Description:
Job Description Summary:
The Executive Director of Facilities Operations and Engineering provides executive leadership, technical direction, and business process oversight for facilities engineering, operations, and maintenance across Samuel Merritt University's Oakland, Sacramento, Fresno, Foster City, and future campus locations. Supported by a multi-disciplinary team of managers, engineers, and facilities staff, this position owns the strategic direction, capital planning, engineering standards, and financial and vendor stewardship of University building systems and physical infrastructure, while ensuring safe, code-compliant, accessible, and sustainable facilities that support SMU's educational, clinical, research, and administrative missions.
The Executive Director serves as the University's senior facilities executive and is accountable to the Deputy Chief Operating Officer & CIO for the strategic performance, regulatory compliance, and fiscal responsibility of the Facilities Management enterprise. This position is the University's primary facilities advisor to executive leadership on infrastructure investment, capital strategy, engineering standards, and risk management, and is responsible for ensuring University facilities and building systems are designed, maintained, and operated consistent with applicable California codes and regulations, including the California Building Standards Code (Title 24, California Code of Regulations), Cal/OSHA occupational safety requirements (Title 8, California Code of Regulations), the California Fire Code, CalGreen sustainability standards, California's accessibility standards (Title 24, Chapter 11B, harmonized with the Americans with Disabilities Act), and applicable local Authority Having Jurisdiction (AHJ) requirements in each city SMU operates in.
This is an essential position that may be called upon to lead the University's response in the event of an emergency and/or university closure.
Duties and Responsibilities:
Essential Duties and Responsibilities
Strategic Leadership and Executive Oversight (25%)
- Provide executive leadership, technical direction, and business process oversight for Facilities Engineering, Operations, and Maintenance on a systemwide basis.
- Develop and implement short- and long-range facilities strategic plans, departmental goals, service standards, and key performance indicators (KPIs).
- Serve as the University's primary facilities advisor to executive leadership on infrastructure investment, capital strategy, and operational performance.
- Establish and maintain departmental governance frameworks, policies, standards, and operational governance for Facilities Management.
- Direct organizational planning, workforce development, and succession planning for the Facilities Management enterprise.
- Provide executive direction, coaching, and performance oversight to the Director of Facilities and departmental managers.
- Promote a University-wide culture of accountability, customer service, innovation, and continuous improvement.
Capital Planning and Engineering Oversight (20%)
- Oversee, direct, and perform capital planning and engineering review for University facilities, building systems, and physical infrastructure.
- Develop and maintain multi-year capital improvement plans addressing deferred maintenance, alterations, repairs, and building system replacement.
- Provide engineering support for operations, maintenance, and capital planning activities, and ensure design and construction work complies with the California Building Standards Code (Title 24 CCR), applicable energy code requirements, and local Authority Having Jurisdiction requirements.
- Participate in University capital planning processes for renovation, expansion, campus activation, and academic growth initiatives.
- Advance the University's education, clinical, and research missions by ensuring a welcoming, safe, and accessible physical environment consistent with the Americans with Disabilities Act and California accessibility standards (Title 24, Chapter 11B).
- Sponsor return-on-investment and total-cost-of-ownership analyses for major capital and infrastructure projects.
Facilities Operations, Maintenance, and Technology Governance (15%)
- Direct the effective use of technology — including the University's work order and computerized maintenance management system (e.g., TeamDynamix (TDX)) — in maintenance and operations processes.
- Oversee the design, implementation, and continuous improvement of the University's maintenance work order system and preventive maintenance program.
- Establish enterprise service levels, KPIs, and performance dashboards for facilities operations and maintenance to ensure effective, accessible, and sustainable building system operations.
- Ensure timely, effective, efficient, and professional customer service for campus users across all locations.
- Oversee University-wide emergency response and business continuity planning for facilities operations.
Financial Stewardship and Business Operations (15%)
- Develop, own, and administer operating and capital budgets for the Facilities Management enterprise.
- Review and approve significant contracts, purchase requests, and expenditures; approve capital project funding recommendations.
- Establish financial controls, procurement governance standards, and pre-spend review processes for the department.
- Serve as the University's primary business partner for major facilities, utility, and infrastructure vendor and service-provider relationships, holding contract strategy, negotiation, and final approval authority while delegating day-to-day administration as appropriate.
- Ensure responsible stewardship of University financial resources and assets.
Compliance, Safety, and Risk Management (15%)
- Ensure University-wide compliance with applicable federal, state, and local regulations governing facilities, including Cal/OSHA (Title 8 CCR), the California Building Standards Code (Title 24 CCR), ADA and California accessibility standards, NFPA standards, EPA regulations, and applicable accreditation requirements.
- Direct the University's response to regulatory inspections, audits, and corrective action programs at the executive level.
- Own emergency preparedness, disaster recovery, and business continuity planning for Facilities Management, and serve as an essential-personnel executive during emergencies and University closures.
- Escalate and resolve material compliance, safety, or risk issues, and report status to executive leadership.
Leadership and Staff Development (10%)
- Recruit, develop, mentor, and evaluate senior facilities leadership, including the Director of Facilities and departmental managers.
- Build a culture of accountability, respect, safety, customer service, and continuous improvement across the Facilities Management enterprise.
- Foster a collaborative and inclusive work environment and lead workforce and succession planning for the department.
Minimum Qualifications
Education
Bachelor's degree from an accredited institution in one of the following fields:
- Organizational Management
OR
An equivalent combination of education, technical training, certifications, military experience, and progressively responsible facilities leadership experience may be substituted for the degree requirement.
Degree Equivalency
- Associate Degree + 15 years related leadership experience
- No Degree + 18 years progressive facilities leadership experience
- Military facilities management or engineering leadership experience may be considered equivalent.
Experience
- Minimum ten (10) years of progressively responsible leadership experience in facilities management, engineering, operations and maintenance, utilities, or public administration, including at least six (6) years in a senior management or executive capacity overseeing multi-site or multi-campus operations.
- Planning, organizing, implementing, and evaluating facilities projects, programs, and initiatives at an enterprise level.
- Leadership of maintenance, capital planning, business, and financial operations.
- Strategic planning, design, and deployment of facilities and infrastructure programs.
- Experience administering multi-million-dollar operating and capital budgets.
- Experience administering enterprise vendor and service contracts.
- Resolving conflict and addressing competing interests among stakeholders.
- Building accountability, respect, and performance within a team.
- Process improvement leadership.
- Editing and writing business correspondence using proper grammar and punctuation, as demonstrated in application materials.
- Collecting and analyzing data, summarizing findings, and generating strategies for executive leadership.
- Experience leading facilities operations in higher education, healthcare, corporate, or multi-campus environments preferred.
Required Other
- Must possess a valid driver's license and be able to meet policy requirements for driving University vehicles.
- Ability to travel regularly among SMU campuses.
- Ability to work nonstandard business hours and respond to emergencies and University closures.
Preferred Qualifications
Advanced Degrees
- Master's degree in Engineering, Organizational Management, Construction Management, Architecture, Public Administration, Business Administration, Project Management, or a related field.
Experience
- Higher education, healthcare, or multi-campus operational leadership experience.
- Experience in FITWELL, and California/International Energy Code (Title 24, Part 6) compliance.
- Experience with district- and building-level utility systems.
- Experience applying project management principles to cross-functional projects or change initiatives.
- Experience developing executive performance dashboards and reporting programs.
- Excellent writing and analytical skills.
- Proactive, strategic approach to work with a strong commitment to quality, efficiency, and effectiveness.
- Expertise in prioritizing workflow and managing resources across multiple campuses.
- Ability to interact with and influence stakeholders at the most senior levels of the University and to work collaboratively across functions, levels, and departments toward shared objectives.
- Commitment to community engagement as a representative of the University and Facilities Management team.
Preferred Systems & Tools Experience
- Business Intelligence and Reporting Tools, Power BI preferred
Required Certifications
(At hire or obtained within 24 months of employment)
- Current Professional Engineer (PE) license, OR
- APPA Certified Educational Facilities Professional (CEFP) credential, OR
- Certified Facility Manager (CFM) (IFMA)
- OSHA 30-Hour General Industry Certification.
Preferred Certifications
- Project Management Professional (PMP) certification
- IFMA Facility Management Professional (FMP)
- Lean Six Sigma Green Belt
- Certified Healthcare Facility Manager (CHFM)
Core Competencies
Leadership & Strategy
Executive Leadership • Strategic Planning • Organizational Development • Change Management • Executive Presence • Talent Development
Facilities & Engineering
Facilities Engineering • Asset Management • Capital Planning • Space Management • Maintenance Operations Governance
Financial & Contract Management
Financial Management • Budget Development & Forecasting • Capital ROI Analysis • Enterprise Contract & Vendor Strategy • Strategic Sourcing
Compliance and Safety
California Building Standards Code (Title 24 CCR) • Cal/OSHA (Title 8 CCR) • California Fire Code / NFPA • ADA & California Accessibility Standards (Title 24, Ch. 11B) • EPA Regulations • Risk Management & Emergency Preparedness
Technology & Analytics
Business Intelligence Platforms • Executive Dashboard Reporting • CMMS/Work Order System Governance • Data-Driven Decision Making
Physical Requirements & Working Environments
- Ability to work outdoors and indoors in inclement weather and conditions.
- Ability to move about and between venues and campuses for extended periods, up to a full day of work.
Office Location: Oakland Campus – Onsite
- This is an onsite position based in Oakland, CA, requiring regular in-office presence to support daily operations, collaboration, and student or team engagement.
- Work is performed primarily on campus in a dynamic academic environment, with direct interaction across multidisciplinary teams.
Employee Status:
Regular
Exemption Status:
United States of America (Exempt)
Time Type:
Full time
Job Shift:
Pay Range:
The anticipated annual salary range for this exempt position is $170,000 – $185,000. The actual salary offered will be determined based on job-related factors, including relevant experience, qualifications, skills, and geographic location, as applicable.
Organization:
At Samuel Merritt University (SMU), we are dedicated to fostering a supportive, inclusive community committed to advancing healthcare through exceptional education, compassionate care, and community service. Known for our leading-edge programs in health sciences, SMU equips students and faculty with the knowledge and skills to make impactful contributions to health and wellness.
We are proud to be an equal opportunity employer. SMU welcomes applicants from all backgrounds and is committed to creating an inclusive workplace where anyone can thrive and reach their full potential.
Samuel Merritt University currently provides base salary ranges for all positions-on job advertisements-in the United States based on local requirements. Individual compensation will ultimately be determined based on a variety of relevant factors including but-not limited to qualifications, geographic location, and other relevant skills.
Benefits
Samuel Merritt University offers a comprehensive benefits package that includes:
- Medical, dental, and vision insurance
- Mental health and wellness resources
- Education reimbursement
- Employee discounts through Marketplace
- Paid vacation, sick leave, and parental leave
- Nine paid holidays, plus a paid holiday break between Christmas and New Year’s Day
- Two floating holidays
- One paid Volunteer Work Day
- Five Education Leave Days
Important Notice: Beware of Fraudulent Job Offers
Samuel Merritt University has been made aware of individuals posing as SMU recruiters, particularly for remote positions. To help protect yourself, please keep the following in mind:
- All legitimate job openings are posted on the SMU Careers page and trusted job boards.
- We will never ask you to provide payment for equipment or submit sensitive personal information before completing the formal hiring process.
- Official offers of employment are issued through Workday, not by text message or informal email.
Please remain cautious and protect your personal information throughout your job search.
Notice to Recruitment Agencies
Samuel Merritt University does not accept unsolicited resumes from recruitment agencies. Please do not forward resumes to our job application email address, SMU employees, or any other university location. Samuel Merritt University is not responsible for fees associated with unsolicited resumes or candidate submissions.
