Facility Operations Manager

City of Norfolk; Virginia (IL); On-site; USD 63,000 - 72,000; Full time

Job summary

The City of Norfolk seeks a dynamic Facility Operations Manager to provide strategic leadership for the Nauticus Campus, including Half Moone Terminal and the USS Wisconsin. You will transition operations from reactive to proactive, safeguarding assets and ensuring safe daily operations.

This role oversees a roughly $500k municipal operating budget for preservation, coordinates CIP projects, ensures ADA/OSHA/fire code compliance, and partners with city departments and contractors to deliver

Qualifications

• Four-year college degree or equivalent required.
• Minimum of 4–5 years in facilities maintenance, property management, or construction trades.
• Familiarity with OSHA standards, local building codes, EPA regulations, and ADA accessibility guidelines.
• Ability to forecast annual operational budgets and track capital expenditures.
• Experience drafting business continuity plans and risk assessment strategies.
• Clear verbal and written reporting skills across organization and with third‑party vendors.

Responsibilities

• Lead development and execution of long‑range maintenance plans for the Nauticus campus components.
• Oversee an approximate 500K municipal operating budget for USS Wisconsin preservation, ship husbandry, and EPA environmental compliance.
• Coordinate all Capital Improvement Projects (CIP) and mitigate project risks while communicating updates to stakeholders.
• Conduct daily site inspections, address hazards, and ensure preventative maintenance to avoid disruptions.
• Serve as liaison with General Services and contractors to ensure on‑time, within‑budget project delivery.
• Ensure ADA, OSHA, and fire code standards are followed across all facilities.
• Act as primary contact for emergencies, coordinating rapid response to incidents affecting staff and guests.
• Chair safety committees, develop SOPs, train staff, and run emergency drills.
• Develop and maintain facility operation manuals for Half Moone Terminal, Maritime Center, and USS Wisconsin.
• Lead multidisciplinary operations team including Security and ship maintenance, with hiring and performance oversight.

Skills

Long-range maintenance planning

HVAC understanding

Electrical wiring knowledge

Plumbing familiarity

Fire life-safety systems

Budget forecasting

Capital expenditures tracking

Risk assessment

Vendor coordination

Safety reporting

Education

Bachelor’s degree

Job description

Norfolk, Virginia is the home to the world's largest naval station and the epicenter for business, arts, and culture in Coastal Virginia. Norfolk has been recognized by numerous publications as an ideal place to live, work, enjoy, and raise a family. The City of Norfolk is dedicated to competitive compensation and a robust retirement package; you can contribute positively to your community while also achieving personal success.

Nauticus is a maritime discovery center located along the waterfront of downtown Norfolk offering a unique form of experiential learning for all ages. Through interactive exhibits and STEM to STERN programming, Nauticus uses the museum, Battleship Wisconsin, sailing center, and Schooner Virginia to tell the story of the maritime environment, industry, and the military.

The Facility Operations Manager serves as the strategic leader responsible for the comprehensive oversight, fiscal health, and operational readiness of the entire Nauticus Campus, including the Half Moone Cruise Terminal, the Maritime Center, and the iconic USS Wisconsin Battleship.

Nauticus is seeking a dynamic leader to drive operational excellence across our historic and high-profile campus. In this role, you will transition operations from reactive to proactive, maximizing asset longevity and ensuring seamless, safe daily operations.

***The department hiring range is $62,732.78 - $71,987.31 annually***

Essential functions include but are not limited to:

USS Wisconsin

• Leads the development and execution of the Battleship Wisconsin’s Long-Range Maintenance Plan, safeguarding hull integrity, teak and steel deck preservation, and the structural and aesthetic stability of the superstructure.
• Works closely and collaboratively with eco consultants and the EPA to ensure compliance with air quality standards.

Budget Management

• Oversee an approximate 500K municipal operating budget for USS Wisconsin preservation, ship husbandry, and EPA environmental compliance.
• Provides input and recommendations to support the development of the capital budgets for all facilities, ensuring every maintenance, preservation, and renovation expenditure aligns with organizational priorities.
• Tracks budget lines to ensure expenditures are within limits and verifying purchase requests before acquisition and preparing requests for proposals.

Facility Liaison

• Coordinates all Capital Improvement Projects (CIP) identifying and mitigating potential project risks and developing contingency plans while communicating all project updates to stakeholders.
• Conduct continuous daily campus site inspections identifying emerging hazards, addressing facility aesthetics, and maintenance issues which may require immediate attention.
• Oversee preventative maintenance schedules are followed to maximize the continuous functionality of essential campus infrastructure to prevent operational disruptions.
• Serves as an expert liaison with General Services and all third-party contractors, optimizing service delivery and ensuring projects are completed on time and within budget.
• Partners with City Departments to guarantee full adherence to ADA, OSHA, and fire code standards.
• Serves as the primary point of contact for on-hour and after-hour emergencies, coordinating rapid responses to incidents such as power failures, fire alarms, elevator/escalator malfunctions, and security threats to protect staff, guests, and critical assets.
• Communicates across all organizational levels, delivering operational briefings, risk updates, and strategic recommendations while ensuring personnel are fully informed of all facility changes that impact safety, operations, or guest experience.
• Chairs all relevant committees to include the safety committee developing comprehensive Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), conducting regular staff training, and executing emergency response drills.
• Develops and maintains facility operation manuals and standard operating procedures for Half Moone Terminal, Maritime Center and USS Wisconsin.
• Leads a multidisciplinary operations team, including Security, and battleship Maintenance Mechanic Team with accountability for maintaining facility‑wide safety, and the preservation of the USS Wisconsin. Accountable for all training, performance management, and hiring.

Events

• Provides hands‑on facility support and logistical coordination for large‑scale campus events like Winterfest.
• Addresses dynamic, real-time facility infrastructure needs during high‑traffic public events as needed.

Work requires broad knowledge in a general professional or technical field. Knowledge is normally acquired through four years of college resulting in a bachelor's degree or equivalent. Three years' experience.

Preferred Candidate Education/Experience:

• Minimum of 4–5 years in facilities maintenance, property management, or construction trades.
• Strong understanding of HVAC, electrical wiring, plumbing, and fire life‑safety systems.
• Familiarity with OSHA standards, local building codes, EPA regulations, and ADA accessibility guidelines.
• Ability to forecast annual operational budgets, track capital expenditures.
• Experience drafting business continuity plans, risk assessment strategies.
• Clear verbal and written skills for reporting across all levels of organization and coordinating with third‑party vendors.
• Ability to walk extensive facility grounds, climb ladders, and navigate tight mechanical rooms.

Preferred Candidate Licenses/Certifications

• Certified Facility Manager (CFM)
• Facility Management Professional (FMP)

Work Location:

One Waterside Drive, Norfolk, VA 23510

Work Hours:

Monday through Friday; 7:30 AM - 4:00 PM; 40 hours; on-call availability, nights and weekends.