Vice President for Operations

Trine University - Fort Wayne; Angola (IN); On-site; USD 180,000 - 260,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health – medical, dental, vision

Retirement plan with employer contributions

Life insurance options

Education benefits for employees and dependents

Vacation and Sick Pay

Job summary

A leading university in Indiana is seeking a Vice President for Operations. This role involves providing strategic oversight for campus facilities, safety, and capital projects while ensuring alignment with the university's mission. The ideal candidate will have extensive leadership experience in facilities management and a Bachelor's degree in a related field. The university offers a competitive salary, and a comprehensive benefits package including health insurance and retirement plans.

Qualifications

• Minimum of ten years of progressive leadership experience.
• Strong experience managing large operational and capital budgets.
• Demonstrated experience managing capital construction projects.
• Experience overseeing multidisciplinary teams and major capital projects.

Responsibilities

• Serve as a strategic advisor to the President and Cabinet.
• Lead development and execution of the University’s campus master plan.
• Provide executive leadership for all campus facilities operations.
• Ensure regulatory compliance, risk management, and safety standards across all units.
• Foster collaboration across divisions and with the President's Cabinet.

Skills

Leadership experience in facilities management

Capital construction project management

Financial acumen

Excellent communication skills

Executive communication

Strategic planning

Safety compliance

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Facilities Management, Engineering, Construction Management, Business Administration

Job description

The Vice President for Operations serves as a senior executive leader and member of the President’s Cabinet, providing strategic oversight and executive leadership for campus facilities, infrastructure, safety, auxiliary enterprises, and capital construction initiatives. This role is responsible for institutional campus planning strategy, stewardship of physical assets, and oversight of major capital projects. The Vice President ensures operational excellence, financial discipline, regulatory compliance, and alignment of facilities and auxiliary operations with the University’s academic mission and long‑term strategic goals.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

Executive Leadership & Institutional Strategy

• Serve as a strategic advisor to the President and Cabinet on infrastructure, safety, auxiliary operations, and campus development.
• Lead development and execution of the University’s campus master plan.
• Provide long‑range planning for facilities renewal, deferred maintenance, and capital expansion.
• Present operational and capital updates to executive leadership and Board committees.
• Align operational strategy with institutional growth, enrollment trends, and academic priorities.

Facilities & Campus Operations Oversight

• Provide executive leadership for all campus facilities operations including maintenance, utilities, grounds, custodial services, transportation, and minor construction.
• Ensure high standards of safety, cleanliness, aesthetics, and operational efficiency.
• Oversee preventative maintenance programs and asset lifecycle planning.
• Implement energy management and sustainability initiatives.
• Establish performance benchmarks and service excellence standards across operational units.

Campus Safety & Risk Management

• Oversee campus safety operations and emergency preparedness planning.
• Ensure compliance with federal, state, and local safety regulations.
• Lead crisis response coordination and risk mitigation strategies.
• Collaborate with University leadership and legal counsel on institutional risk matters.
• Lead the University’s risk management committee.

Auxiliary Enterprises & Revenue‑Generating Operations

• Provide executive oversight of Zollner Golf Course and Thunder Ice Arena as University auxiliary enterprises.
• Ensure financial performance, operational excellence, and strong customer service standards.
• Develop strategies to increase revenue generation and community engagement.
• Align auxiliary enterprise operations with institutional branding and mission.

Capital Projects & Construction Management

• Lead planning, design, and execution of major capital and construction projects.
• Oversee architect, engineer, contractor, and vendor relationships.
• Ensure projects are delivered on time, within scope, and within budget.Collaborate with Finance and Advancement on capital funding strategies.
• Monitor project quality, regulatory compliance, and long‑term operational impact.
• Develop and manage operational and capital budgets for assigned divisions.
• Prioritize deferred maintenance and capital improvements using data‑informed analysis.
• Identify cost efficiencies and operational improvements.
• Oversee procurement processes and major service contracts related to operations and construction.

Leadership & Organizational Development

• Provide leadership, mentorship, and accountability for direct reports and their teams. Direct reports are:
  • Director of Environmental Services & Transportation (Housekeeping, Grounds, Fleet Management)
  • Director of Campus Operations & Minor Construction
  • Director of Campus Safety
  • Director of Golf Operations / Head Professional – Zollner Golf Course
  • Rink Manager – Thunder Ice Arena
• Foster a culture of collaboration, safety, service excellence, and continuous improvement.
• Support workforce development and succession planning within operational units.
• Promote cross‑divisional collaboration to advance institutional objectives.

Qualifications:

Minimum of ten (10) years of progressive leadership experience in facilities management, construction, operations, or complex institutional administration. Demonstrated experience managing capital construction projects and multi‑department teams. Strong financial acumen and experience managing large operational and capital budgets. Excellent communication and executive leadership skills.

Education & Experience:

Bachelor’s degree in Facilities Management, Engineering, Construction Management, Business Administration, or related field required.

Trine University offers a comprehensive benefit package designed to provide a variety of choices to best fit your needs and the needs of your family. Benefits offered include:

• Health – medical, dental, vision, prescription drugs, flex spending or HSA accounts
• Retirement – after one year of full‑time service, you are eligible for employer contribution of 5% and up to an additional 5% employer match
• Life Insurance – a variety of voluntary life options are available along with employee life insurance (1½ times annual salary)
• Education – after 6 months of full‑time service education benefits are available for employee, spouse, and dependent children
• Vacation and Sick Pay – in accordance with Trine's policy

The salary is competitive and commensurate with experience and qualifications.

Trine University is an equal opportunity employer. Applicants are considered for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, age, disability, national origin, genetic information, citizenship status, military status, or any other basis prohibited by law, unless such basis constitutes a bona fide occupational qualification. Trine will comply with its legal obligation to provide reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities and for religious beliefs.