Senior Building and Lab Manager

Agnello & Rogers; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 75,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

An established industry player is seeking a Senior Building and Lab Manager to oversee operations and maintenance of key facilities. This role involves managing staff, ensuring safety and compliance, and collaborating with research teams to support innovative projects. The ideal candidate will have a strong background in facilities management, exceptional communication skills, and a commitment to delivering top-notch service. Join a dynamic environment where your contributions will directly impact the success of groundbreaking research and development efforts. This is an exciting opportunity to lead and innovate in a vibrant academic setting.

Benefits

Health Benefits

Retirement Plans

Paid Time Off

Professional Development Opportunities

Qualifications

• 5-7 years of experience in building management or facilities operations.
• Knowledge of HVAC, electrical, plumbing, and mechanical systems.

Responsibilities

• Manage day-to-day operations and maintenance of divisional buildings.
• Oversee building security and maintenance activities.
• Collaborate with research teams for technical support.

Skills

Building Management

Facilities Operations

Project Management

Supervisory Skills

Communication Skills

Customer Service

Education

Bachelor or Associate degree in Facilities Management

College or university degree in related field

Tools

Microsoft Office

Facility Management Software

Job description

Department

PSD Space and Infrastructure

About the Department

The Division of the Physical Sciences (PSD) is a division whose history is arguably the richest of any such division in any university in this country. The scientists of the Physical Sciences Division have advanced and defined new fields of discovery, and this tradition of innovation continues today. The division includes the academic departments of Astronomy and Astrophysics, Chemistry, Computer Science, Geophysical Sciences, Mathematics, Physics, and Statistics. In addition, PSD includes a number of interdisciplinary research institutes and centers, including the Enrico Fermi Institute, the James Franck Institute, the Kavli Institute for Cosmological Physics, and the Institute for Biophysical Dynamics. Many of our researchers have joint appointments at Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory and Argonne National Laboratory, as well as joint affiliations with other Chicago based research institutions such as the Toyota Technological Institute of Chicago, Adler Planetarium, the Museum of Science and Industry and the Field Museum, to name a few.

Job Summary

Reporting to the Director of Facilities, the Senior Building and Lab Manager plans, schedules, and oversees the operations and maintenance of divisional buildings, laboratories, utility infrastructure, technical facilities, and equipment in the High Bay Research Building, Michelson Center for Physics, and the PSD portions of the Eckhardt Research Center.

Responsibilities

• Manages day to day operations, policies, procedures to support the strategic mission on the unit.
• Manages a staff of building managers to deliver the highest level of services for the occupants. Provides support to other PSD building managers in their absence or to meet other divisional needs.
• Directs the building managers in overall building operations goals. Helps set up tools and processes to track methods to achieve the highest levels of operational goals.
• Supervises Service Worker(s); trains and coordinates job assignments.
• Leads hiring, onboarding and training of new hires to fulfill business requirements.
• Performs daily inspection of buildings, labs and surrounding grounds for deficiencies and safety issues.
• Oversees building security; which includes electronic access and building keys; serves as the primary liaison with Department of Safety and Security (DSS).
• Oversees and supports building and lab maintenance activities to include painting, carpentry work, mechanical, plumbing, electrical, building automation, electronics systems and equipment, including preventative and general maintenance.
• Oversees mail, package receipt and delivery, movement of equipment and materials.
• Manages outside vendor services including custodial and waste pickup.
• Collaborates with research teams to provide technical support for experiments. Ensure that work aligns with project timelines and quality standards.
• Assists with equipment tagging and audits within assigned unit space.
• Maintains database of occupants, room locations, and other space information as required; Manages online space plans for the University Space Information Management System.
• Manages the planning and execution of office reconfigurations for personnel.
• Supports construction project renovations including participating in meetings with users, architects and/or contractors to ensure compliance with building standards, codes and regulations, and user needs.
• Reviews plans and specifications for construction and recommends appropriate modifications or additions as necessary.
• Maintains unit files and records including building code reports, project reports, and quality control reports.
• Assists with space audits and with future space planning and management for unit needs.
• 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.
• Supervises inspections of buildings, equipment and/or surrounding grounds for deficiencies and potential safety, health, or code problems. Reviews and authorizes written reports summarizing findings and recommends solutions.
• Performs other related work as needed.

Minimum Qualifications

Education: Minimum requirements include a college or university degree in related field or an equivalent combination of education and experience.

Work Experience: Minimum requirements include knowledge and skills developed through 5-7 years of work experience in a related job discipline.

Certifications: ---

Preferred Qualifications

Education:

• Bachelor or Associate degree in Facilities Management, Engineering, or a related field.
• Certification in facilities management (e.g., safety, lab management, or building systems).

Experience:

• Experience in an academic or research-intensive environment.
• Experience in building management, facilities operations, or a related role.
• Supervisory experience.
• Project management experience.

Technical Knowledge or Skills:

• Knowledge of HVAC, electrical, plumbing, and mechanical systems.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office and facility management software.
• Experience with contract and purchasing methodology and terminology.
• Understanding of maintenance practices and safety regulations.
• Experience reading design drawings and submittals.
• Experience with contract and purchasing methodology and terminology.

Preferred Competencies

• Able to develop, implement and monitor budgets and project scheduling.
• Able to develop, implement, and monitor standards necessary to ensure consistent and cost-effective level of facilities design, implementation, control, and evaluation.
• Ability to assess relative strengths of various vendors.
• Strong oral and written communication skills.
• A strong team player willing to pitch in at any level when the need arises.
• Exceptional Customer Service and ability to work with all levels of staff.
• Works mostly independently to create and proactively maintain partnerships with clients, internal and third-party service providers and other University partners in an assigned campus area.
• Ability to work collaboratively with diverse stakeholders, including faculty, researchers, students, and administrators.

Working Conditions

• On-site.
• The ability to take calls on nights and weekends for urgent building related matters.
• Able to travel occasionally to remote survey operation centers.

Application Documents

• Resume (required)
• Cover letter (required)

When applying, the document(s) MUST be uploaded via the My Experience page, in the section titled Application Documents of the application.

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

FLSA Status

Exempt

Pay Range

$75,000.00 - $100,000.00

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.