after-hours emergency response, critical incidents, and campus operational needs.

Responsibilities

• Assist the Director of Facilities with the daily coordination of campus maintenance, custodial, grounds, fleet, and contracted services
• Serve as the primary operational point of contact and provide leadership in the Director's absence
• Manage day-to-day special projects, facility improvements, renovations, repairs, and campus initiatives from planning through closeout
• Coordinate project schedules, budgets, site activities, contractors, documentation, and communication with campus stakeholders
• Supervise and support technicians, service staff, vendors, and contractors across multiple disciplines
• Ensure timely completion of work orders, preventive maintenance activities, emergency repairs, and operational priorities
• Conduct routine campus inspections to evaluate safety, cleanliness, service quality, and operational readiness
• Monitor vendor and contractor performance to ensure work meets quality, schedule, safety, and cost expectations
• Communicate effectively with university leadership, Housing, Public Safety, Athletics, and other campus stakeholders regarding operational needs and project status
• Assist with operational budgets, expense tracking, labor planning, purchasing, and vendor contract administration
• Utilize CMMS and related systems to monitor work orders, productivity, preventive maintenance, assets, and performance metrics
• Prepare operational reports, project updates, cost summaries, and executive-level information for the Director and university leadership
• Identify and implement process improvements, cost-saving opportunities, and service delivery enhancements
• Respond to after-hours facility emergencies and calls, including building-system failures, utility outages, weather events, fire or life-safety incidents, and other critical campus needs
• Participate in the management on-call rotation and coordinate staff, vendors,, and university contacts during emergency response and recovery
• Promote compliance with safety policies, OSHA requirements, university standards, and applicable regulations

Qualifications

• 5+ years of progressive experience in facilities management, operations management, property management, construction coordination, or a related field; higher education experience preferred
• 3+ years of supervisory or management experience leading staff, vendors, contractors, or multi-trade operations
• Working knowledge of HVAC, plumbing, electrical, mechanical, fire and life-safety, custodial, and grounds operations sufficient to coordinate technical staff and contractors
• Experience coordinating special projects, renovations, facility improvements, or construction-related activities
• Ability to communicate effectively with engineers, architects, contractors, consultants, tradespeople, and nontechnical campus stakeholders
• Experience managing budgets, project costs, vendors, service contracts, and procurement activities
• Familiarity with CMMS platforms, work order management, facilities reporting, and Microsoft Office applications
• Strong leadership, organization, communication, customer service, and problem-solving skills
• Ability to manage competing priorities, make sound operational decisions, and follow issues through completion in a fast-paced campus environment
• Bachelor's degree preferred but not required; an equivalent combination of facilities, construction, operations, military, trade, or project management experience will be considered
• Valid driver's license and ability to respond to campus when required for after-hours emergencies

Physical Requirements

• Ability to walk and inspect multiple campus buildings and outdoor areas regularly
• Occasional lifting up to 50 pounds during inspections or operational needs
• Ability to work in mechanical rooms, outdoor environments, elevated or confined areas, and active construction zones as operationally required
• Extended periods of walking, standing, and navigating campus facilities
• Ability to respond promptly to after-hours calls and emergency facility situations, including evenings, weekends, and holidays when assigned

Who We Are:

Lincoln University is a historically Black university located in Lincoln University, Pennsylvania, USA. Founded in 1854, it is one of the oldest HBCUs in the United States and holds a significant historical legacy in providing education to African American students. Lincoln University offers a diverse range of undergraduate and graduate programs, emphasizing academic excellence, research, and community service

Thompson Hospitality is of the largest restaurants, food service, and facilities management companies in the country. We are highly built upon our values, do the right thing, do the best you can, and treat others how you want to be treated, which are shaped by more than 33 years of relationships with our clients, guests, and communities. We offer competitive benefits, see our website for more. https://www.thompsonhospitality.com/

We are an equal opportunity employer and value diversity. All employment decisions are made based on qualifications, merit, and business needs. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, or any other protected status under applicable federal, state, or local laws.