Team Manager - Facilities Management

The Chronicle Of Higher Education, Inc.; Minneapolis (MN); On-site; USD 105,000 - 125,000; Full time

Job summary

University of Minnesota in Minneapolis is seeking a Facilities Manager to direct maintenance and custodial operations across multiple buildings. You will supervise frontline staff, coordinate preventive maintenance, and ensure safety and quality of service on a large campus.

The role emphasizes leadership, budgeting, and collaboration with district operations, aiming to deliver reliable, sustainable facilities services aligned with the university's mission.

Qualifications

• BA/BS degree plus at least eight years of experience.
• Experience leading facilities management teams in a large organization.
• Strong knowledge of preventive maintenance and custodial operations.

Responsibilities

• Oversee maintenance and custodial activities in designated buildings.
• Lead a team of trades and support staff, ensuring safety and compliance.
• Coordinate customer-focused service and respond to on-call rotations.
• Manage budgets, contracts and supplier performance.

Skills

Leadership

Communication

Problem-solving

Team management

Education

BA/BS degree

Tools

COMPASS CMMS

IWMS Tririga

Microsoft Office

Job description

About the Job

Position Overview: Facilities Management is a department within University Services composed of the departments and people who deliver the non-academic operations across the University of Minnesota system. Facilities Management (FM) is responsible for all buildings, grounds and energy management needs of the University of Minnesota Twin Cities campus. FM works to provide a safe, reliable and welcoming campus in support of the University’s teaching, research and outreach mission. FM’s responsibilities include over 25 million square feet in more than 280 buildings across 1200 acres in the Twin Cities. This position is responsible for all maintenance and custodial activities in team building(s) (approximately 2 M gross square feet) and serves as the customer’s single point of contact for daily facilities work. The role focuses on the direct delivery of cleaning and preventive and corrective maintenance in assigned buildings, supervising custodial and maintenance personnel, and supporting customer service and other facilities management functions. Regular meetings with primary building contacts ensure FM meets or exceeds customer expectations. Environmental sustainability initiatives should be integrated into all facilities operations. Reports to the District Associate Director.

Please note: This position is not eligible for H-1B or Green Card sponsorship and does not offer a STEM OPT training program.

Position Responsibilities

Operational (50%)

• Responsible for all maintenance and custodial activities in the assigned area.
• Conducts monthly safety meetings, supervises line staff for safe work practices and program compliance.
• Reviews, revises and manages building-specific preventive maintenance programs for team buildings.
• Monitors building automation systems and takes appropriate action to resolve alarms.
• Conducts routine custodial inspections and assessments of all areas and provides feedback to appropriate personnel.
• Manages line staff time card entry and approval, and approves vacation and sick leave requests of direct reports.
• Responsible for key security and inventory within the crew.
• Monitors and ensures procurement and timely distribution of parts, supplies, tools, uniforms and equipment to work sites.
• Complies with all team manager accountability measures.
• Prepares monthly reports, tracks the team’s performance against established criteria, and takes corrective actions to achieve goals.
• Available to work flexible shifts as determined by the Associate Director and team needs.
• Participates in after-hours/weekend/holiday on-call rotation.

Leadership (25%)

• Participates in the district leadership team to develop strategic direction, set priorities and lead district-wide initiatives.
• Directly leads a work team composed of trades, mechanics, building and grounds workers and/or front-line supervisors.
• Engages consistently with front-line staff for awareness of environment and challenges.
• Assigns work for staff and monitors progress and completed work for quality and timeliness.
• Responsible for hiring, managing compensation, and assigning personnel in assigned areas.
• Monitors and enforces uniform, attendance and employee conduct policies consistently.
• Provides quarterly feedback and annual performance reviews of line staff and direct reports.
• Administers rewards and recognition programs.
• Understands and manages employees per appropriate union contracts.
• Is an active problem solver and identifies areas for improvement, implementing solutions.

Customer Success (15%)

• Serves as the customer’s single point of contact for facilities-related work in team buildings.
• Coordinates and advocates for other facility-related needs within these buildings (capital, security, health and safety, utilities, etc.).
• Promotes customer-focused service in conjunction with other University Services departments.
• Tails service delivery to meet customer/departmental needs based on service level agreements.
• Meets regularly with customers’ building contacts to ensure FM meets or exceeds expectations.
• Upholds and promotes FM’s stewardship and facilities service responsibilities in District Operations by the University of Minnesota.

Finance and Budget (10%)

• Manages labor, supplies, parts and project costs to meet budget targets.
• Manages service work contracts and holds vendors accountable to performance expectations.
• Provides input in the development and management of the team-operating budget.
• Supports the District Associate Director in developing an annual business plan and capital budget based on the institution’s capital plan for team buildings.
• Annually reviews FCA reports for team buildings and updates as needed.

Qualifications

Required Qualifications

• BA/BS degree plus at least eight years of experience.

Preferred Qualifications

• Knowledge of preventive maintenance principles and practices; custodial operations; large-scale facilities maintenance and repair, and automated maintenance planning and scheduling systems.
• Knowledge of large-scale building systems including electrical, plumbing, HVAC, building automation systems, fire alarms, machinery and custodial principles and practices. Prior work as a maintenance mechanic or building operations trades is a plus.
• Ability to manage through subordinate supervisors; lead in a unionized setting; communicate effectively within a diverse customer base; manage conflict; build teams.
• Ability to negotiate with customers and internal/external service delivery partners.
• Ability to lead, manage and direct activities toward goals; effective oral and written communication, analytical/problem-solving and conflict resolution skills.
• Ability to utilize CMMS (currently COMPASS) and other job-related software tools and transition to IWMS (Tririga).
• Ability to apply technology-based tools to collect, interpret and analyze critical management information.
• Knowledge of Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint).
• Ability to foster a cohesive, collaborative and independent team environment that can make decisions efficiently.
• Demonstrated problem-solving skills and the ability to develop practical solutions.
• Proven ability to motivate employees and build effective teams.

Physical and Environmental Requirements

70-80% of work is performed in the field, with 20-30% in a general office setting. This role may involve exposure to equipment and machine areas, hot/cold conditions, extreme weather, tunnels and confined spaces.

Pay and Benefits

Pay Range: $105,000 - $125,000 per year, depending on education/qualifications/experience.

Time Appointment: 100% Appointment

Position Type: P&A Staff

Please note: The University offers a comprehensive benefits package that includes: competitive wages, paid holidays, time off, professional development opportunities, health plans, flexible spending accounts, retirement plans, loan forgiveness opportunities, and more.

How To Apply

Applications must be submitted online. To be considered, click Apply and follow the instructions to complete the online application and attach a resume and cover letter. Additional documents may be attached after application via the My Job Applications page.

Required application materials:

• Resume
• Cover letter

For accommodation during the application process, please email [e-mail] or call [phone].

Diversity

The University recognizes and values diversity and inclusion in enriching the employment experience and supporting the academic mission. The University is committed to attracting and retaining employees with varying identities and backgrounds. The University of Minnesota provides equal access and opportunity without regard to race, color, creed, religion, national origin, gender, age, marital status, disability, public assistance status, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression. Diversity information is available on the university diversity site.

Employment Requirements

Any offer of employment is contingent upon successful completion of a background check. Applicants are presumed eligible to work here; criminal convictions do not automatically disqualify finalists.

About the University

The University of Minnesota, Twin Cities (UMTC) is among the largest public research universities in the country, offering undergraduate, graduate, and professional study opportunities. Located in a vibrant metropolitan area with extensive partnerships across health centers, industry, government, and nonprofit sectors. The university has been recognized as a top employer for culture, women, and regional excellence.